topic Re: OUCH - walking up hills. in Wellness

OUCH - walking up hills.

151949 — Sun, 25 May 2014 12:49:58 GMT

We are home in Pittsburgh, and yesterday we went to the cemetery to decorate the graves. There was a large funeral near where we needed to be and lots of cars around the area so we had park a distance away and walk up a long steep hill with our flowers and shovels etc. WOW. We live in Florida and we walk a lot but we are not accustomed to having to walk up a lot of steps or up & down hills anymore. Boy, did I ever feel it in my calves!! I guess this is something for us to work on while we are here in the mountains. It is quite a bit more challenging than one level Florida.Maybe by the time we go home in the fall I will be able to use the stair climber and the elliptical at the gym.

Re: OUCH - walking up hills.

Lacey1 — Sun, 25 May 2014 13:06:54 GMT

You could have a blood clot from your long car ride from Florida. They call it the ' coach' syndrome, associated with long periods of stagnant sitting on a plane or car. .

Re: OUCH - walking up hills.

terrier3 — Sun, 25 May 2014 15:14:51 GMT

I walk on a treadmill 4-5 times a week at an elevation.

The more you elevate it, the more calories you burn and the more toned your legs and bum will get.

I started out slowly...but now I do a 10% elevation, 3.5 MPH for an hour. That burns over 750 calories. The same MPH with no elevation burns about 375 calories an hour.

I went to a Yankees game in NYC with a friend who is in her early 60s (a few years older than I am). She couldn't walk up the elevated concourse to get to our seats in the upper level...she actually had to stop and rest. We found an elevator for the rest of the trip up to our seats.

It really made me (and my other friend who was with us) appreciate how our workouts have paid off in "real life!"

Re: OUCH - walking up hills.

willdob3 — Sun, 25 May 2014 15:21:46 GMT

PA does have lots of challenging hills & you'll feel it if you are not used to them. Spending the summer walking those hills will be great exercise with beautiful views as a bonus.

I live in Florida & make a point to walk where I'll have a challenging grade to climb when I go walking. Admittedly, I have to search a bit for them! But, even though my fitbit recognizes that I'm climbing, it can't compare with what PA has.

Re: OUCH - walking up hills.

qualitygal — Sun, 25 May 2014 16:37:33 GMT

The hill that about did me in, was in Arlington National Cemetery. Going to an open air outdoor theater type of area. That was almost straight up, it felt like. That was in '99. Oh my gosh 15 yrs. ago already!!!! I'd need a chair lift today!! LOL

Re: OUCH - walking up hills.

ROMARY — Sun, 25 May 2014 21:25:36 GMT

Be careful/easy walking 'down' steep hills.........easy way to have knee injuries.

Re: OUCH - walking up hills.

brewhaha — Sun, 25 May 2014 21:39:04 GMT

I think walking downhill is harder than walking uphill because your legs are always in a braking position.

Re: OUCH - walking up hills.

ROMARY — Sun, 25 May 2014 21:53:42 GMT

Yes, you are right re: the 'braking' knees...........Still having problems from 20+ yrs. ago, on vacation, walking down a very steep hill. Mad at myself for going along with the group, going up that hill to begin with! ............. When in doubt, DON'T DO IT !! (from experience)

Re: OUCH - walking up hills.

misspammie — Sun, 25 May 2014 22:01:02 GMT

On 5/25/2014 brewhaha said:
I think walking downhill is harder than walking uphill because your legs are always in a braking position.

also, it's much harder to ride a horse downhill than it is to ride uphill just in case anyone was wondering!!

Re: OUCH - walking up hills.

StylishLady — Sun, 25 May 2014 22:09:25 GMT

Hills? Of course here in southwest Florida they really don't exist. Back in central New York DH and I used to do day hikes along sections of the Fingerlake's Trail. My hill climbing days are long gone.

Re: OUCH - walking up hills.

birddrops — Sun, 25 May 2014 22:21:49 GMT

Gosh, I had no idea Pennsylvania had mountains

Re: OUCH - walking up hills.

sfnative — Sun, 25 May 2014 22:26:24 GMT

You need to visit San Francisco some time. That'll get your heart rate going and keep your musculature fit!

Re: OUCH - walking up hills.

hckynut — Sun, 25 May 2014 22:33:24 GMT

Opps

Re: OUCH - walking up hills.

Judaline — Sun, 25 May 2014 22:59:01 GMT

You might want to read up on PAD-(peripheral artery disease). See if it sounds like you.

Re: OUCH - walking up hills.

Lacey1 — Sun, 25 May 2014 23:04:39 GMT

Ohh-ohh. Any one want to wager how long this thread will last? I'm sure the OP did not really want any advice. This will anger her and she will have to dish out her usual brand of discipline!

Re: OUCH - walking up hills.

Fifi1 — Sun, 25 May 2014 23:08:16 GMT

On 5/25/2014 sfnative said:
You need to visit San Francisco some time. That'll get your heart rate going and keep your musculature fit!

So true! Or my city of Seattle! One of our fun in city to do in summer is walk Queen Anne and get coffee and sit in park over looking city, walk back down! BIG incline!

Re: OUCH - walking up hills.

151949 — Mon, 26 May 2014 02:38:29 GMT

On 5/25/2014 sfnative said:
You need to visit San Francisco some time. That'll get your heart rate going and keep your musculature fit!

I would love to visit SF someday - but for hills to walk - we can certainly find all we need right here in western Pa.

Re: OUCH - walking up hills.

goodstuff — Mon, 26 May 2014 02:43:24 GMT

Hills are not my friends. During years of bad/worsening knee problems, I pretty much stopped climbing stairs and hills altogether. I've had both knees replaced and get around much better -- but it will take a lot more work to return those climbing/braking leg muscles to good function. Haven't done it, as I got too comfortable with one-level living.

Re: OUCH - walking up hills.

MsLomo — Mon, 26 May 2014 02:49:08 GMT

Thank you, hckynut (john), for the good info and advice!

Re: OUCH - walking up hills.

hsawaknow — Mon, 26 May 2014 02:49:52 GMT

Try visiting Gough Street in San Francisco! That hill will hurt your calfs for days and if you drive a 5 speed burn it out! The whole city is full of hills like that. Better to take the cable car lines.