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10,000 steps Challenge
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Age:42
Likes: Books
Dislikes: Picking up tennis balls
Favourite Place: London
Freelance journalist and mother who's preparing to run in this summer's Race for Life.
10 Blogs
19 Comments
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21st July 2008 16:51
I've walked, wandered, jogged, puffed and panted and even skipped...
At last, I’ve walked, wandered, jogged, puffed and panted and even skipped my way to the end of the 10,000 Step Challenge.
To be honest, at the beginning, I felt very resistant. Although I volunteered to take part, as soon as I was picked to be one of the ten, I felt irritated about it all.
I thought I’d walk a bit but discover that really, my car and occasional bus and walking lifestyle was probably OK for me and the family. It wasn’t going to change my life…
And I felt irritated that I’d have to be all upbeat about something which is really, just putting one step in front of another. Really, how hard or interesting could it be?
Well, at the risk of sounding too evangelical, the 10,000 Step Challenge has changed my life in lots of ways, some of them very unexpectedly.
I think the best change is that journeys that I thought were too long and unrealistic to walk are now part of my daily life. I’m much less likely to jump in the car for short trips and it’s wonderful to say goodbye to the guilt of that.
And it’s also fantastic to incorporate your exercise into your day, instead of feeling that you have to make the extra effort to go to a gym or a class. If I’ve done 10,000 steps in the day, I can relax in the evening feeling I’ve done some exercise.
Here are the outstanding benefits of my walking challenge and some of the downsides.
- I now walk instead of drive on daily trips to the school and nursery. Now it feels very strange – and very naughty if I drive.
- We’ve saved £’s by leaving the car at home.
- A persistent lower back pain has disappeared.
- I now mentally plan to walk instead of drive and so leave enough time to get to places.
- I’ve lots more energy physically and mentally.
- Saved money on bus fares. Even more relevant now the fares have gone up again.
- Walking has helped my jogging and enabled me to run the 5K Race for life and raise £150 for Cancer Research.
- I’ve chatted to lots of people about walking from the check-out lady in Tesco’s to my family and lots of the mums at school and nursery and sent emails to people all over the country.
- The children don’t expect to go in the car all the time anymore and now see it as a treat. My son, matter-of-factly told his friend last week that we always walk or use bikes, and don’t use the car for school.
- I can walk really quickly now. I’ve knocked about 5-10 minutes off my daily nursery/school run journey.
- I don’t feel guilty if I’ve not attempted any exercise in the day.
- I don’t feel guilty if I do use the car as I make sure I only use it when necessary such as the supermarket trip, journeys out of town or if I have a lot to carry.
- I’ve had more energy to do lots of things I’ve been meaning to do, such as decluttering the house and gardening.
The downsides
- Haven’t lost weight, although I feel much more toned up and fit. Telling myself it’s turned to muscle!
- Have to wear sensible shoes all the time and have been limited to what clothes I can wear, so my pedometer worked. Looking forward to wearing what I like again.
- The west end of the Portland Road – possibly the most boring road in the entire universe.
- My legs are very stiff – need to do some stretching exercises.
- I can’t walk as fast as I’d like with the children, which limits the cardo-vascular effect. I suspect I’d have lost some more weight if walking without pushing a buggy most of the time.
- Have wanted to use my bike a bit more but felt I couldn’t as it wouldn’t register steps. My next challenge - to get my old bike repaired and use it more often.
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14th July 2008 19:10
Wave if you see me pass!
The penultimate week of our 10,000 Step Challenge and I’m afraid to say my step count was sadly down.
Although, I’ve not done so well, I’ve found the return to my more usual habits an interesting lesson.
A combination of events meant I was forced to use the car and public transport, instead of my trusty feet.
I hit the 10,000 plus mark on Monday and Tuesday, but on Wednesday I had a meeting in London and only notched up just over 8,000.
Car day
On Thursday, I had a ‘car day,’ something I’ve noticed has become a feature of my life now.
I had lots of boxes to deliver to charity shops and the school, plus heavy shopping bags to carry from the supermarket. In the past, these jobs would have been part of my daily life. I would have nipped by car to a charity shop, while on the way somewhere. Now I have to plan those trips and inevitably save them up for a day when I’m using the car.
It meant I barely did any walking that day but the car was probably used more thoughtfully and responsibly.
Lazy bones
At the weekend, we travelled by car to visit friends and family in the Midlands. We were stuck in the car for 5 hours on Saturday which was really boring, especially as we went cross-country and passed a multitude of fetes, pageants and festivals which all looked lovely. But it was all worth it when we arrived to celebrate a friend’s surprise birthday party. There was lots of sitting around and chatting, eating delicious food and no walking, although I did find myself banging on again about the joys of walking to a couple of unfortunate guests.
