Why not step into spring and enjoy the local flora & fauna around your area
Finally, Spring has sprung and we are filled with the hope and optimism that this year we will finally get the Indian Summer we are always promised, you know the one! The one headlining all the papers – “HEATWAVE FOR GREAT BRITAIN” and we all wait and wait then sigh as Autumn rolls in. But I digress so back to Spring and with the longer days and warmer weather we start to think about summer clothes and casting off the winter garments we have been hiding in for the last 6 months.
Many of you will start to think about getting fit and there is a whole wealth of different exercise regimes and classes out there available to all, but let’s start at the very beginning – it’s a very good place to start as confirmed by Julie Andrews! What better way to get fitter but to take up Walking. It is cheap and most certainly cheerful, all you need to get started is a good pair of shoes. Whether they be trainers or walking shoes/boots, the important thing is that they are comfortable. I would suggest a light weight waterproof jacket and make sure you put layers underneath so that as you get warmer you can take a layer off. I personally like to wear a hat, because as my Grandma used to say – ‘Ne’er cast a clout till May be out’, what she really meant was don’t take your woolly tights off till June but personally I get cold ears and we can never guarantee, in this country, that it won’t rain.
Once you are kitted out, then it is just a case of getting out there. You may prefer to walk on your own, with a friend or group, you may already have a reason to walk and have a dog (or two in my case). You could have a look at joining Preston Nordic Walking or a Rambling Club. There is a plethora of walking guides offering anything from 1 mile routes to 12+ miles either on line or in bookshops. Walking can be enjoyed by everyone, there is always so much to see and I find myself noticing so much more about the areas I walk through, than I ever do when driving in the car. Since I started walking I have noticed my pace has definitely increased and this has resulted in more miles completed. It has helped me find calm after an horrendous 12 months and is helping me recover. I have trekked miles enjoying the countryside outside of Preston. I don’t care if it is raining because it is refreshing and invigorating plus you can look forward to that hot shower/bath once you are home.
On my walks I have seen deer, herons, hares, geese, buzzards, lots of lambs and last Sunday I heard my first woodpecker of the year, a noisy little bird he was too.
Linder x
So if I haven’t managed to sell walking to you lets look at the benefits extolled by the Health Professionals: Walking – Strengthens your heart, lowers disease risk, prevents dementia, helps you lose weight, tones up legs/bums/tums, boosts Vitamin D, gives you energy and makes you happy.
Take that step this weekend and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Don’t forget the sunscreen.