1. < Just Want to Talk
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Let’s Go Walking! Join me for a virtual walking support group

Posted by Becky, Volunteer Mentor @becsbuddy, Feb 19, 2020

Many of you living with cancer or an autoimmune disease, like me, deal with daily fatigue. You know that exercise is so important to your health, but it’s so hard. There’s always an excuse: it’s too cold or hot, it’s going to rain or it’s raining, or it’s snowy and icy, or I just don’t want to. I, too, have all these excuses, but I have a new rescue dog who wants to go out and who doesn’t care about my excuses! And I’ve got traction devices for my boots.Now I just need a walking group who will keep me accountable. People who say, ‘let’s go for a walk.'

And I thought: What about my virtual friends on MayoClinicConnect?

Mayo Clinic has an easy 12-week walking program to get us started! Here’s the link:
- Get walking with this 12-week walking schedule https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/get-walking-with-this-12-week-walking-schedule/

So let’s form a virtual walking group. We can agree to walk every day and encourage each other through Connect. We can walk outdoors, in a mall, or in the red center, or in the hallways of our apartment building.

Who’s in? Who’s going to join me?

Come on, Let’s Go Walking!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Just Want to Talk Support Group.

Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 9, 2020

Thanks for remembering about staying on topic, @jakedduck1. Tangents will happen. We're human after all and conversations often diverge. Normally I'm not so strict on Guideline #4 of the Community Guidelines https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/about-connect/tab/community-guidelines/

But under the Stay Home orders that we're all living with, exercise and getting fresh air for body and soul is really important. I want to include as many members as possible in the motivating discussion and keep people moving. If people get too many email notifications that are unrelated to walking they will leave and that's a pity.

Please join @imallears in the discussion she started here:

- Humor and fun chat diversions during the Coronavirus crisis: Join us https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/humor-during-the-coronavirus-crisis/
Because just being able to chat and share this, that and the other thing is really important for connecting and coping, too.

WALKING CHALLENGE FOR WEEK 6
We're just finishing up week 6. This means you might be doing 5 minutes warm up, then 15 minutes brisk walking, followed by 5 minutes cool down.

I challenge everyone to add a sprint, which is 30 to 60 seconds fast walking in the middle of their 15 minutes brisk walking. Simply increase your speed a little bit for 30 seconds or pick a landmark a short distance ahead like a driveway or a telephone and sprint to it.

I look forward to your posts tomorrow letting us know a) Did you do a sprint? b) what was your landmark to sprint to? Send a pic (optional).

REPLY
pollyanne | @pollyanne | Apr 9, 2020
In reply to @imallears "@polllyanne Hi, I will have to disagree with you about stretching if you, as I am,..." + (show)
@imallears

@polllyanne
Hi,
I will have to disagree with you about stretching if you, as I am, are in the habit of stretching every single day...walk or not. Stretching is a big part of my gym class and I stretch throughout the day and first thing in the morning routinely. If you are not use to walking, I would still advise light gentle stretching. I think this will make you more flexible when you start the walk. and may reduce any injury. Runners do it all the time. Each person is different and it depends on what shape you are in.
The emphasis is on gentle stretching which not everyone knows how to do properly. Once you get use to doing it the right way (you shouldn't be feeling any pain) you can increase the intensity.

FL Mary

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@imallears Well I was a fitness instructor for a good few years and that was how I was trained and I always follow those rules. However, if you are used to it then your body probably knows your routine. We are all different.

REPLY
pollyanne | @pollyanne | Apr 9, 2020
In reply to @imallears "@pollyanne More divorces and probably more babies too lol. The humidity is back here in Fl..." + (show)
@imallears

@pollyanne
More divorces and probably more babies too lol. The humidity is back here in Fl which really puts a drag on a good brisk walk. I left at 7:25 this morning and was so glad to be back in the AC 45 minutes later. I also think a lot of this staying home and sitting more actually makes you more tired some days. I know the heat here can be a killer for me. I'll probably leave earlier and earlier until this is over. This is the time of year I usually opt for a gym treadmill on days I don't have classes or before a class. I'm a NY transplant and miss the seasons. We only have 3 seasons...hot....coolish and occasionally cold.

