I used to think walking was pedestrian!
I ran or jogged, or bicycled–walking took so long.
But then we moved here to rural France, where it’s a bit hilly. As I was getting older, I started walking.
Six times a week–usually for about 40 minutes–usually the same route, which never felt the same two days running (so to speak)!
Then one day I OVERDID it–and my left knee “went”.
I stopped for a while and tried the exercise bike– but it wasn’t the same.
Gradually my knee healed and I started walking again, but less–three or four times a week.
I settled into a routine of roughly 40 minutes every other day.
Three times 40 equals 120--so some weeks I was 30 minutes shy of the 150 minutes recommended aerobic exercise per week.
Recently I changed my routine again: Now I walk every day but for less time–a little over 20 minutes.
So that ring ups the magic 150.
And I feel good on it. “Ah, that’s done!”
Exercising each day–but not TOO long–lifts my spirits without becoming a burden.
One is less likely to throw in the towel.
(Also I’m thinking of my knees.)
I’m in good company…
If I could not walk far and fast, I think I should just explode and perish.
~Charles Dickens
The sovereign invigorator of the body is exercise and of all the exercises, walking is the best.
~Thomas Jefferson
I am a slow
walker, but I never walk backwards.
~Abraham Lincoln
To find new things, take the path you took yesterday.
~John Burroughs (American naturalist)
Thoughts come clearly while one walks.
~Thomas Mann
The best remedy for a short temper is a long walk.
~Jacqueline Schiff (poet)
Robin Ellis 
That sounds like a really good routine Robin. At 53 I’m still in jogging mode, but I also walk my dog every morning for 1/2 hr. According to various fitness gurus, the important thing (apparently) is to walk quite briskly, to get the heartrate up. As you say, it also really lifts the spirits for the rest of the day. Coupled with the pleasure of being surrounded by breathtaking scenary & eating wonderful food – idyllic !
Regards,
David
I swing my arms marching fashion which helps with balance and heart rate. Embarrassing too sometimes!
Nice and encouraging. I bought myself a pedometer and try to do the10,000 recommended steps a day. Very difficult but a real challange and very motivating. Walking is the best and clears out the cobwebs.
I can never make those things work!
I bought a simple one but it has the very aggravating habit of clocking up steps when on bumpy roads in the car
We’ve just planned our walking holiday in June: St Bees to Kirkby Stephen which is the first half of the Coast to Coast through the Lake District. I hope our knees hold up. Jen.
Take good care they do–hold up, Jen!
Robin the old adage a little often is good a lot too often is bad. Jimmy finds that a walk of about 20mins every day helps his.legs, so that’s good. Bye the way I like the hats very stylish.
I was sorry to read about your puss cat Ben hope he’s improving, all your cats always look so happy, is your darling pippa O.K.? Best wishes to Meredith and you
Pippa is frail but still “in charge!”. Glad to hear Jimmy and I are on the same path…
Perfectly right Robin! Mens sana in corpore sano = Mente sana in corpo sano….
Dancing is also good, but for gentlemen it seems a bit hard to be captivated!
Latin and Italian–beautiful, Paola.
“Never turn your back on your audience” Marylin Monroe. hahaha.
You look so swarve Robin. Wish I could go on that walk with you. Although I am still a young 50, removed crushed disc caused damage & left me in so much pain in my feet that I can no longer walk far B 4 the pain hits in hard & I have to cut down walking (outside) to no more than twice a week. In the summer we have the lovely local beach here in the Isle of Wight & I can do that everyday – I loved walking & running everywhere, So GOOD on you for “sticking” with it & thank you for showing the pictures. You inspire me & not
just with your recipies.
Shawdiane.
Thanks, Diane
Do you know of any food stuffs apart from Spices & hot peppers to help
ease pain ? (Lettuce is calming etc.) Milk helps you sleep.
Eating healthily in general, Diane.
I walk my dogs twice a day for 40 mins each time. Feel so happy afterwards, even if the weather is cold. A great start to the day.
