That was the debate this morning on Broadcasting House–a favourite Sunday morning magazine program at 9am on BBC Radio 4.
Two opposing views, passionately held by two correspondents.
One can’t tolerate slow walkers and isn’t interested in the journey–just wants to get where she’s heading and finds slow walkers get in her way.
‘Walking is dead time’– she says.
The other thinks slow walking one of life’s great pleasures–helping poets write and thinkers to think.
(And here–helping grandparents spend time with their grandchildren!)
‘The journey is the fun part’ he says ‘life’s an amble’.
Which reminded Meredith of Constantine P Cavafy’s poem Ithaca.
I used think like the fast walker–about walking in general–that it all took too long.
I jogged–it was faster–over quicker and I could get on with other things.
Now I walk fast, power walk I suppose—nasty phrase.
Not to get where I’m going faster but to exercise the heart, burn up calories, and keep in shape.
And I do find it refreshes the mind as well as the body.
Walking slow I enjoy in company; chatting and strolling make good partners.
WALKING–-an anthology; please add to it at your will..!
Walk tall.
Walk on the wild side.
Walk on!
Walk–don’t run!
Sleepwalking.
Powerwalking.
Jaywalking.
Walking the gangplank.
Walking wounded.
Walking the line.
Walking a fine line.
The long walk.
‘I’m walking backwards for Christmas’--Goon Show
song in the fifties.
‘Walking back to happiness’–Helen Shapiro
hit song in the sixties.
Walk the Walk–Talk the Talk.
Walkie-Talkie.
The boardwalk.
The catwalk.
Streetwalker.
Johnny Walker—
red or black…
Walk fast or slow…
But do–WALK!!
Robin Ellis 
What about Nancy Sinatra’s silly and somewhat aggravating song “These boots are made for walkin’… and one of these days these boots are gonna walk all over YOU”!!
Nice addition, Rosemary, thanks!
I used to be able to walk quickly and for a long time but not any longer and I miss it dreadfully, a nice amble would be acceptable too.
Great post! Entertaining while thought provoking!
Thanks and “You’ll Never Walk Alone” is a good addition. Not sure if it’s Liverpool Football club or another but part of that culture too.
How about the song “You’ll Never Walk Alone”? It has a nice message!
I am a bit of a flaneur and enjoy meeting people from all walks of life in town 😉
An interesting topic! One of the most popular songs I perform is ‘I’ll walk beside you’ by Lockton and Murray-if there is not at least one person moved to tears in the audience then I consider my performance has failed! The words are so very moving ending with ‘and when the great call comes,the sunset gleams,I’ll walk beside you to the land of dreams’. Utterly beautiful.
In Dutch literature you have The zwembadpas (swimmingpool gait). It is a special gait which Theo Thijssen describes in his book Kees de jongen( Kees the boy) . It’s a way to allow you to move quickly. It is the art to walk as if you bend forward with your arms, while you swing back and forth!
I love Theo Thijssen’s books, he describes the live in Amsterdam at the end of the 19th century.
Walking is one of the great joys of life,over the years I must have walked miles,either by choice or otherwise but the one thing they have in common is that you see, sense,
smell and I think remember so much more. I find that in town and city I walk quicker -why because I don’t want to be there longer than I have to.But In the country,or on the fells or the shore line with a fresh wind blowing I find myself lingering. But there can not be any doubt,that whether you walk fast or low it will be doing you good.
That reminds me of a popular ARAL commercial with a song from Fats Domino “I’m Walking” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5gFuX8HHJQ
PS. Nice pic of the Walking Man in front of the Munich Re
“I’m Walking (yes indeed and I’m Talking for you and me, and I’m hoping that you’ll come back to me)” – Fats Domino
How about “Walk on by”, but as you say any walk is good. Great to open your mind & see what is really there. Also a good way of confronting any issues in your head. I dont think jogging has quite the appeal of a strol, fast or slow.
