One of the joys of living on the Crown of Queen Anne Hill is that as long as I stay on or within the crown, I'm pretty much on level terrain. Any diversions and it is one steep downhill incline! (Not to mention the joys of returning straight uphill.) Today, with the sun out and the temperatures not too unpleasant, I decided to traverse the top of the hill and explore my neighborhood rather than go to an indoor pool for water aerobics. Always good to change up the old exercise routine.
I max out at about three miles of continuous walking, and I can keep a fairly steady 2.5 MPH pace. This affords me enough exertion to make an impact but not so much as to cause me stress. I prefer to recover in one day, not two or three.
After having a bad experience the last time I did a major (for me) walk, I have learned an important lesson: I must remember to rehydrate and consume a few calories or I risk fainting. My solution this time was simple: stop at Starbucks for a nice iced decaf tea and a quick check of emails at about the 1.3 mile post. Then at Ken's, around the 2 mile mark, buy a Six Strawberries scrumptious blueberry lemonade artisan ice pop, savor it slowly while sitting outside, and then buy a few supplies and tackle the last half mile.
This plan worked like a charm, and it has encouraged me to try other walks on and even down the hill. I do believe that rewarding myself with a special beverage and a tasty bite or perhaps some sushi will spur me on to try out some new routes. Healthy foods make great motivators for me!
