Another noticeable change as my “sciatica” eases, is an increase in walking speed. I’ve sometimes used the App MotionX GPS to record my morning (or other) walks – it uses the iPhone GPS to track position over time, and computes distance and speed.
Back in late July when I began going for a morning walk, it recorded 2.45 miles in 53 minutes, so averaging 2.8mph:
That basic loop is still the walk I most frequently do today, but to keep to my 45-50 minute goal time, I now have to walk a loop as far as the arrow.
For comparison, from August 21st is a record of my walk back from the HOA fitness club – it’s too far to walk each way and do fitness, but it nicely shows my improved walking speed covering a similar 2.4 miles in less than 37 minutes, averaging 3.9mph!
I’ve not really increased speed any more since then, but today was my final Physical Therapy visit as it looks like I’ve gained and learned all I can. I have a set of “homework” exercise that I will need to do regularly “forever”, so that the pain of July / August never returns. And I’d like to keep up my daily walk, because aside from the health benefits, it’s quite interesting to watch the sunrise – we will see what happens when Florida “winter” comes …
M&I / GBMINI 