An Ode to Walking

I never thought I would say this, but walking is my current favourite hobby. I call it a hobby because it fits precisely into the dictionary definition: ‘an activity done regularly in one’s leisure time for pleasure’. There are multiple factors for why this has become top activity on the list of things that thrill me, a main benefactor of course being the third national lockdown we so joyously are still enduring which ensues I actually have the time. I practically base my whole days schedule around my walk, giving myself 2 hours of pure freedom- freedom of wandering at my own pace to my nearest park that is.

Of course an ideal situation would be if I was in the countryside with rolling foothills at my doorstep, although with my prosthetic i’m probably better off on the flatter plains of London.. And I guess what a walk in the country lacks and what London is so plentiful in, is the ‘culture’ so rife in a park. A further explanation entails a close case study for which I can just about muster up from my numerous walks. The culture of a London park, or any park, has a multitude of characters and scenarios. The ‘runners’ being top of the chain of presence, followed closely by parents with pushchairs. And on occasion, the merging of the two, with the little bubba going at godspeed having the time of their life as their parent so successfully multi-tasks. I also come across a certain type of breed of en vogue Millennials and Gen Z’s donning effortless outfits, which I can only estimate took them the first half of the day to choose to where out in said walk (because what else is there to do?). I almost always look at them in awe and then immediately regret wearing my slouchy trackies and big t-shirt with yesterdays coffee spilt on it (don’t worry, It’s washed now). You then of course have the cyclists, the skaters, the scooters (shoutout to my scoot gang), bumblers, and everyone in between. And what collectively applies to everyone aforementioned, the ‘I’m so fed up of this bullshit I need to get outside to clear my head-er’s’. I would cast myself as a bumbler, but one with a heavy intention; an arduous focus on my step count. You see, it is only a recent occurrence that I have gained interest for walking, as it has only been an option for me to actually be able to physically walk properly in the last few months.

Since my accident, I truly never thought I’d be able to walk somewhere for more than a couple of minutes. I spent the majority of my time in a wheelchair until May 2020, walked with a stick until June, and then since went through an unstable trajectory depending on what sort of condition my leg was in and what I could cope with. It was only in October when I actively started to go out on walks, proper walks. As my leg started to stabilise, I had a sort of light bulb moment that I should probably make an effort to work on my step count after all those months of well, not having a step count. It started as the occasional check on the ‘health’ app on my phone out of interest, but what then quickly became a low-key obsession. I was roughly walking around 2000 steps in November, with the aid of my scooter if I needed, I was simply struck with a fixation of seeing that number go up (still am, sorry not sorry). I gradually worked up my ability to walk further and use my scooter less, now sometimes never at all. I now am walking an average 4500 steps a day and want to slowly build it up to 7000- as we know its always it’s important to set goals!! I will walk as far as i can until my leg starts to be unbearably uncomfortable and I’ll either sit, take it off have a breather and carry on; or turn around and go home.

I am definitely pushing myself with a new sense of drive, but I’m equally aware to not overdo it. However I’m pushing myself now, simply because I actually can. It is a freedom I was without for a year. My walks this past month especially have given me so much joy, as I build my distance, because I forgot how freeing it is to just walk. As well as physically helping my body from gaining much needed strength in my right leg and build up cardio etc, it is helping my mental health MONUMENTALLY. To have that time to just be in movement, outside *rain OR shine might I add*, either with a podcast, a playlist or sometimes just silence (something I’m working on, as to be silent with yourself is incredibly powerful!! Try it). I won’t enlighten you with the official facts and figures that walking has scientifically for your mood, but just trust me it helps!!! I was really not much of a ‘walker’ before my accident, I ashamedly admit I almost always took public transport over the 20 minute walk (which mostly boiled down to the fact I was always rushing, as I left things down to the eleventh hour and so would just take the fast route). I distinctly remember when I was lying in my hospital bed, on the days where I felt particularly down about the situation I found myself in, one leg missing, I so deeply regretted not using my legs more. I took them for granted. Of course I did, as you don’t sit around waiting for something to remind you when it’s too late, do you? I can now willingly say I love walking, and I am proud of where I’ve come in regards to walking with my prosthetic. This new measure in motion of course is not completely free of pain, and I still have to have frequent breaks to rest- but I’m just so grateful that I even can walk. Pain permitting, I will now always choose to make time for walking, take the extra 20 minute route over the quick fix of a bus, and just blimmin’ WALK! If we can learn anything from the great late Sir Tom Moore, he showed us at his ripe age of 100, the power of walking is irrefutable, raising £33 million for the NHS as he so audaciously lapped his garden.

I guess the message of this post is this: Legs are so important, they get you places. Don’t take them for granted, I now certainly don’t mine. So go on a walk, your mind and body will thank you. 

Snow!