So agree! Don’t think you realise it but thyroid disease (like diabetes, is endocrine system) and your recipes etc are as much an inspiration for us poor overlooked souls. Everyone (including our lovely G.P’s) assume the right dose of pills is enough. But it isn’t. So thank you – love the cook books!
Thanks, Cathy–so glad they help.
Robin, I love this post. I also have weak knees and am finding that a walk with my dog for 10-15 minutes a 2-3 times a day helps both body and spirit. Also helpful for my knees is a packet of unflavored gelatin dissolved in a drink each day. Just wish I looked as good as you do on your walks.
Great stuff, Nancy–congratulations!
At 61, walking is definitely the exercise for me. Fortunately we live by the coast in Southbourne, so I feel quite safe walking alone. For a longer walk on Sunday morning, my favourite is up or around Hengistbury Head. As you say, even if going along the same route, its always different, and I’ve been taking some lovely photos of the changing seasons too.
Keep moving they say of all of us seniors. I am so happy we have just received the complete collection of Poldark. Love it. You still are a good looking fella.
Too kind!
I am so glad the simple activity of walking is in vogue again, and sexy, as evidenced by our gallant Poldark taking his daily constitution in the beautiful countryside!
Too kind!
Hi Robin, I got myself an app on the I-phone which measures distance, time, average pace etc. I do an 11k walk every Sunday morning and several shorter ones in the week. I am now 72 and still feel good!
That’s impressive, Anne–don’t overdo it though.
That’s impressive, Anne–don’t overdo it though.
Matter of interest, just where exactly is your walk? Is that you walking off into the sunset, so to speak?I strongly recommend getting a canine companion as my vizsla provides me with the impetus to take an hour’s exercise every day. My husband takes him for his other hour. Obviously, not all dogs need such exercise but working dogs … a great way to interact with your fellows, be they canine or otherwise, but effortless (at least in fine weather).Keep at it and just love the blogs. Judi ps how’s that lovely cat?
Thanks Judi–we are looking for Ben right now–he needs his daily dose…
Very good you are advocating a walk a day (or almost) and I/we take our vizsla out for 2 x 1 hour hikes/gallops daily. It’s wonderful to meet like minded people, good for the temper and good for one’s health (I’m told). Sometimes I have to remind myself that it’s good for me as, in bad weather, it’s not always totally inspiring. Suggest getting a canine companion as it lifts one’s mood, obliges one to take the darling out and, without knowing it, one ends up enjoying the torture of an hour in sleet and other such horrendous conditions. The cats are in situ so the addition of a dog wouldn’t upset the applecart. Matter of interest is that you marching off into the sunset (back view) as, in both shots, it appears very clement weather!
That’s me–but it’s cold.
Walking is an elixir: mind-clearing, heart-opening, and oxygen-inducing. What’s not to like?
Oh, I love to walk now and walk about 4 to 6 miles but when I started it was a struggle. Lost weight and feel better
Thanks for sharing your walking routine. Now that I am retired, I try to walk 20-30 minutes each day. On cold, windy, rainy days, I ride a stationary bike for 30 minutes. I always feel better mentally and physically after I walk or exercise.
I love the picture of you walking in the French countryside. La champagne est très belle! Je suis jalouse de vos promenades dans la belle champagne en France.
Debra Ashe
I’m a lucky son-of-a-gun, I know!
Oui,vous avez beaucoup de chance!
Food for thought
Sent from my iPad
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What a gorgeous country road you have! And it looks like no worries about cars or traffic–wonderful!
We are currently on the “wild goose” walking plan, which leads us along the very same river you once tarried along with Lee Remick…though a little further downstream, beyond the cow field and in the woods. Granted, the “walking” is a little rough–the snow is thigh-high in places!–but we go there to feed and check on a wild Canada goose who has evaded capture for 3 months!
“Lucy Goosie” has limited flight & couldn’t fly south with the flock, so as ice encroached upon the river, many of us worried about her survival. Whenever the weather changes (terrible snowstorm right now) and the water-levels change (from the dam-operators), she changes her home-base, thus requiring a “wild goose chase” through the snow every so often.
