Walking mind games

A whole hour of walking requires a few strategies to keep yourself amused, especially in winter when even the most attractive routes can seem drab. Some things distract you, but not in a good way; walking in uncomfortable shoes is obviously horrible, and beware any jacket that rustles – it will drive you mad within minutes. But with a bit of imagination it’s amazing how the miles fly by …

• Mind games pass the time nicely. Sometimes I choose an obscure word from the dictionary – mansuetude is one of my favourites – and make as many anagrams as I can from it.

• Some walkers like to solve hugely complicated maths problems – for the less numerate just reciting your times-tables should do the trick.

• Simply counting steps isn’t really satisfactory as you usually lose the thread after the first 598. Try alternating the pace by walking 50 steps at a brisk pace with 50 flat-out, or at a jog if you want to get your heart rate up.

• Carry a route description so you can check off various landmarks as you pass them, which will give you an encouraging sense of the progress you’re making. Make sure you have a clear plastic cover for it in case of wet weather.

• Put yourself in a fantasy race if you’re the competitive type. If I get impatient for a walk to end, my favourite ploy is to pretend I have to reel in my fellow competitors one by one. I impose various rules on myself: I’m not allowed to break into a run, and the competition has to be obviously out for a brisk walk themselves – overtaking toddlers and elderly people doesn’t count.

Julie Welch is the author of Out On Your Feet: The Hallucinatory World of 100-Mile Walking (Aurum Press, £16.99)

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