What I Learnt During a 17km Walk

Walking. The most fundamental mode of transport. The first sign of independence and freedom.

Yet, as we get older and we unlock the ability to drive and we have the finances to afford more public transport, we slowly start walking less.

We don't walk to school/work as often. We don't walk to the shops as more. We don't walk just for the sake of being outside.

Life just seems to get to busy to walk.

Yet, the science shows that it is the most accessible form of exercise and brings with it many benefits.

So, I went on a walk. 17km to be precise with my Ella and her parents; how bad could it be?

Where did I walk

I live in a lovely little town just outside of Exeter. The coast is about a 20 minute drive away and my girlfriends parents are keen walkers. So they asked us if we wanted to walk to the coast.

We said yes.

Why did I do it?

I think we said yes with the idea that it wouldn't be that far. We know when they suggested a long walk, we thought it would be 10km tops.

We're blessed with a lot of beautiful walking locations where we live. Plus, as a fairly active person, I knew that it would be a low-level form of exercise where I know I wouldn't be pushed too hard physically. But I was very wrong.

What did I learn?

Now if you're thinking of doing a walk, or getting into walking, it actually gives you plenty of time to think, something like a time for meditation.

And between my home and where we dropped the car off, stood 4-hours of constant walking; plenty of time to capture the moment, bask in the sunshine and really take in the day and the task at hand.

Here's just a couple of things that I learnt along the way.

Life is Always Happening

We've been watching Frozen Planet II recently, the latest David Attenborough documentary.

I think the factor that contributes the most beauty is the fact that the elements and moments that are caught on camera are happening right now.

If there were no cameras around, that seal pup would still be left alone, the walrus would still be sunbathing, the killer whales would still hunt.

But the consumption of this content through the TV, still gives it a hint of scripting. We don't quite believe it.

Yet on my walk, I saw it first hand. We witnessed a bird, I don't know what kind, dive head first into the water and catch a fish.

The fish was far too wide for the bird to swallow (calm it down). But he continued to try and try and try.

We stood there for 5 minutes just watching this bird try and feed itself. And it was something so primitive that there was a beauty about it that was captivating.

I also realised at that point that this kind of thing is always happening. That bird fishes everyday. That fish will try and escape on a daily basis. The seagulls are always flying around, the wind is always blowing through the grass.

They say that seeing is believing, but it takes a slightly deeper thought process to realise that the things you don't see are always taking place.

You certainly won't see moments like I did sat down on your sofa. You'll be amazed at what you do see out on a walk.

Accomplishment is a BIG Motivator

Motivation seems to be the big secret that everyone wants to unlock. If the world was able to harness the power of motivation then it would be a significantly better place.

A lot of people give motivation a lot of power. If they don't have motivation, then nothing gets done. 'I know what I want, but I don't have the motivation to do it. If I had the motivation, I would be unstoppable.'

They see it as a linear process. Motivation - Action - Success. If you have motivation first, then the success will come.

Mark Manson, author of 'The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck', actually proposed that this isn't a linear sequence, but more of a circular process.

Because it’s a circle, it means that it can start at any point. But for the majority it usually starts with action.

Once you start, the motivation comes along to keep going.

This is exactly what happened on my walk. I just started walking. I'm not unfit, I've got quite good physical health and I don't find walking difficult.

But whilst embarking on my longest ever walk, and as we neared the end, I'd already walked 15km, the furthest I'd ever walked. I could have stopped and called it a personal best and waited for the car to pick me up.

But because I was very much balls-deep in the action, I felt motivated to keep going and see it through to the end. I felt this as well with Scafell Pike.

When you get going, the motivation will come with it. You've just got to force yourself out the door.

I Need to Stretch More

At the time of the walk, I was 25 years old. Some might say I should be in my physical prime.

Yet I found the repetitive nature of walking actually ending up causing great discomfort in my hip. I know I've got bad hips, but for slightly longer endurance events, I wouldn't be able to complete these because I'm so out of touch with my body.

I always revert back to an apocalyptic world. If shit hit the fan and it all went to pot, would I be able to cope physically with no vehicles, no gym, no modern technology.

And quite simply, I'm very much in a phase of my life where I would survive 'up to an extent'.

I couldn't continually out run a zombie mob or a tribe of people that are cannibals. If you've seen Zombieland, what's rule #1? Cardio.

This is the only body I have, and I imagine, if you're reading this, you've only got one body too. It is crucial that you look after it.

Because I am a point where I'm physically able, it now comes down to the fine-tuning.

This comes in the form of stretching or yoga. Given our modern world of sitting and hunching over, it is now more important than ever to really stretch and get our posture back.

Really taking care of our body should be a priority for everyone and I'm now at a point where this is becoming my top priority.

The difficult part about this however, is that it is all good and well saying I should do it, but actually implementing it into my routine so that it forms as a habit I'm finding rather difficult.

However, it is a journey and it certainly won't happen overnight, but this public declaration is certainly a step in the right direction.

Completing the walk was a real struggle as my right hip slowly gave way, but being able to grit my teeth a little bit, push through and earn that seat in the car, it was a little more eye opening than I thought this walk would be.

Go for a Walk

I didn't think this walk would have the impact that it has on me. But as I reflect on it a couple of days later, I note that some of the benefits of walking aren't immediate. They come a few days, weeks, maybe months later.

Now you certainly don't need to go for a walk the same length as me, but one thing is for certain.

It's certainly easier than running.