Hope you get a couple of lovely walks in America. Best wishes Bev
The old sixties song ‘Walking back to happiness’ a big hit in my childhood.
Right now, I would do anything to take a long walk. A bad back is keeping me from that. Hopefully, with upcoming surgery, I will be able to walk around my neighborhood, (which borders on a beautiful wooded park), once again. It is the one thing I have longed for in the past year. It is the little things in life that matter most.
It’ll happen!–good luck with the surgery.
Walk on your on tempo and enjoy in the sun en la douce France! I try to walk everyday otherwise I would already be in a wheelchair and really I try to avoid that as long as I can.Walking is so important for everyone, to avoid bloodclots in the bloodstream a killer for so many.No running or jogging for me(too bad back), so walking when the weater is good in the fresh air, cities like here in Antwerp too polluted…one day I hope to emigrate and I hope soon (a dream for so many, but I will do it).Happy Landing in UK and USA(now London very well), was there so many times before, hmmm still miss the UK ,Belgium I would not miss at all.
Have fun overthere!Hughs!xxx
Cakewalk?
How could I have missed it!
Walking with my sons when they were young was a delight as we walked slowly and had fun watching the world float by. There is one walk that we still talk about. My sons were ages 4 and 10. I wanted the boys and I to start a new tradition for Xmas by walking to a neighborhood store and buying a fresh tree. This store was 7 blocks from our home. The boys and I strolled down the street one night eager to get the tree. My 10 year old and I started to carry the tree home (each taking one end) but realized by the third city block that the tree was too heavy for us to carry. We both took one end and dragged the tree on the side walk with my 4 year old trailing behind. My sons are 20 and 26 now and they still chuckle about this outing.
Awww, I thought you were going to finally settle the debate we have every time my husband & I go walking! Which one is actually BETTER for you?
He says we should walk briskly, get the heart pumping, & break a sweat (but avoid the hills for back trouble, doctor says–impossible to do in our area). But I enjoy de-stressing, chatting, & looking at the sunset or the stars…Probably doesn’t burn as many calories, I’d guess.
Did they have any conclusions on which is better for your heart, weight, etc?
Cheers & hugs,
Dianne & Gene
PS: How ’bout “Walk Right Back” by the Everlys?
Great idea–I forgot them.
Both are good in their own ways!
and Walkin’ by Miles Davis, paired with Dig on a CD.
Now there’s a segue…
Ahhh how could we forget the scottish connection!…..
” But I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more”
The Proclaimers…..
How could we forget, Maurice!–my mother always proclaimed her Scots background–very little evidence however!
Hows about “walking after midnight” by dear Patsy Cline? You can think of that & it gives you a good pace to walk with.
I don’t know it but yes!
Hello Robin,I have a question saw here above the nice picture of the Goons, is the person on the left side Spike Milligan ? He past away almost 10 years ago R.i.P.Nice to see that picture.
Spike is right!
Thanks Robin,it depends if you see it straight in front (when looking at the picture)or on the side of the actors.
This topic is really booming, goooood!x.
Walking my baby back home……with Donald o’Connor!
Ooops, could not resist another song that I have thought of…..’Walking on Sunshine’. Great article Robin, I have referred to in my blog on Grannynetters!
Thank you for that Kathleen–and thanks for the mention on Grannynetters–(I love the title! but where do granddaddy netters express themselves!?)
Meant to say that I also referred them to your site!
I saw that–lovely, thanks.
No problem, it is a really nice website Robin – thanks.
I never thought of that, just assumed it was Granny for Granddad and Grandma, but I will find out!
“Walk like a man, talk like a man, walk like a man, my son…” _Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
Nice to be reminded of that one. Maureen.
Yes, it always made me smile to hear that particular line delivered in his stunning falsetto!
“Walk This Way, ” or “Walk Like an Egyptian” . . . or Egyptian walking onions for the garden . . .