6 Months of Walking Training: Where I'm At & What's Ahead
6 months down, 6 to go—how my body and mindset have changed
Last October 2024 I started a challenge…
in the form of a walking training program that I put together myself with the help of my friend Chat GPT.
fast forward to April 2025 and we are still committed to this walking challenge.
Oh, did I mention it’s a 12 month training program?
The whole point was to build up my endurance and strength for walking long distances with the hopes of one day being able to push through the limitations I’ve been facing from a lingering hip/glute injury.
If you read my recent post on this walking training - you’re probably all caught up but if you haven’t it’s here.
So, we officially hit the halfway mark so I thought it would be fun to do a little check in.
I am slightly kicking myself for not documenting more of this journey because it’s been one big test in discipline, mental strength and getting better at listening to my body.
which has been hard since this injury because I feel like what applied to my body’s needs prior to the injury and who I am now, are polar opposites in so many ways. but that confronting issue and the grief that came with that is a story for another day.
Are you liking this challenge?
honestly most days, yes. it’s given me structure which when it comes to my fitness i’ve learned that I thrive with a structure that compliments my lifestyle. and i have been struggling with finding structure since this injury came into my life because I had to change a lot about how I move my body but walking was something I could really commit to for the long haul.
but, that doesn’t mean there aren’t days (especially when I wake up on a friday after doing hours of walking all week and having to gear myself up for a big 2hr/8km walk to start my day.
I ALWAYS have to mentally prepare for that and it’s never enough because 90% of the walk I am hating life.
My calves feel like they’re going to explode. (stretching is no longer optional at this point in my life, I’ve surrendered)
but then I finish and it feel likes “that wasn’t so bad, what was I complaining about! we killed it!”
Somehow, I feel like the feelings after a workout are similar to that feeling moms talk about when they completely forget all the struggles of parenthood when they get that urge to have another kid.
you’re just completely full of all the feel good vibes, it blocks out all the suffering you’ve just endured. when you think of our brains ability to do that, it’s kind of impressive if you ask me.
anyway, back to this walking training…
Have you stuck to it 100%?
Absolutely not. First off, that’s just not realistic for any long term sustainable fitness lifestyle. And I went into this knowing I wasn’t going to smash every week. I mean HELLO, I’m doing this because my body is literally struggling to function with an injury. Add on my horrible menstrual cycles that literally try to take me out each month, there was NO way I was going to tackle this at 100% - maybe for someone else, but I made peace with that before I started and I do believe that is the reason I’ve made it this far because it’s just way more approachable. I show up each week and do my best. I listen to my body. and I priortize showing up for myself. there is probably about 4 days out of the month where I’ve either had an extra rest day or only did a 30 min walk instead of the designated training program ( which is usually 60-90min walks most days during this current phase)
How do you FEEL?
I feel great. My clothes are fitting a little better (although I know multiple things contributed to this) but I feel good about how I am showing up for myself. I feel good about the consistency I’ve committed to. I feel GOOD about how I am showing up in the world. so do I feel a lot better physically than I did in October? heck yea, but if i’m being honest how I’m feeling mentally is so so much more impactful for me right now. because this injury has been a huge mind fuck, i really won’t sugar coat it. not enough people talk about how injuries can be a huge loss of identity. and I still struggle with that some days but right now, I feel great. and proud. and I feel STRONGER mentally and physically.
What’s the plan after you finish in 6 months?
honestly — the whole idea was to jump into a long hike camping situations. but things in my personal life has changed a lot since I started this challenge. so, I’m not quite sure what is next for me. I might find another challenge to commit to, I might plan a fun adventure to celebrate. I guess you’ll have to stick around to find out :)
overall this walking training has added so much value into my life and i’m so glad I decided to do it. challenging yourself in a physical way really does have so many mental benefits attached. and i always feel so grateful that decades ago I made the choice to become more active in my life. I became someone who values movement. and it has brought SO much to my life. Not many things can beat the feeling of seeing just how much you are physically capable of. and I just feel proud of my body for all it’s done and all it will do in this lifetime.
Okay I know that got real deep and maybe you’re thinking… ‘okay jamie it’s just walking calm down…’
— but I guess that’s because doing a challenge like this or any long term physical challenge really just connect you to your body in another way, and you really do develop this deep seeded profound appreciate for the vessel you were given, even with all of it’s imperfections.
and i will always feel so grateful for that.
xo J