Usually when I am writing a blog post I like to imagine someone besides me will read it and that they will hopefully find it helpful and be encouraged to walk more. However, I’ll be honest with you fellow strollers, today’s post is actually being written with just me in mind. All be it a future version of me but still mainly me. 

Forwhy you may ask? Well I have mentioned in previous posts that in order to be a walker in Britain you have to learn to love walking in all weathers. I even wrote a post about walking in the rain, although that was a romanticised type of rain where there is no wind and the water gently pitter-patters around you rather than an absolute deluge that leaves you soaked. Mind you, in the summer I was caught in a thunderstorm and did actually enjoy getting drenched as I thought it was funny. However the weather I struggle the most to find the motivation to go out for a walk in, is wind. Which in a convoluted fashion brings me back to the point of this post. 

This morning I was on my way into the office, the short walk to the station was so wet & windy that I started to wonder if perhaps today would be one of those rare days when I decide to stay on the train and skip the walking portion of my commute. But about halfway through the journey the rain stopped and while the wind was still blowing I figured I would crack on with my walk as usual. And I am glad I did – so future self take note and remember this!

The start of my walking commute is not picturesque as I go past an industrial estate and it is essentially a rather uninspiring, urban landscape. But on days when the weather is far from ideal, like today, that suits me perfectly. I was safely bundled up in my winter coat, which I love as it is warm and also both water & wind resistant. I’ve had it for years and have started to notice a few worn patches. I’m dreading having to replace it but that’s a quandary for another time! Anyway back to this morning, I hunkered down into my coat and marched onwards. 

This is one of the benefits of walking in inclement weather, there is no incentive to take a leisurely stroll, it is time to put your best foot forward and keep going. As I was striding along, this became a cardio workout which is obviously beneficial for you physically but also mentally. Marching along I cared less & less about the windy weather, I was in charge and feeling good. In no time at all I was away from the dreary views and had made it to the city park, sheltered by the trees and feeling sorry for the buffeted crocuses. I even paused to take a photo of a pretty purple flower that had caught my eye. 

Before long I was heading up the stairs to the office feeling energised and ready for the day ahead, well almost, I still needed a cup of coffee first. I realised that ignoring my reluctance to walk in the wind had benefitted me in a couple of ways, partly the physical exercise but also the improvement to my mood. No doubt if I had skipped the walk and stayed on the train, I’d have looked out at the windy weather, lamenting the fact that in spite of brief moments of hope that spring was on the way we were in fact still stuck in winter. Then I’d have been stuck in a bottleneck trying to get out of the busier train station and got even more annoyed starting the day off grumpily rather than wondering what that pretty little purple flower was called. 

So future me remember this moment, pull up your hood and keep walking!

That’s how I stroll. 

• The best laid plans…
• Hiding in plain sight
• Holiday Strolls
• Something is better than nothing
• National Walking Month