On Sunday, we took the children to a park with relatives. By now, I was feeling distinctly sluggish and desperate to get moving, so I took myself off for a brisk walk around the park just to get a few steps on the clock.
Physically I noticed the difference from my lazier week. I felt very lethargic and lacking in energy and a strange pain I’d developed in my hip returned, which seems to be from driving.
I’m aiming on my last week to walk a minimum of 10,000 steps every day. Wave if you see me pass! |
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07th July 2008 18:05
This would have been an impossible scene eight weeks ago.
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Torrential rain and we still walked to school and nursery. Hooray!
Before the 10,000 Step Challenge, if the weather had been as it was on Monday, very windy and very wet rain, I would definitely have taken the car.
Instead, we wrapped up in our waterproofs and battled on through the elements. It got progressively worse as my walk went on and by the time I got home, my new coat (see below) was soaked, though I was toasty warm and I could hardly see in front of me for sheets of rain. The winds coming off the sea nearly knocked me over.
But, I did it and guess what, it was quite exciting and NOT THAT BAD. There was a saving grace though. It wasn’t very cold. I’m not sure if I’ll be so gung-ho in the deepest mid-winter. We’ll see.
Feet first fashion
Since starting my 10,000 Step Challenge, I’m afraid I’ve had to make some substantial changes to my wardrobe. Quite simply, you can’t walk all day wearing unsuitable clothes. Thought you might care for some tips if you’re thinking of increasing your walking.
1. Shoes. It’s impossible to walk any distance in flip-flops, mules or high heels and that’s a sad fact for fashionistas out there.
It’s more about the speed that you can travel in shoes without straps at the back. They’re OK for gently ambling along but if you want to get somewhere quickly, wear shoes with a back to them to keep on your feet. If you’re used to wearing high heels, you may find them OK but I’m not and would imagine they begin to hurt after a long walk. You could always carry them to where you’re going in your bag.
2.Coats or jackets. It’s amazing how quickly you warm up when you walk, so get a coat or jacket which can wrap around your waist or pack up small. To my horror and amazement, I’ve dug out my camping cagoule and stuffed that in my bag, in case of rain during the summer. I don't think Gok Kwon would approve.
You’ll also need a good waterproof coat for colder, wetter days. I’ve bought a new, black waterproof jacket which makes me feel like a shiny otter on rainy days. It’s been a good investment and actually looks OK for the school run.
2. Bags. Shoulder bags are really annoying when you’re trying to stride out. They make you feel all wonky and out of balance. But your fashion sense will be challenged when you try to find a trendy bag for easy walking. It needs to be quite large bag to carry essential water, jacket (see above) purse, suntan lotion, mobile, cards etc. If you ditch the car like me, you’ll discover how much you used it as a storage facility for all those things you might need on a trip out. You’ll have to learn to travel light.
A bag with a long strap to put over your shoulder or a rucksack seems to be the answer. There doesn’t seem to be a great choice out there but something has to give for that healthier lifestyle. Also, stuff a few carrier bags or eco-friendly canvas bags in a pocket, to carry any extra stuff you might buy or pick up on the way. |
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30th June 2008 18:06
It's been a strange week
It’s been a strange week. I feel like I’ve not been doing as well but when I look over my diary, I see I managed 10,000 on all but 2 days.
I think it’s because the school run and general day to day walking have become a habit now and not so tiring.
Portslade to London – How I walked there……(not really)
A trip to London on always involves lots of walking and although on Wednesday I used the car for the school run (either that or risk the wrath of Theo’s teacher for being late) I easily managed 14097 steps by the time I crawled into bed at 2am.
I realised the challenge was working for me when I opted to walk to Portslade Station instead of cycling or catching a bus to Hove or (shock horror) considering a taxi. It used to seem a long walk but on Wednesday, I was quite happy to walk the 20 minutes there. I wonder if I’ll be quite so keen when the weather is not glorious.
In sunny London, it’s quite easy to clock up the miles travelling by tube and bus and walking from bar to bar.
Happy campers
We went camping with friends at the weekend at Wapsbourne Farm near Sheffield Park, which was fun.
Just walking to the shower block or the toilets is a good 5 minutes walk and multiply that with trips to accompany the children and I easily managed 10,000 steps on Friday and Saturday.
On Saturday we had a glorious walk around Sheffield Park Gardens, the National Trust property with a garden by Capability Brown.
