Just Begin Walking…
Fall is a beautiful time of year to get outside for a walk, hike or trail run to help strengthen your fitness or simply to begin your fitness journey. These are just a few options that most can experience and it doesn’t take much planning or gear, other than a pair of proper fitting shoes and a little motivation.
If your just beginning, the goal is to get outside and begin walking. Keep it simple and enjoyable. Practice just breathing through your nose for a couple of minutes at a time as you walk. If you have ran in the past, you can include a few short runs of 10-30 seconds to see how things feel, just don’t over do it and be sure to seek out a coach to learn proper running mechanics, along with strength & mobility exercises to help you move better.
When it comes to footwear, be sure to search for shoes with a larger toe box, a smaller heal to toe drop and that they feel right for you. Take your time getting use to the new shoes. Include some self myofascial release (self massage) of the arch of your foot with a lacrosse ball and the calf area. You can do this a little before and afterwards. Follow this up with some ankle mobility exercises that you can find on our website and purchase some toe spacers to help improve your foot and ankle function.
Possible walking and running options:
Make your way to a local park and begin walking.
Take an early morning drive to the nearest trailhead on your day off and begin to familiarize yourself with the trail system and map reading.
Enjoy a quick stop on the way home from work at a park or an area that looked interesting.
Head out for a much needed lunch break walk to freshen your mind & body for the rest of the day.
Include a simple brisk walk around your neighborhood whenever you find a moment.
Here is a little footage from a hike / trail run that we did this past weekend near Poncha Springs, Colorado.