FL Mary

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@imallears We are pretty humid here too and the heat is starting to build. It's not too bad yet but I hate the humidity. I added a bit of running this morning, partly to avoid other walkers. There seem more out there this week. some of them have the look of visitors but I'm not sure how because they have stopped nearly all flights except for necessary ones for returning residents. At one point this morning it was like a dodging game. We were walking like a slalom in and out of each other. I hope it quietens down again. Maybe I need to change my time.

REPLY
2 replies
mayofeb2020 | @mayofeb2020 | Apr 9, 2020

It's been raining all day, unless it dries up later, there will be no walk. 😭

REPLY
lioness | @lioness | Apr 9, 2020

@mayofeb2020 Yep same here but I can walk the halls here so this is what Ive done or you can walk in place put a marching song on lol

REPLY
1 reply
jude07 | @jude07 | Apr 9, 2020
In reply to @pollyanne "@imallears We are pretty humid here too and the heat is starting to build. It's not..." + (show)
@pollyanne

@imallears We are pretty humid here too and the heat is starting to build. It's not too bad yet but I hate the humidity. I added a bit of running this morning, partly to avoid other walkers. There seem more out there this week. some of them have the look of visitors but I'm not sure how because they have stopped nearly all flights except for necessary ones for returning residents. At one point this morning it was like a dodging game. We were walking like a slalom in and out of each other. I hope it quietens down again. Maybe I need to change my time.

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The humidity where some of you live can be difficult, I definitely don't have that problem. It was 35 degrees this morning for my 2 miles and windy. It actually felt good since I was dressed for it. I felt relaxed and calm once I got inside. It has snowed on and off about 7 times since then, however nothing is sticking on the ground.
Wishing you all a peaceful evening.

REPLY
imallears | @imallears | Apr 9, 2020
In reply to @pollyanne "@imallears We are pretty humid here too and the heat is starting to build. It's not..." + (show)
@pollyanne

@imallears We are pretty humid here too and the heat is starting to build. It's not too bad yet but I hate the humidity. I added a bit of running this morning, partly to avoid other walkers. There seem more out there this week. some of them have the look of visitors but I'm not sure how because they have stopped nearly all flights except for necessary ones for returning residents. At one point this morning it was like a dodging game. We were walking like a slalom in and out of each other. I hope it quietens down again. Maybe I need to change my time.

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@pollyanne
Yeah, I have seen more walkers lately too and we criss cross the road and wave. The earlier I go the less people there are. Went a little later one morning and there teenagers walking with their families and that you never see. These are people in the neighborhood though but it’s nice to see them. Anyone who walks their dogs I cross to the other side because the dogs are generally friendly and want to socialize too.

FL Mary

REPLY
1 reply
Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Apr 9, 2020

I'll be sprinting between telephone poles
Jake
REPLY
mayofeb2020 | @mayofeb2020 | Apr 9, 2020

@jakedduck1.. What? No water/snack station in between?

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Apr 9, 2020
In reply to @imallears "@pollyanne Yeah, I have seen more walkers lately too and we criss cross the road and..." + (show)
@imallears

@pollyanne
Yeah, I have seen more walkers lately too and we criss cross the road and wave. The earlier I go the less people there are. Went a little later one morning and there teenagers walking with their families and that you never see. These are people in the neighborhood though but it’s nice to see them. Anyone who walks their dogs I cross to the other side because the dogs are generally friendly and want to socialize too.

FL Mary

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@imallears Hi Mary, Just went out to finish my walk and encountered 2 families out running and walking. We have a neighbor with 3 tweens, living in a 30' trailer waiting for Dad's job to restart - they regularly run and walk as a group for one hour a day, then have about 30 minutes of exercise. Also home school, read books, walktheir dogs, and play catch or toss a football. Mom says they have to earn all screen time with activities, chores and schoolwork.
Most of the parents here live in 250 sq ft with their kids, keeping them active outdoors is imperative for everyone's survival. And I remember whining about a rainy weekend when camping with my kids!
I hope some of this family exercise survives the return to "normal" times.
Sue

REPLY
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