What a Beautiful Day for a Walk

It was a PERFECT Vegas fall day today. High low-mid 70's, a slight breeze and not a cloud in the sky.

We were up a little late last night chatting with the calorie-count.com crowd (hi guys!), so we didn't get a very early start on our walk. By the time we got out to our favorite park it was about noon. My lungs weren't recovered from all the talking last night, but I had a feeling that a little walk would do me good, and I was right. Mike was a little hesitant to take me walking, worried I needed to rest from last night, but I'm glad we decided to give it a try. I felt much better after our walk.

I like walking outside SO much better than cranking it out on a treadmill. The sun, the fresh air, looking at the cool red rocks in the mountains nearby, soaking in life happening around you...the exhuberance that children have when playing, watching people play with their dogs (I love other people's kids and dogs!). And Mike and I get to hold hands when we walk outside, can't do THAT in the gym!

We kept the pace nice and slow, keeping my heart rate in the mid-80's (except for one little incline which pushed it to 100) but we managed 5 laps around the park, which took about an hour and 15 minutes. Add on some stretching at the end, and it was a nice hour and a half. Even walking slow there's still a lot to think about. Especially for me since I have to pay such close attention to my breathing. Abs engaged and pulling up, breathing into the side of my lungs (pilates abs & breathing), but breathing shallowly and always through my nose (buteyko). Remembering to walk "tall", light on my feet, pushing off with my toes, lifting my foot forward with my quads (not swinging my leg into the next step) and pushing forward with the top of the hams. Lots to think about. But proper form keeps me from re-aggravating my old quad injury, helps me focus on my shallow breathing, and passes the time (since I'm no good at conversation these days!).