By Sunday we were all exhausted and after packing up, came home at lunchtime. We planned to go for another walk in the afternoon to do the mini-challenge but my walking companions were shattered. Too much fun, careering around with all the other children and late-night campfires toasting marshmallows had left the children with not one more step in them.
It meant I only managed 5166 steps and haven’t done the mini-challenge yet.
Have only got one day left to – have no companion and no time to do it. Help! |
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23rd June 2008 17:59
My race for life - I did it!
My mission this week was to NOT WALK! But only on Saturday afternoon when I took part in the Race for Life.
Thousands of women and I trogged 5k around Stanmer Park in aid of Cancer Research UK.
I’d like to say it was all great fun but to be honest, it was hard work. It was fun when it stopped!
When I first arrived I felt very nervous and quite emotional at all the tributes from friends and family for people affected by cancer and even more, the competitors with cancer who were doing the race.
I’m proud to say that I ran nearly all of it. I stopped once up a very steep hill because there was a bottleneck of women who all seemed to grind to a halt at the bottom. A bit like sheep trying to get into a pen during a sheep-dog trial, all looking a bit shocked as if to say,”They can’t really expect us to go up that hill!”
Once past that hill, I kept going but after another very long and slow hill found dodging the walkers a little too exhausting. My legs gave up on me for a very short while, for about 50 metres. But I was determined not to walk and pushed myself on. It felt a little like a school cross country run. There were the serious ones who just ran on ahead, others who gave up before the 1km and started walking and chatting. Then there were the giddy, giggly ones who went racing on ahead then stopped for a rest, then raced on again. I was one of those with my head down, plodding on slowly, determined to keep going just by putting one foot in front of another. Just like in the tortoise and the hare.
Once past the 3k marker, it felt fairly easy and the final 500m was a glorious downhill stretch. It was lovely to see Ian, Theo and Isobel at the end, cheering me on and I smiled all the way through the finishing line. I got my medal from the Mayor and felt like I earned it and raised at least £100 for Cancer Research.
I’m convinced my 10,000 challenge was a great way to train for the 5k. I haven’t ached much afterwards, probably because I’m already feeling fairly fit. I’ve done a little less walking this week as I wanted to start the race feeling fresh but I’ll be back to my usual 10,000 step routine this week as normal.
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17th June 2008 15:55
Race for life
On Saturday, I’m entering the Race for Life in aid of Cancer Research which takes place at Stanmer Park.
The 10,000 Step Challenge has been a really useful part of my training for the 5k event.
I feel as if my general fitness has really improved with walking. My legs feel stronger and I rarely get out of breath now when I race along Portland Road on the school run.
I’ve also found that as I’m walking everywhere, I’ve been effectively training more days than if I was just trying to fit in quick jogs around the park when the children are in bed.
I’ve also been following a beginners course with the Brighton and Hove running sisters who meet at Hove Rugby Club. (http://www.brightonandhoverunningsisters.org.uk/)
I highly recommend it. Alix, the coach has gently encouraged us as we have progressed from walking/running for 20 minutes to last week’s 50 minute run (though I did walk a bit). She makes sure we do our warm-up stretches and cool down stretches and has provided useful training programmes for the following week.
Its great fun, I’ve chatted to lots of different women from around the city and just having running companions encourages you to keep going. We’ve also done some interval training and some speed tests, reviving my competitive spirit .
I’m definitely going to keep going to the club on Thursday evenings after the course ends.
Although I’d really like to jog the whole race, I’m not sure if I will manage that but I know I can easily walk 5k as that’s more or less the same as 10,000 steps.
It would be fantastic if anyone wants to sponsor me. All the money goes to Cancer Research.
Here’s my sponsorship website.
http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/carolinesutton
Wish me luck!
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10th June 2008 10:54
Me and my pedometer...
I’m developing an intense love-hate relationship with a tiny black gadget which has taken over my life.
After four weeks, I’m beginning to wonder just who is in control – me or my pedometer? This simple inanimate object is certainly responsible for affecting my emotions far more than it should.
Sometimes when I’m wearing it, striding out, I feel smug and happy that I’m on my way to my daily 10,000 with every step recorded.
But it’s a tricky little blighter. Sometimes – in fact, often – it doesn’t seem to work and how I hate it then.
It’s utterly infuriating if I’ve just trekked all the way somewhere to discover none of my steps have been recorded. It makes me feel that I wish I’d just driven. It’s a strange reaction – the walk should be reward in itself, but somehow I need the satisfaction of seeing I’ve done it. It’s like having a little cartoon angel/devil on your hip, saying ‘You’re brilliant, well done’ or “You lazy good-for-nothing!” When I take it off at night, it’s like putting away a constant nagging conscience and is quite a relief.
