Walk
Write

By Judy Heller

Judy Heller, founder of
Wonders of Walking LLC,
advocates walking for well being and pleasure. Wonders of Walking promotes Walking Events for Walkers by Walkers. Judy Heller is founder and owner of EroFit & Associates, LLC, celebrating Fitness for a Lifetime. Heller offers personalized fitness training and coaching for individuals and groups.
Contact: Judy Heller
at 503-282-1677:
email judy@erofit.com
jheller@wondersofwalking.com

Also visit: www.erofit.com
www.wondersofwalking.com

I only went out
for a walk and
concluded to stay out until sundown,
For going out,
I found
Was really going in.

— John Muir

Happy New Year!

I marvel at how quickly the calendar pages flip as we embark upon this year, 2010. This issue of Walk About focuses on your “best or optimal self.” Life is about growing, learning, and living. For many of you, this is maybe a time for reflection and evaluation; a time to re-balance, re-center, and re-new. An occasion to ask yourself what is working and what is not? What do you want to change? What is going to stay the same?

This Walk Write column is focused on walking, the ultimate exercise for optimal health and well being. As you contemplate your walking activities and adventures, you may discover a cognitive awareness linking to other aspects of your life. What you learn can and does have a direct impact on your life’s journey. These may be symbolic of your journey.

This October, I joined 14 amazing women to participate in the Victoria Half Marathon. This was an outing of friends ranging in age from 44 to 72 years old. We have lots of fun creating a four-to-five day girls’ mini vacation. Participating in the half marathon was a walking goal for all, each with a different target. I can be a fairly competitive racewalker, however, this time my primary goal was not in racing but supporting two of our tribe of travelers. Nadean recently finished her chemotherapy for breast cancer; Sue had two hip replacement surgeries within the past two and half years, having walked in pain for too many years. During the race, I found myself asking: Could I push myself a bit harder? Yes, I could. Could I go faster? Yes, I could. Would I enjoy our finisher’s celebration if I did? I wasn’t sure I would. I was walking this half just as I wanted — for Nadean and Sue. My purpose was celebrating the health and well being of two good friends.

As you review your past activities, what was your purpose? As you look ahead, do you know your intention? When plotting your course for this coming year these questions may help you align your body, mind, and spirit in pursuing your optimal self or your best walking self.
• What do you want to do?
• What is the motivation for doing it?
• What have you done in the past?
• What are your successes?
• What are your obstacles?

If what you want to do is aligned with who you are, your values and beliefs, your motivation and discipline, and the time you have, you are acting in alignment with your optimal self — creating a clear sense of purpose.

To attempt an endeavor that isn’t aligned may make the process harder, and may contribute to the obstacles you face. I had a client who came to me for marathon coaching. She had a history of injuries either during training or during the marathon. When we reviewed the above questions, she discovered she didn’t have enough available time to train for a marathon, resulting in injury. She succeeded by switching to shorter distances, until she had the time to train in earnest for a marathon.

If you are training for a specific distance, a simple walk training plan will consist of a minimum of four components: form, distance, strength, and speed. Each of your walks has a purpose. If you choose to walk and talk with a friend that is a social or recreational walker, it may not fulfill your training goal.

I also had a client training for a half marathon walking with a slower acquaintance, which made this a social walk versus a training walk. Time on feet as well as time availability negated the fitness purpose, creating a social outing, which is fine, if that was the goal.

Perhaps you’ve decided to participate in a charity fund raiser walk or other fitness activity. Your focus may be more on completing to support the charity as well as a person in your life. If your focus is on walking performance, then each of your walks has a very specific purpose.

Belonging to a walk club can provide opportunities for camaraderie, connectedness, fitness, and/or form. Be creative as you feed your body, mind, and soul.

As you identify your intention and purpose, you are learning to listen to your inner self, being true to yourself in pursuit of being who you want to be or what you want to do.

Best wishes to you for 2010.