Brilliant … But Bouncy

How Many Miles Can I Walk?

The new year starts tomorrow. Finally.

Along with my healthy new eating habits and natural thyroid medication, I got sudden inspiration to set a personal goal for some simple exercise.

It started when I saw a Facebook ad that offered Sesame Street buttons and a t-shirt for walking and/or biking 100 or 500 miles. It said I could choose my mileage, and whether I prefer six months or a full year to reach my goal!

Unfortunately, when I looked more closely at the Facebook ad, it was more of a fundraiser for the Sesame Street Workshop than an exciting opportunity for me to get a t-shirt. They wanted $100 for me to get those “reward” buttons during my journey.

So I decided to set my own goals for 2021 – and I decided that six months was plenty of time for me to reach whatever goals I set. By June, my eating plan will also be concluded.

But I had to think: how many miles can I walk in six months?

When I walk the dog, I go at least a mile – often two – and usually he gets two walks a day. While I often have help with walking duties, I also sometimes walk him twice. That seems like an easy 180 miles in six months – so I thought maybe I could do 300 miles in six months.

But I like the sound of 500 miles better. It seems like an amazing, challenging goal. I could sing that song, I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles), as I walk.

Plus, I don’t have to only walk. I can also ride a bike! I can go really far on a bike – easily 8 to 10 miles in one ride. Of course, it’s a bit cold for biking. But there is no reason I can’t walk and bike a total of 500 miles in six months.

I decided to choose a TBD reward for every 100 miles I travel. And then I decided to invite my family to join me in this awesome, totally fun experience!

That was my mistake.

First, I asked Bill. After explaining my plan, Bill looked nonplussed. Then he read me details from his watch.

“I’ve walked 2.6 miles today,” he said. He’d gone for one brief dog walk. And he’d driven half a mile to walk. Then he wanted credit for walking to the kitchen.

So I asked Shane.

“You can pick anything you want for a reward!” I said enthusiastically. “And you can choose your miles, too!”

“I already do a lot of exercise on my own,” Shane said. “This would make it seem more like work.”

Shane does do a lot already. He’s on the volleyball team, so he does virtual workouts with them. Plus he does his own regular workouts – sometimes right around midnight, when he’s bouncing around and plonking weights down, rattling the floor while I’m drifting off to sleep.

“Whatever,” I said, losing enthusiasm. “I’m sorry I asked.”

I was so sorry, in fact, that I didn’t even ask Dylan to join my quest. Of all the people in the family who will be walking 500 miles in six months, Dylan is the most likely. He’s taking a fitness walking class and he’s joined the college’s hiking club. Back and forth to classes will easily add a few miles a day. Dylan will have 500 miles by March, even with some Zoom classes.

But Dylan says “no” to everything I suggest. Getting him to connect with me on a goal-setting experience would be impossible.

So, I’m on my own – and really I’m doing the age-old “resolution” thing.

But this year, I get to reward myself for sticking to it.