Originally Posted by
jwalther
I started walking for exercise a little over five years ago at age 46. I wasn't overweight, but I was way out of shape. My wife and I traveled to Hawaii, and I about stroked out on a long hike, then my father dropped dead from a heart attack a week after our return. I got my wake up call, and started walking, working up to what I do pretty consistently (with dog), a 3.2 mile loop in 34 minutes +/-. I can't run consistently because of a surgically repaired knee, but walking at speed provides a similar workout without the pounding of running. I lost some weight, increased my fitness, then started cycling a couple of years ago. Now I mix up walking and outdoor riding (nice weather) and stationary bike and rollers (foul weather).
Let's keep the thread going!
Definitely a wake up call! At least you got the wake up call (and answered it) before you had your own heart attack.
3.2 miles in 34 minutes is
fast - a very brisk pace. Maybe I'm slower because of age, but I've discovered a good, gonzo walking pace for me is about 3.3 mph. And when I'm doing that I pass most of the other walkers. I wonder if I'm not actually walking faster than I have calculated, because it's a rare bird indeed that can keep up with me.