Fall Walks are the
Best!
By Michele Batz
I must share this with all my readers but
let me ask you a few questions
first. Are you ready to get back to nature? Are you ready to have
a joyful
experience? Are you ready to put that glow back into your face
and have a feeling
that despite everything, we live in a pretty fantastic place?
Okay, here it is and I must tell you what
has been happening the past few
weeks. I am a fitness workout fiend, I always have been. I think
it is in the
genes; both my parents were physical education teachers!
I've been walking
again starting at dusk in my wonderful neighborhood, with
my flashlight and red blinking light. I see colors in the sky that
I haven't
seen since I was a kid. I breathe in fresh, crisp, clean air and
it just makes
my spirits soar. My husband just loves this about me — walking
in the
fall — and he gives me 110% support. Walking in the fall
at dusk is fabulous! You
catch glimpses of different colors, geese flying overhead and I
just have to stop
to listen to their wings cut through the air. If you have not done
this in
awhile, it is really a cool sound. You must experience this...so
cool!
I put on my running tights, sometimes with
a nylon shell over them to contain
the heat. Slip on a moisture wicking first layer to help take the
sweat away
from my skin and the ol' standby sweat top with a hoodie. Then
a good pair of
walking shoes or hiking boots and I am out the door for 45 minutes
to an hour
walking. This is not your leisurely walk...I am talking about a
walk like
you are late-for-a-meeting-walk. It is brisk, it is fun and sometimes
I cannot
help myself but smile quite a bit during the walk.
The stars come out
against the dark evening sky and twinkle with such
brilliance! As you look upon them, your memories take you back
to when you were a
kid to that common theme — twinkle, twinkle little star and
I don't know about
you, but a smile starts to form on my face!
Just the other night while out walking, a
good friend of mine who I haven't
seen in about three years stopped me along side the road. We hugged
each other
and in a few short minutes-those years were erased and we were
both up to
speed with each other's lives! Hello, Sheryl Goodwin...it was fantastic
to see
you!
During my walks I brainstorm about future
columns, future events about to
take place and future lesson plans for school. It is a time set
aside for me to
think, reflect and just enjoy the moments while walking. It keeps
me centered
and, ask my family, it makes me a better wife, mother and friend.
I have
found the fountain of youth.
It is wonderful to meet other women out walking
and you can see that they
have determination on their faces to get back into shape or continue
their
healthy way of living. It is so empowering for these women to find
the time for
themselves while working full time or taking care of their families
during the
day. It is a full time job to make sure the household is running
smoothly. But
don't forget to keep yourself running smoothly, too! You must take
care of
yourself first before you can take care of those loved ones around
you.
If you have been
putting off working out, walking or trying to turn the
corner to a new healthy lifestyle. Fall is a super time to start.
Get out and
walk in the fall's crisp air...it will empower you, it will rejuvenate
you and
best of all — it will put that smile back on your face. •
© 2004 Michele Batz
 About the Author
Michele Batz has an extensive 25 year career in sports education. She writes her own column for a Chicagoland newspaper and for eFitness.com and eDiets.com. Her book — What's Holding You Back? A Woman's Beginning Guide to Fitness is available through Amazon.com.
10/19/04
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