Walking on Daily Tours. Prepare yourself!

JillCruse — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 07:16:13 GMT

I have been fortunate to have gone on over 20 different Riverboat cruises over the years. Most of the tours are included in the cost of the trip, and most of the tours are walking tours of the towns we visit. I have seen many of our travelers unaware of the walking involved, and some have a hard time being out and about for 2-3 hours, climbing steps, walking on cobblestone streets, and walking an average of 1-2 miles or more. The walks are usually slow paced, but if you have not been walking on a regular basis, it really can take a lot out of you to do this daily on the trip. If I had a dime for every time someone would complain about knees hurting, dogs barking (shoes not providing enough support for being on your feet all day), or back aches, I would be a very rich (and still working at Olivia too) :-)

Keep in mind too that when traveling Internationally, the airports are generally very big, and there is a lot of walking to get from gate to gate! If you are retired and spend a lot of time hanging out on a couch all day, or gardening, or basically leading a sedentary life, you will definitely want to start walking now to make the trip much more comfortable and enjoyable.

I encourage you to start on an exercise program so you can really enjoy the places we visit. Its easy, and will make a big difference in your trip. Here are some tips in getting started:

Get Ready to Walk

How to ease into a walking program this spring, week by week.

Article By: Alice Lesch Kelly

Spring is an excellent time to start a walking program. After a sedentary winter, walking is the perfect way to get off the couch and start burning calories, toning muscles, and feeling great about yourself.

Although it's tempting to charge outside and go for a gung-ho walk on the first day of your walking program, it's better to start slowly and increase your effort over time, says Sara Donovan, founder of WalkSport, a national walking program, and author of the book Mall Walking Madness(Rodale, 2002).

If you have been physically inactive for some time, you need to be careful not to overdo it. Remember to consult with your physician before starting a new exercise regimen to make sure it's right for you.

It takes about a month to establish a fitness habit, Donovan says. That's why she advises new walkers to follow this four-week get-started plan:

Week 1: Start small — walk 10 minutes a day for seven days. "That helps you get into the habit of doing it on a daily basis," says Donovan. Walk comfortably, and enjoy yourself — your job this week is to start building a walking habit, not to walk a marathon distance. Focus on your posture: Walk tall and hold in your tummy.
Week 2: Walk 15 minutes a day, everyday. This week, focus on taking a stride that is a comfortable length. Push off with your back foot, and roll from heel to toe as your foot lands on the ground.
Week 3: Walk 20 or 25 minutes a day. Be creative about scheduling workouts — take two shorter walks if that's more convenient than one longer walk. This week, put some push into your pace. Start with five minutes of comfortable walking. Then, mid-walk, strive for shorter, quicker steps. Slow down if you're out of breath — you should be able to talk while you walk. End your walk with a 5-minute cool-down of slow, comfortable walking and then some stretches, such as the shin stretch (while standing on one foot, trace circles in the air with the toe of your other foot, then switch) and the hamstring stretch (put your foot on a chair or bench and slowly lean over that leg to stretch the back of the thigh; switch legs).
Week 4: Increase to your goal of 30 minutes a day. Get your arms involved — bend them at a 90-degree angle at the elbows and pump them gently as you walk. Every few minutes, speed up your pace for 20 quick steps, and then slow back down. (This is called interval training.)

After four weeks, your walking habit should be firmly established. Keep walking every day for at least 30 minutes. If you need some motivation to get yourself out the door each day, try Donovan's surefire motivation tips: Walk with a friend, use a pedometer to measure mileage, and give yourself non-food rewards (movies, CDs, a fun pair of socks) for every successful week of walking.

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Walking on Daily Tours. Prepare yourself!

Get Ready to Walk