I began a regular walking program on December 15, 2019, just before the COVID-19 panic set in, or about 4 years and 10 months ago.  I’ve written about this in a number of blog posts since then, but not since November of 2023.  When I go places or talk with friends by phone or Zoom, I’m frequently asked the question: “Are you still walking?”

The short answer is “Yes,” but life has a way of interfering once in a while.  In November, I reported:

September [2023] was a light month.  I tore or twisted my right meniscus on August 28.  Needless to say, after a cortisone shot and an exercise regimen from an ortho doc, my walking was curtailed a bit.  I averaged less than 4 miles per day until late in September when I began to be able to walk more normally.  Since then, I’ve averaged about 5.5 miles per day.

The meniscus seems to be doing well now.

However, in April 2024, I played pickleball at a new indoor court in Memphis.  It was a renovated theatre, and the courts were concrete and hard.  We were playing the last game of a two-hour session, and my partner and I were ahead 12-11 (games to 11 and win by two).  The opposing side hit a lob to the left back of the court where I was playing.

I went for the lob.

So did my partner from the right side of the court.

He hit me and knocked me down, and I hit my left hip and shoulder going down.

But wait, there’s more.  My partner, who was about 6’2″ and weighed, I’m guessing, about 230 pounds, give or take, then fell on my right side.  I don’t know exactly what happened, but he fell on my right hip and shoulder, turning my right shoulder sharply to the left, bruising ribs badly in the process.

As it turns out, my left hip and shoulder were better off than my right side.  Nearly six months later, I have remnants of an ache in my right shoulder and a recurring ache in my right hip.  I got a cortisone shot for my shoulder and it is much better.  The orthopedic doctor gave me some exercises for the hip, and they are beginning to help.

I’m still playing pickleball, but I have not yet played again with that partner since that day.

I digress.  I’m still walking as well.  But those two injuries have slowed me down a bit, although I seem to be returning to my prior form.

Since December 15, 2019, my walking program has the following summary statistics:

• As of September 30th, I had walked (sometimes not for 5 miles) for 1,752 days.
• That amounts to 10,277 miles or 5.9 miles per day
• And 21.7 million steps, or 12,370 steps per day

Since late August last year, with two injuries slowing me down, I have averaged 4.9 miles per day, which is down a bit from my long-term average. This has pulled the overall average down from well north of 6 miles per day.

But I’m still walking.  And guess what?  I’m almost five years older than when I started and, age-adjusted, am in pretty good shape.

If you are walking regularly, keep it up.  If you tell yourself you need to walk regularly, then say so emphatically and get started.  No walking, no benefits.

I hope all readers are well and beginning the close of a very successful and happy 2024.

Chris