Three Months Later

The day had finally arrived; it marked our third "unofficial" 10K in just eight days. We stepped out by 7:30 a.m. The weather was perfect, with cool temperatures in the low 60s, a clear blue sky, and hardly any wind. Ideal for a long-distance walk.

I had often believed that walking could help me get off my blood pressure medication, but I struggled to find the motivation. That changed when my partner stepped in to support me.

A New Direction

Having participated in several 10K races before, he enjoyed the community and festivity surrounding these events. However, as life got busier, he ran less frequently. Understanding my lack of enthusiasm for running, he invited me to walk with him instead.

I was all in. We agreed to embark on this journey together, challenging ourselves to prepare for an "official" 10K—perhaps even more. We promised to motivate each other, especially on days when one of us felt less inclined.

Establishing a Routine

Our scheduled walks began at the end of January on a Saturday. Each morning was rooted in our established routines, which included weights, calisthenics, Pilates, breath-work, stretching, yoga, and meditation. Some weeks, I even managed to fit in a swim or two, keeping our daily workouts around 45 minutes.

The first walk covered just over 3 miles, leaving me exhausted. Despite the aches in my knees and hips, the sense of accomplishment was invigorating. My partner reassured me that the discomfort would fade, and that I would soon feel revitalized in body, mind, and spirit.

Keep Moving, Keep Grooving

Every Saturday, we walked together, adding spontaneous 15–20 minute walks throughout the week. To encourage myself, I created a catchy phrase: "Keep movin', keep groovin', don't stop!"

In just three months, I was amazed at my progress. We had gradually increased our distance from 3 miles to over 6 miles—a true 10K. As my aches diminished, I even found myself looking forward to our walks. Now, we were gearing up for our third 10K in eight days—what a milestone!

An Unexpected Turn

Just past the 5K mark, the pedestrian traffic intensified, making the sidewalks feel congested. We walked in single file to navigate through the crowd.

First, we passed a man who appeared to be talking to himself, while a woman beside him remained silent, her gaze fixed ahead. Then, a young man at a bus stop asked for change, clearly in need of help. My partner remembered the dollar he had on him and went back to offer it, hoping it would assist the young man in reaching his destination.

As we continued, the aroma from a popular breakfast spot filled the air, reminding me of the brunch we planned later. Soon, we encountered another bus stop where we exchanged nods with a young man standing there.

Caught up in my thoughts, I failed to notice an uneven pavement ahead. Suddenly, the toe of my left sneaker hit a raised crack in the sidewalk. In what felt like slow motion, I stumbled forward, my sunglasses flying off as I fell to the ground with a loud thud.

Support in the Moment

My partner heard my fall and rushed to my side, immediately checking if I was okay. I had landed hard on my right side, feeling the impact across my forehead, chin, chest, forearm, wrist, and knee. Thankfully, it wasn’t as severe as my last fall, but that’s a story for another time.

A passing runner stopped to see if he should call for help, but I assured him I was alright—I just needed assistance to get back on my feet. Together, my partner and the runner helped me up, and we expressed our gratitude as he continued on his way.

Taking the Next Step

My partner enveloped me in a warm hug, but I felt a sharp pain in my chest. As I contemplated going home, I noticed some chairs outside a bike shop. "Maybe I should sit?" I suggested, more as an inquiry than a statement.

Unfortunately, the chairs were at a shop we didn’t particularly favor. What should I do? Luckily, my partner took charge.

We decided to keep moving forward, tackling the challenge together.

Have you ever thought about walking? I’ll be sharing more about my walking journey, embracing a healthier lifestyle, fitness at any age, plant-based cooking, and whatever else inspires me to Keep Movin' ~ Keep Groovin' ~ Don't Stop.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Your support through claps, comments, follows, and subscriptions means the world to me! ~ L

Fueling the Body for Performance

In addition to our walking practices, understanding how to fuel our bodies became crucial.

In the video "3 X 10K MARATHON SESSION. HOW I FUEL FOR SESSIONS AND RACE DAY," the importance of proper nutrition and hydration for long-distance events is highlighted, sharing tips to optimize performance on race day.