Walking in the Wee Hours

Shall we walk? 

I have recently taken to walking in the wee hours again. Even though I’m not nursing a recovering suture seam (ugh, remember last summer?), I’m utilizing walking and all its benefits... simply for my own well being.

How seriously do you take the act of walking? Have you ever gotten in the routine of starting the day (often before the sun rises) in your walking shoes? Read on...I'll share a few reasons why walking in the wee hours has numerous benefits....


1. The price is right.
First of all, if the price is right, the deal is real. Walking is essentially a free sport because most of us already own suitable shoes. For me, I prefer to wear running shoes that have already shown me some love...in other words, shoes that are on their way to retirement. I have a different foot strike walking (heel strike) than I do when running (mid-foot strike). I don't want to alter my "newer" running shoes, so I keep them for running and utilize the "older" shoes for walking. There's less impact when walking, so it has never been a problem (if I was a competitive walker, that would be a different scenario).

got the shoes....

2. The location is convenient.
Walking in the wee hours, usually when it's still dark, keeps me close to home. I do most of these walks on my own, so I don't want to wander too far from home in the dark. The city block where I live is about 1/2 mile in circumference...so two laps nets me a mile. There's a smaller block across the street, which nets a mile after three laps. Usually, I alternate walking laps around the two blocks, and often times switch directions so it's (somewhat) interesting and goes quickly.

the hill across the street from my front door

3. The tranquility is plentiful. 
There's something about the dark of the early morning that is so incredibly peaceful. The stars seem to shine a little brighter. In the winter, the snow takes on a mysterious glow. In the summer, the sky slowly brightens. The air is crisp. The traffic is non-existent. It's just me and the sleeping world around me.

ahhhh, done before the sunrise...

4. The wake-up is real.
The early morning air is cool and will wake you up better than a steaming cup of coffee. When running, we usually know to dress as if the weather is 10-15 degrees warmer. When walking, it's best to dress for whatever your weather app is telling you. You will warm up some, but not quite to the extent you would if you were running. And if the wind is blowing? You will feel it no matter what direction you're walking.

yes, you will feel the wind

5. The calorie burn gets a boost. 
Most of us have heard of fasted-state running (hitting the road with no new food/fuel in your system). It works the same for walking! Granted, you won't burn as many calories as running (though power walking is very comparable), but you will be burning calories, none the less. With no food to tap into, your body will naturally turn to stored fat for its fuel source. You will not notice an instant reduction in inches, but over the course of time you probably will see (and feel) a difference...all for doing something as simple as walking!

So, those are just five things to consider. Walking, often times, is an activity many of us take for granted...and it's right there, available almost any time and can be done almost anywhere. Why not take advantage of it?

Have you ever done any early morning walking? Would you prefer to stay inside or head outside? Or would you rather sleep in?

I'm linking this with Meranda and Lacey and Rachel for the Friday Five 2.0.  

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