I’ll be honest…I used to have no patience with walking as exercise. Why would I walk if I could be running instead?
Sullie was a great running partner until she was about 6-7 years old and decided that walking was more her speed. I started to appreciate walks with Sullie at the end of the day as a way to wind down after work…and working out. The walk never replaced my normal workout.
Once Zoey joined the fam, we walked even more. Zoey loved to run with me but I always felt so guilty for leaving Sullie behind. Even still, walking never replaced any other workout in my head…it was just extra movement.
Fast forward to pregnancy and I gained a new appreciation for walking. It was such a kind and gentle way to move my body that felt so good, so therapeutic and so right. I looked forward to my daily walks and felt so disappointed if I couldn’t fit them in. Walking also began to replace other, more intense workouts and I was surprised to find that I didn’t miss them much at all, especially in the third trimester.
And in the postpartum period, I’ve loved walking just as much as I did during pregnancy. I won’t lie that I’m looking forward to running again but I know that walking is here to stay…and that I’ll be much more at peace with it taking the place some days of what I used to consider “real exercise.”
The pace of my life has not been slow over the past 10 years or so. What I’ve found is that walking has really helped me to slow myself down and settle into this new season of life. One where I don’t want to default to “running” when I could stroll and take in more…moments and memories.
Now, all that being said…I have a walking workout for you today that is anything but low-key and chill. Hill walking has changed my view on just how much cardio you can get from walking. My neighborhood is super hilly and my grandmother always knows when I’m walking the neighborhood instead of the trails/greenway because I’m so out of breath.
Since it’s so hot in Florida, and I was ready to up my activity level a little bit, I’ve hit the treadmill a few times since I’ve been here for some incline walking workouts. Variations of the workout I’m sharing with you today have driven my heart rate sky-high and left me dripping in sweat…while keeping the intensity much lower than that of running.
Keep Climbing Treadmill Walking Workout
The awesome thing about this workout is that it can be a 10-minute warm up, a 20 minute quick workout or a 30-40 minute longer challenge. Simply start at the top after each 10 minute cycle and keep on walking!
If you want to scale the intensity up, increase the pace. If you want to scale it down, decrease the inclines or the pace. You can still follow the format of the workout with these two modifications.
If you’re a “if I’m not running, I’m not working out” kind of person like I used to be…I challenge you to try this workout and tell me you weren’t challenged or super sweaty at the end! 🙂
I know there is a lot more road, trail and treadmill walking for me in my future!
Do you enjoy walking?
Is your mindset that a walk is a workout?
What’s your favorite thing about walking?
