Walking. Who Knew?

The last four years have been rough on the body. I left a cushy state higher ed job that leaned heavily towards “life” in the work/life balance equation and started a corporate gig with long hours and catered breakfast, lunch and late afternoon “snack” (aka dinner). Even trying to be disciplined, it took its toll to the tune of 30 pounds.
Now, someone with actual weight issues would track me down and kill me for even trying to complain about a little beer gut. However, there have been real effects on health: my asthma has returned after 5 years; near-constant heartburn; plantar fasciitis to compliment my friend-for-life ITBS; back pain, hip pain, you name it. I’m just too big for my frame, and too big to simply jog it off this time.
Salvation came from a peculiar source. I recently started a new job downtown and my commute includes a round trip of 5 miles walking between the train and office. It adds up fast. 20–25 miles per week on foot for the past 3 weeks. Everything had been feeling better: lower back, feet, hips. I suspected that maybe my walking was building up enough of a base that I could start running further than a couple miles.
This morning I tried it. I set out on my normal 2.5 mile out-and-back through the woods. I could IMMEDIATELY feel the difference. My cadence was slower yet stronger. I felt very stabilized and strong. Instead of pain everywhere it shouldn’t be, I felt like I was actually getting exercise. In the end, I completed a pain-free 4.5 mile loop in high humidity and 90 degree temps in a little less than an hour (12 minute miles). By far my best run in 2 years.
The crazy thing is even my IT band didn’t feel bad. I suspect the walking is strengthening things without causing any inflammation. I think the cumulative mileage from the walking might be much better prep for a long weekend run than a couple midweek 5k’s. We’ll see as the fall progresses. 10 weeks until the 7-mile Falmouth in the Fall. Fingers crossed, but all signs lead to a great end-of-the-year out running.