I’m also deeply suspicious of its accuracy. On some days, the school run/walk can register as many as 4,800 steps. On others, the pedometer shows just 1,000 odd. It’s all to do with what I wear. Last week on Thursday, I registered a heart-stopping 20,000 steps – double my daily target. I’d had a busy day. School run, the park and then a training run for the Race for Life. But it was no more active than my usual Thursday. I think it was because I was wearing a different pair of trousers. Each time I wear them, I beat the 10,000 target. I’m wondering if anyone will notice if I wear the same pair for the next six weeks.
My week
Feeling great, enjoying the walking a lot. Not losing weight particularly. Scarcely used the car this week.
Passed a real mental walking challenge for me. I walked from our house to George Street; a journey which I always thought would take about half an hour at quickest. In reality, it only took about 15 minutes and that was pushing a buggy and carrying a heavy bag of shopping. I’ll now be able to factor in that time and rather than take the car or bus, will walk there in future. For me, it was a revelation and for that alone, I would say this challenge has been a success!
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02nd June 2008 14:25
Our trip to the Lollipop Tree
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We went for a walk in the country on Sunday from Washington to Chanctonbury Ring – up a very long steep hill.
Ian (my partner) loves Chanctonbury Ring but we’re put-off by the 1 in 2 steep hill which we’ve walked up before to reach it.
We hoped we’d found an easier route so the children could come too.
It was a glorious day and the path was lined with beautiful wild flowers. I took a picture of some which I didn’t recognise. Anyone know what they are?
Isobel, who is three, quickly got fed-up with the long path, preferring to stop and bug-hunt along the way. Theo, who is five, was happier walking and he went on ahead with Daddy.
After a while, Isobel hit the wall and refused to go any further. There was nothing for it, I had to carry her. Why don’t I get double points on my pedometer for carrying another person?
After a brief stop with biscuits, we set off again. Isobel was on her dad’s shoulders and singing along with happiness.
But it was Theo’s turn to want to give up. Once again, I found myself loitering behind with a grumpy and very recalcitrant child. When we caught up with Ian and Isobel, we had a family discussion (sometimes called arguments in our house) in which we discussed turning back. Well, I did but Daddy had his conquering Everest head on and refused to turn back. His sulk won the day. The children decided we could carry on and we set off for the final push.
We coaxed, distracted, carried and bribed the children to the top. Can you imagine our surprise when they got there and found the magic lollipop tree which miraculously had four lollies waiting for us at the top? (It only gives out lollies to people who have bravely walked to the top. See if you can find it.)
The trip down was slow but easier but left our weary troops battered and a little bruised. Theo took a tumble and grazed his knees. Then Isobel and Ian went off to hide and ended up falling down a very steep hill just off the path. Isobel thought she was going to fall into the wood where the Gruffalo lives.
Finally back at the car, we all decided it had been fun and we treated ourselves to that flask of coffee and some more snacks.
The children fell asleep immediately we set off home in the car.
Number of steps – who cares? It was fun.
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27th May 2008 16:46
A Real Look at Walk-to-School Week?
Home to West Hove Infants School -West Hove School – nursery in Leicester Villas to home.
Total distance – 3.24km, Total steps – 4043m Total calories – 191, Total carbon footprint 0 (figures according to journeyon Journey Planner.)
It was Walk to School week this week and the junior school at West Hove had an event with lots of marching, holding inspirational banners about the benefits of walking, drums and whistles. It looked like great fun.Over in our house, the walk to school dilemma continues to trouble me. In fact, it’s one of the reasons why I signed up for the 10,000 Steps Challenge.
I believe it’s important for children to walk to school for many reasons. It gives them exercise, saves petrol and the environment, shows them a world from outside the car, learn road sense and so on. It’s also a good time to spend with the children.
Our dilemma is that my daughter’s nursery and my son’s school are about 15 to 20 minutes apart by walking. The journey planner estimates less time – but it’s slower when you’re pushing a buggy. This causes many, boring problems in our house.
School run-around
If I take my daughter to nursery first in the morning, we have to leave much earlier and my son has to walk or cycle a really long way before school. He was late on the one occasion we tried. If we go to school first, it means my daughter is quite late for nursery, missing out on the fun and my work day is cut even shorter.
