Streets Ahead is the column
from London Walks' Pen & daily Constitutional Special Correspondent David
Tucker…
Five a day. Get your five a day.
We’ve all heard it a million times. It’s part of the white noise of our day and age.
(For anyone who’s been Rip Van Winkling it since automobiles had running boards it refers to various U.K. and American health campaigns to persuade the populace to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day.)
Small but mighty (fine and nice) London Walks would like to propose this variant: Get your 5,000 a day.
That’s not leeks and lemons and peas and pears – it’s steps.
Get your 5,000 steps a day. Or if you prefer – because what your GP and everybody else in the white coat brigade is recommending is “a goal” of 10,000 steps a day – if you prefer, the phrase could be, “it’ll get you 5,000 a day.”
Or, the short hand version, “it’ll get you half way there.”
And what’s the “it” – the mystery guest?
A London Walk of course.
Now the sample is, admittedly, pretty limited. I (David) have “clocked” – using one of those Iphone step-counter Apps – two of my walks: Old Kensington Village and Old Hampstead Village. And they both came in at just over 5,000 steps.
Lovely round figure. And pretty satisfying. Do a London Walk and you’re half way there.
I mean how would you rather log those steps? Take your pick. 1) On a treadmill watching some Sky bimbo? Or 2) getting over some real ground in a real place with real people – terribly nice real people: London Walkers are bright, charming, interesting folk who make for good companions – while finding out some real good stuff about the neighbourhood you’re exploring. With fresh air to boot.
It’s no contest, surely.
So, yeah, get your 5k a day. Hell, it even rhymes and cadences.
A Few Earlier Posts on Step Counters…
A Frankenstein's Monster of a Walk
Soho Step Count
LW Guide Kim on Step Counters
Stepping Out In Kensington
Brunel's Pedometer
London Walkers In Hampstead Recommend the FitBit
Are you using a step counter or pedometer? Get in touch, we're always keen to get a recommendation.
A London Walk costs £10 – £8 concession. To join a London Walk, simply meet your guide at the designated tube station at the appointed time. Details of all London Walks can be found at www.walks.com.
