 |
| A forest walk in autumn, Carl Carlsen 1892 |
Small steps taken by many people in their backyards add up.
NANCY KNOWLTON
I tell people that I have the world's most expensive treadmill. This is because it is attached to real estate. I have a small path in my backyard that I made with walking many steps and miles as I try and recover from a traumatic brain injury. I find walking on a regular treadmill too dangerous because of my balance issues and too boring to stick with it. I find walking the neighborhood too hazardous at this stage of my recovery. So, I compromise by walking in my backyard. It is an option that I recommend that people consider.
My idea for a backyard walking path came from a famous doctor and runner, George Sheehan. I don't recommend running as a fitness activity and suggest walking as the better option. Sheehan made a running track in his backyard to save his family the embarrassment of people seeing him run in the neighborhood. This was before the running boom made this behavior acceptable.
 |
| I will always remember the dirt path that circled our backyard on Rumson Road when I was a young boy, but it was only years later that I would understand its significance. The path had been pounded into the grass by my father as he ran laps in the early 1960s to comply with family concerns that running out on the streets would bring embarrassment.--MICHAEL SHEEHAN (https://tworivertimes.com/a-son-remembers-his-father-running-a-school-honors-his-legacy/) |
Sheehan was onto something with that backyard track. If he could make a running track in the backyard, I could make a walking path. There are many good reasons for making a walking path in your backyard. Here is a list of those reasons.
1. It is convenient.
Except for the weather, the backyard walking path has all of the conveniences of an indoor treadmill. You are close to a bathroom. You can keep a water bottle nearby and not carry it. Your wife can find you when she needs you. And if the weather turns hazardous, you don't have far to walk to get inside. And you can sit down when needed.
2. You don't have to worry about idiot drivers running you over.
The novelist Stephen King was out for a walk when an idiot struck him with his vehicle. You figure a millionaire author would have a private walking path at home to avoid such calamities.
3. You don't have to worry about attacks from the dogs in the neighborhood.
Dogs and other critters are a constant threat when you are walking the neighborhood or a park. Your backyard is a controlled environment where you can mitigate these threats from animals.
 |
| Beware of the neighbor's dog that crawls under the fence wanting to get petted. You may get licked to death. |
4. You don't have to worry about the criminal element.
Women complain about this all of the time. They don't feel safe walking alone in their neighborhoods and parks. The backyard walking path solves this problem.
5. A dirt path in your backyard is a better surface than the road or the sidewalk.
Dirt and grass are soft surfaces and makes walking easier on the hips and knees. Concrete and asphalt are not as forgiving.
 |
| Sometimes, you have to mow the track to keep it walkable. |
6. You are closer to help and home if you have a medical emergency.
I carry a loud whistle with me when I walk in case I fall or have some sort of health crisis. My wife can hear this whistle and come help me or call 911.
7. You can't get lost.
The Gentle Reader may laugh about this, but many walkers and hikers get lost on the roads and trails. I recently read of one fellow that went for a hike that lasted 30 days. He had only planned to be out for a couple of hours. I might get lost in my backyard one day, but I know my wife can find me.
8. It requires hauling less gear.
I carry a water bottle to the backyard, but I don't have to strap on a backpack or carry food. You don't have to pack the Subaru and drive to the trailhead.
9. You have more freedom to think.
Some people may opt to listen to podcasts or music when they walk. Walking the backyard makes headphones a safer option. I prefer to walk without distractions and carry a pocket notebook to jot down ideas for my writing.
10. You don't have to pay a gym fee.
Walking your backyard is essentially free. You also don't feel guilty if you slack off for awhile because the yard is always there. And no one is going to look at you in your dumpy clothes or judge you. You have privacy.
11. You can look at birds and stars.
I have become a very amateur birdwatcher from walking in my backyard. We get a lot of avian visitors. And we can see the stars at night because we live in the country where there is less light pollution.
12. You feel more secure on a night walk.
I walk in the dark in the fall and winter months. I put on a headlamp and turn on the porch light by the backdoor. I know my humble walking path by heart, so I don't worry about tripping or twisting an ankle.
Conclusion
Safety and convenience are the main reasons to make a walking path in your backyard. I understand that not everyone has an ample space in their backyards to make a walking path. I simply recommend the backyard as a consideration along with treadmills, streets, sidewalks, parks, and nature trails. If there is a downside, it would be boredom. I consider boredom to be a luxury because I like to think. The backyard is a middle ground between the treadmill and the trail. It is boring enough to allow you to think but novel enough to keep the walk enjoyable. I highly recommend walking for health and fitness, so get out there and get some steps. Thank you for reading.
 |
| Caspar David Friedrich, Walk at Dusk (Man Contemplating a Megalith) 1830 |
No comments:
Post a Comment