On the way home, it’s even more difficult. If I pick up my daughter first, I lose a further half an hour of working time and I always seem to interrupt her when she’s having a lovely time, as I’m there earlier than it ends. And we’re paying for that time too. If I pick up my son first, he can’t physically walk or cycle quick enough to make it to the nursery, particularly when he’s exhausted after school – he’s only five.
In the past, I’ve cracked and used the car or my partner will share the duties on some days. I also use my bike with my daughter sitting on the back. I really don’t prefer going by car. It can take ages to get a three and a five year old in car seats, if they’re being dreamy or cantankerous. Then you can’t park by the school without paying 50p for a ticket.
For the challenge, I’ve been picking them both up every day. It’s a good workout for me. I think, when my pedometer is working right, that it’s about 7,000 steps for the two trips. But I’m losing around 45 minutes a day work time. If you’re trying to work in school hours – that means a very short day, just five hours.
It also means I race along Portland Road, pushing my daughter as fast as I can in order to get there in time for school pick-up. It’s quite stressful and exhausting as, at three years old, she’s quite big to push these days. She’d happily scooter but it takes forever. On Wednesday, I’d left a little late and we ended up catching the bus to travel just three stops for the outrageous price of £1.70, just so I got to the school in time.
Lazy mums ?
When people complain about mothers clogging up the roads on the ‘school run’, they’re not seeing the entire picture.
Of course, some parents are just being lazy. But for others, it’s the only way to manage their busy lives. Many parents are working just like all those other car users on the road and we all have very little time to transport children from various institutions before they’re all demanding picking up again at around 3pm. Buses are an expensive option and unlikely to be quicker. I’m not sure what the answer is, school buses, walking buses or lift-sharing maybe? What I’m discovering with the chall |
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19th May 2008 18:20
The 10,000 Steps Medical
The nice lady doing my medical for the 10,000 Step Challenge tipped her head to the side and smiled kindly and spoke slowly as if talking to a small child, ”Don’t you do ANY exercise?” she asked.
I found myself burbling on about running around after the children, being too busy, too tired - a string of the usual excuses. They all sounded pretty lame.
I left clutching various government and council sponsored leaflets about subsidised gyms, swimming pools and walking schemes. But inside I felt furious with myself that I had to make such hopeless excuses. It’s not like I don’t know all about the benefits of exercise, how often, where to go, healthy foods, superfoods. You name it, I’ve probably read an article on it.
I loved sports when I was growing up, was in the netball and basketball teams at school, an athletics club as a teenager and the netball team at university. Over the years, I’ve been a member of various gyms and always enjoyed horse-riding, swimming and jogging.
But somehow as I’ve got older and I’ve had my two children, who are five and three, exercise seems to have fallen by the way.
I’ve had various new starts – jogging or swimming phases, yoga and pilates. Sometimes I cycle the children to school. But on the whole, I’ve not managed to keep up the exercise for any length of time. Life always gets in the way.
My shame had been enhanced by the fact that I seemed to have shrunk and gained half a stone just stepping into the medical room. Their scales definitely didn’t agree with ours at home.
Suddenly, the 10,000 Step Challenge had taken on a new importance for me.
I’d volunteered in a casual way. It seemed like a worthy project and I knew I should do more walking.
After that medical, I felt so annoyed with myself that I’m determined to prove to myself that I can be fitter.
Now I really want to start integrating some regular exercise into my life. And I’ve entered the Race for Life 5k race which takes place in June. The excuses stop here…
Walking worries
My problem with walking, in recent years, has come down to two issues. Time and toddlers with little legs.
As a life-long car driver, I’m not very good at leaving enough time in my day for walking. I’m always in a hurry and regularly found myself jumping in the car for short hops just to save time. I’m hoping that over the next ten weeks, I learn to calculate how long journeys will take by walking and plan my time better.
The other problem has been that it’s hard work walking everywhere with a buggy and small children simply can’t walk very far themselves. Sometimes it’s just easier to strap the children into their car-seats and drive.
Week One
This first week has gone well fine although I seem to have a fairly inconsistent pedometer. I’ve been trying to work out why the school and nursery run has had wildly varying step totals from 1552 on one day to 5109 on another. I suspect it depends on what clothes I’m wearing. I’ll get back to you on this one.
Even so, despite the stats, I have upped the amount of walking already by ensuring that I’ve not driven on any morning this week. Even so, the school run alone will not be enough to notch up 10,000 steps. I’ll have to incorporate some more walking.
I did use the car to pick the children up on two days as we had to go out after school. If this project is going to work for me, it has to fit into our family life and I will still have to use the car when necessary. For me, it’s about using the car more thoughtfully rather than by default. |
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