I too have a mild data driven addiction to the output from my Garmin watch and certainly during COVID years it has enabled me to maintain fitness by providing an incentive to take outdoor exercise, in my case both walking and cycling. Before I retired, and working in Cambridge, I used to commute every day by bicycle and also walked or cycled between different University sites for lectures and meetings. As you say it is an opportunity to refocus attention away from other work related problems, but at the same time also often providing alternative thoughts on how to overcome obstacles encountered in those work problems. Also unlike when driving it's at a slow enough pace to take in the world around you.
I'm certainly interested to hear your views on the COVID enquiry and your recollections from the early days of the pandemic. Yours was one of the accounts on Twitter that I chose to follow in order to get a balance of views of the numbers and how to interpret them.
Before going to university I was at school in Bath, whilst living 12 miles away over the county border in Melksham. My cycle routes to see school friends often took me via Bradford-on-Avon to Bath Hampton so I do know about the hills in that region!
Yes I quite understand about the time constraints and am grateful for the time you have found to put the relevant statistics into perspective.
Glad to hear you’re enjoying the lecturing. My nephew - first year - is enjoying your lectures. Particularly impressed by the quality of your prepared material.
A lovely piece of writing when many other things seem so grim - thank you. I also like to walk whether it be proper peak district hikes or just the standard pad round my neighbourhood spotting the familiar graffiti and birds and bridges. So many benefits physical and mental (and why long commutes in cars are so demoralising). Hope you are doing ok.
Thanks! Yes, I think that's about right (depending on stride length of course!), though it's interesting to see how much of that I rack up anyway in the course of a normal day, just in and around the house etc
Been logging miles and steps for a couple of years. Thrown up some interesting (if you are that kind of person - my wife understandably thinks I am incredibly dreary) things. When the fields are at their muddiest I take an extra 15 per cent steps on my usual walk than in the summer and subsequently burn more calories. Lots of other variations like this I wouldn't bore folk with.
I really enjoy having a Garmin tracker watch. I've been using step counters and then tracking watches for quite a few years now and it has always helped to motivate me to get out (with my partner and dog) and enjoy some fresh air especially in the winter months when it can be really fresh!
Such a lovely piece. My walking has become more and more restricted since 2020, painful knees and increasing lack of confidence confidence going out (I have a rare disease which made covid super scary) gradually walking less has made my world smaller...almost the opposite of your article...but I am ten days post knee replacement and for the first time in ages am looking forward to getting those steps in...I need to have a second one as soon as I’m able but I really can see a future made up of small steps ahead...leading to more steps and eventually a story like yours with some beautiful scenery. Thank you, for taking time out from your busy life, the shitstorm of our collective society right now and writing this joyous piece. I feel uplifted ☺️ Have a lovely weekend
Thanks! Yes, as I say it's one of those things where everyone's circumstances are different, and this is just "what works for me". But I hope that the recovery goes smoothly and you can get out and about soon!
Another great piece, look forward to works in progress!
Thanks - no promises, I'm afraid!
I too have a mild data driven addiction to the output from my Garmin watch and certainly during COVID years it has enabled me to maintain fitness by providing an incentive to take outdoor exercise, in my case both walking and cycling. Before I retired, and working in Cambridge, I used to commute every day by bicycle and also walked or cycled between different University sites for lectures and meetings. As you say it is an opportunity to refocus attention away from other work related problems, but at the same time also often providing alternative thoughts on how to overcome obstacles encountered in those work problems. Also unlike when driving it's at a slow enough pace to take in the world around you.
I'm certainly interested to hear your views on the COVID enquiry and your recollections from the early days of the pandemic. Yours was one of the accounts on Twitter that I chose to follow in order to get a balance of views of the numbers and how to interpret them.
Yes, I used to cycle most places in Cambridge .. unfortunately it's a bit harder in Bristol because of the hills!
Like I say, I do want to write something about that at some stage, but there are only so many hours in the day!
Before going to university I was at school in Bath, whilst living 12 miles away over the county border in Melksham. My cycle routes to see school friends often took me via Bradford-on-Avon to Bath Hampton so I do know about the hills in that region!
Yes I quite understand about the time constraints and am grateful for the time you have found to put the relevant statistics into perspective.
Glad to hear you’re enjoying the lecturing. My nephew - first year - is enjoying your lectures. Particularly impressed by the quality of your prepared material.
That's good to hear, thanks - hope he's enjoying the city as well!
A lovely piece of writing when many other things seem so grim - thank you. I also like to walk whether it be proper peak district hikes or just the standard pad round my neighbourhood spotting the familiar graffiti and birds and bridges. So many benefits physical and mental (and why long commutes in cars are so demoralising). Hope you are doing ok.
A lovely piece - I can relate to a lot of it. 10,000 steps a day is impressive! - that must be about 4-5 miles?
Thanks! Yes, I think that's about right (depending on stride length of course!), though it's interesting to see how much of that I rack up anyway in the course of a normal day, just in and around the house etc
Been logging miles and steps for a couple of years. Thrown up some interesting (if you are that kind of person - my wife understandably thinks I am incredibly dreary) things. When the fields are at their muddiest I take an extra 15 per cent steps on my usual walk than in the summer and subsequently burn more calories. Lots of other variations like this I wouldn't bore folk with.
I really enjoy having a Garmin tracker watch. I've been using step counters and then tracking watches for quite a few years now and it has always helped to motivate me to get out (with my partner and dog) and enjoy some fresh air especially in the winter months when it can be really fresh!
Such a lovely piece. My walking has become more and more restricted since 2020, painful knees and increasing lack of confidence confidence going out (I have a rare disease which made covid super scary) gradually walking less has made my world smaller...almost the opposite of your article...but I am ten days post knee replacement and for the first time in ages am looking forward to getting those steps in...I need to have a second one as soon as I’m able but I really can see a future made up of small steps ahead...leading to more steps and eventually a story like yours with some beautiful scenery. Thank you, for taking time out from your busy life, the shitstorm of our collective society right now and writing this joyous piece. I feel uplifted ☺️ Have a lovely weekend
Thanks! Yes, as I say it's one of those things where everyone's circumstances are different, and this is just "what works for me". But I hope that the recovery goes smoothly and you can get out and about soon!
Thanks mate, I’m going for micro walks 😅