I thought we lost her for sure this weekend. No one could find her, and I saw fox and fisher cat tracks on the ice nearby– but I discovered her sunning herself on the riverbank, blending in very nicely with the trunk of a large tree! As long as she can evade the predators, she is fat & sassy, and keeping us trim in the process!! But I’ll tell you: spring couldn’t arrive fast enough!!! 🙂
Lovely story–let’s hope she survives. With friends like you two she stands a chance!
Very touching blog: I like the photos very much: starting out, facing us and then walking off — with the walking stick. I wish I could get myself to walk more often: I’m lonely walking without my husband. It’s also cold where I live just now (Alexandria, Va), high winds. Where you live seems to have a mild winter — though I see snow in your next blog.
Courage, Ellen.
Hello Robin,Just thought i would tell you how much We enjoy your articles and recipes we also love walking my wife and I live in West Sussex near the coast so we have lots to choose from.On a different tack We were looking through our collection of books and found your book on the making of the first Poldark,we are hoping the new version will be as good.Keep up the good work.
Best Wishes Malcolm and Angela Mays.
Thanks, Malcolm. All the signs are good for the new version. I’m looking forward to seeing it–hope you enjoy it.
I have just recorded Making Poldark as an audio book–in a studio in Worthing as it happens! Should be available pretty soon. It is twice the length now of the original.
So enjoy your posts, especially those with pictures. Envious of your beautiful surroundings – and bucolic life in France.
Used to walk once or twice a day here outside Santa Fe, NM, but the wind, snow and cold are inhibiting. Warmer days ahead they say, so maybe I’ll get out and about again.
Nancy
Robin, I agree, walking is the best. Also, it gives me time to stop and smell the roses. Taking hyaluronic capsules really helps to stay limber. It is the body’s natural lubricant. It even lubricates the eyes. If you aren’t taking it already, you should try it. You will be pleasantly surprised.
Hi Robin
I also love these pics of you walking in Lautrec countryside, it’s so beautiful over your way snowing or sunny!! Can’t wait to come over your way!!
I agree and share the same mindset with you about walking more frequently and shorter time, rather than walking less frequently and longer time!!
Once upon a time, I was a crazy 20yo doing 3x aerobic classes a day, 7x a week. Then I also played squash 3x a week and in the weekends I did horse riding as well. I went to London to do my OE and a working holiday when I was 27yo, arrived there 2 days before my 28th birthday, just made it into the country! I didn’t do any exercise at the gym in London as it was expensive, but I did a lot of walking, and when I returned to NZ in my 30’s, I wised up and did 1x aerobic class a day, 7 days a week. But all those years of jumping really damaged my knees!! I take a supplement Procosamine which contains glucosamine and turmeric and has really helped repair my knee cartilage and don’t get pain in my knees any more, and I take fish oil to keep my joints lubricated, and healthy eating!!
I just turned 56yo last January, I now power walk on the treadmill. I use to go for bush walks 10 mins from my house. It’s so beautiful walking in the bush track and it was like being in James Cameron’s Avatar movie location.
Since starting my new job, and working late nights, I haven’t been exercising. But since seeing your lovely walking pics, I am going to make the start to exercising again!! It’s Saturday here in NZ and sunny Summer, so there’s no excuse for me!!
Love your recipes and food posts as well, yummy and delicious!!
You’re an inspiration!! ☺️ xx
Just short walks are doing it for me–gotta take care as the years pile on!
Walking is the best form of exercise and you can do that anywhere and at any age!! I know what you mean Robin about the years piling on and taking care, but to me you are a young 70!! I so admire you for keeping up your exercise of walking. You’re an inspiration to all!! 😊
Just watched you along with Jeremy Brett in the film ‘The Soldier’. You make a good cut in the white regalia (though a little dazzling 😊) You played an excellent part. How many times have you performed with the late great Jeremy? I know you are in Sherlock Holmes. I wonder how this film left you feeling; each character is very solemn & solitary. You are such fun & happy. So enjoyed, now starting to read the book by FBF. Sunny here on Isle of Wight, no snow. Have a week of great walks.
🍀Shawdiane
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One of the great books, Diane.