The value of low intensity training ????

I recently completed a ‘Steps for Cancer’ Challenge. As part of a team I stepped as many steps as I could in 20 days. I clocked up 491,313 steps and after the first day pretty much hated the whole thing. First I’m no fan of any streaks be it walking, running or biking. I like my recovery days a lot. This no rest formula rubbed.

Some of my feelings were because of circumstances outside of my control. This meant that for the first 3 weeks I was confined to a relatively small area, so I got bored.

But what really bugged me was just how tired I felt doing 20,000+ steps a day. Not only does it take ages as I couldn’t run them all but I also just got more and more tired. And in the end I felt I’d de-trained rather than got fitter. Maybe if I’d been sedentary before hand or done all my steps on hilly routes I’d have at least maintained fitness, but all my mostly flat steps left me with no time and tired for no benefit, outside of some fundraising. I also didn’t have the motivation and energy to add on more than an ad hoc pilates and 1 strength session in the whole 20 days. Of course my appetite increased, so I probably got fatter too. Walking does offer some bone building benefit if done at a brisk pace, (6kms p.hr) but if you really want to improve fitness I was reminded that other steps are needed.

With joy I’ve rediscovered my weights again and will not be tempted by the Steps for Cancer Challenge next year when it rolls round again.