Check in time for the Walking Group

Hello. Here we are folks, the first day of September, the ninth month of our Walking Challenge, and it's a lovely sunny morning in North Lincolnshire. This is the time we all report in with our mileage. I thought I would dig out an old picture of my walking boots from about ten years ago. I was skint and couldn't afford proper boots, so I bought these from a car boot sale. Great big clodhoppers they are, so so heavy, but they did the job and I used them for day walks. They have steel toecaps so they are more suited as work boots. I still have them, but only use them for local walks in the winter. They are great for keeping my feet dry in the snow and rain. 

As this is mainly a money saving blog, I was thinking about the connections between walking and money saving. There are many good reasons to walk, exercise is the main one, to keep our bodies in tip top condition. As well as looking after our physical health, it's also good for the mind as well. Anytime you are fed up, bored, or upset about something, the best thing you can do is go out for a walk.Sitting around procrastinating is not good. A brisk walk in the fresh air, switching off from negative stuff and giving your senses new sights and sounds to absorb will help to put things into perspective. The mind and body works as one when exercising.

So how is that money saving? I see things in a simple way. If I am ill, I can go to the doctor. I might need medication. I am lucky that I don't have to pay for it because I am a pensioner. If I don't need to go to the doctor, it saves the NHS money. But if you are younger than pensionable age, whatever that is I have lost track, you have to pay for prescriptions. Tablets, lotions and potions will cost you money. So to save money, if you look after your health, you keep the cash in your purse.

It needn't cost anything to go for a walk. Any old pair of boots or trainers will do. Step out of your door and set yourself a time limit, say half an hour, or an hour. You can build that into your daily activities, like the two ladies I met at 6.30am this week, they walk every day before going to work. If I am busy during the day, I might fit an hour in there, or I might leave it until 9pm at night. The streets around me are lit up, the roads are quiet, and it gets me in the right frame of mind before I go to bed.

If you go to work, can you walk in your lunch break? Is there a park nearby? Can you walk to work if it isn't too far? If you don't like walking alone can you find a friend to accompany you? The only good reason for not walking is that you have a physical disability, which makes it impossible to walk. But hey, I read about people who have lost limbs, who learn to walk again with a prosthetic leg, how good is that. An inspiration to us all.

So, did you make an effort in August, and ask yourself, are you going to make an effort in September? I've picked out a few comments from the previous check in on the 1st of August.

613 so far off on town park walking group later which is an organized walk i do twice a week keep it up everyone its great

I have only been walking for 5 weeks but have managed to walk 154.50 miles and have lost 14 lb,

I walked 105 miles in July, which is more than I expected because we had some very hot and some very wet days.

Very slow recovery from knee problem but total mileage now 540 miles , hoping to make up the lost 40 miles

My total for July is 151 miles-quite pleased with myself!

I did 71 miles for July, not bad considering I was poorly for most of 1 week.

July 129 miles. Best month so far as had a week's holiday walking everywhere. 

Very wet and windy but still I'm out with the dogs walking drenched but loving it 

I was not able to increase my mileage as hoped in June and July due to some illness and some awful weather, but I'm pleased with the increase in my stamina

So there you are, lots of inspiration from our Walking Group members. It's working for them, now let's see how everyone is getting on. Check in on this post at any time during the month of September. 

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip