Walking? Hiking?

As hinted in my previous post, I was on a quest to find an exercise routine that brought me enjoyment without the need to break a sweat. Well, I did stumble upon something I truly enjoyed, though it did lead to a bit of sweating. I suppose anything worthwhile demands effort, and in the case of exercise, a little bit of sweat.

In November 2022, my daughter Elaine and her husband John graciously invited me to join them for a brief hike. We met at the Elachee Nature Science Center for what I recall as a roughly 2-mile hike. They were so considerate of me, taking it easy and we took several breaks. However, that day, I fell head over heels for the combination of walking in nature and getting exercise. Within days, I found myself frequenting a nearby gem, Little Mulberry Park (if you need more information, please look up Little Mulberry Park on the Gwinnett County website). I’ll provide a detailed description of the park and share some pictures later on.

On my first visit, to Little Mulberry Park I took my time but completed the 2.2-mile loop around Miller Lake. Soon enough, I was making the journey three or four times a week. Elaine and John were my biggest supporters, offering endless encouragement. I’ll forever be grateful to them for introducing me to this wonderful form of exercise. When I saw my physician in February 2023 and reported my newfound walking habit, she was genuinely thrilled. She encouraged me to continue and expressed her hope that if I continued walking it might help me lower my blood pressure, potentially allowing me to discontinue the medication I was taking. Somehow, without conscious intent, I found myself walking daily and striving to reduce the time it took me to complete a lap around Miller Lake. And so began my passionate love affair with walking and hiking…

But I breakout into a Sweat!!!

Around 8 to 10 years ago, during my annual physical at the doctor’s office, the topic of incorporating an exercise program into my routine came up. I distinctly remember responding with, “But I can’t do that.” Dr. S seemed puzzled and asked, “Why not?” I retorted, “Because I’m allergic to it! Every time I  exercise, I break out in a sweat!”

This interaction exemplified my relationship with physical activity. As a healthcare provider, I understood the long-term benefits of exercise, yet I struggled to find an activity that I genuinely enjoyed. I attempted various options such as going to the gym, jazzercise, tennis, and several other endeavors, but none of them captivated me enough to sustain my interest beyond a couple of weeks. Consequently, except for necessary but unenjoyable yard work, I completely avoided exercise for years.

Approximately three years ago, I unexpectedly tore my gluteus medius tendon. It’s still a mystery how it happened, but I can assure you it wasn’t due to exercise! Due to the impact of Covid, I had to wait almost a year before undergoing surgical repair. The recovery process was arduous and protracted, but after about a year and a half, I finally regained a sense of normalcy as the pain in my left hip subsided.

However, one fateful morning, as I took a couple of steps, excruciating pain shot through my hip. A subsequent MRI revealed a partial tear in the gluteus medius tendon, accompanied by the onset of arthritis in the joint. The treatment options presented to me were steroid injections and eventually, a total hip replacement. Both choices were unappealing and unacceptable.

Thus began my quest to find an activity that would keep my hip mobile, something I genuinely enjoyed, and, most importantly, an activity that did not require sweating.