Intentional Walks
On July 4th at the corner of Texas and Crawford Streets in Houston, as I attempted to cross the street on my way to the Astros-Rockies game with my son, my ankle snapped.
Or, as my surgeon explained, “Your ankle exploded.”
I had surgery on July 14th and began a recovery that the surgeon said would take “6 months to a year.”
Less than 5 months later, after many physical therapy visits and thousands of exercises at home I reached 10,000 steps in a day.
Within a few days I was at 17,000.
I began tracking my steps a little closer in December and crossed 40 miles of “intentional walks” during the month.
One day I realized that if I walked this much every day I could walk to Amarillo by the end of the year.
One day I would wake up and would be (virtually) in “Amarillo by Morning”.
My reason for tracking my walks this way is simple. I accomplish more when I have a goal to attack rather than just “getting better”.
This became obvious during rehab as I attempted to smash every goal set, whether it was time, distance or reps.
The route I’ve chosen is 506 miles, begins at my house in Kyle ends at the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo.
This is my (virtual) journey.
12/31/2023
Miles Intentionally Walked: 0.00 (0.00%)
Miles to Amarillo: (506.00) (100.0%)
Current Virtual Location: Kyle, TX
Estimated Date of Virtual Arrival: Goal of July 4 (one year since injury)
February 18 - 3.17 miles
Finally took a day off after 23 days. My foot was sore and the weather was cold and windy. Rallied today for over 3 miles. On the outskirts of Zephyr.
February 16 - 4.19 miles
Took a walk for the 23rd consecutive day and it wasn’t a short one. Near County Road 191 outside of Mullin, Texas headed towards Zephyr.
February 15 - 4.90 miles
Walked a little earlier than normal today, just was in the mood and paid off with nearly 5 miles. Again, a bit chilly to start, but glad I wore shirt and short sleeve shirt by the end. A few milestones: (1) Zipped by 300,000 steps. (2) Arrival/completion date (which will change) currently set for June 17 which happens to be my birthday, and (3) Currently …
February 14 - 4.01 miles
A quick morning walk before an afternoon movie with my wife. A bit chilly to start, but glad I wore shirt and short sleeve shirt by the end. North US 183 headed toward Mullin.
February 13 - 4.46 miles
Difficult to imagine better weather than today for an almost 4-and-a-half-mile walk. Mid 60s, no clouds. I’m through Goldthwaite and headed north on North US 183 headed toward Mullin.
February 12 - 3.80 miles
Waited till a little later for it to warm a bit and it was just enough to get in 3.80 miles and keep my streak going. I’m chilling at the DG Market in Goldthwaite, Texas.
February 11 - 3.85 miles
A similar distance, if a little different path this morning, in the chilly morning air and breeze. Near 431 North US 183 approaching Goldthwaite, Texas.
February 10 - 3.68 miles
I cut it a little short today and my ankle thanked me for it later. I felt good during the walk and a lot better later in the day as I didn’t push it. I’m now on a long stretch of North US 183 with noting, apparently not even other roads around it.
February 9 - 4.20 miles
“I’m not feeling 4 miles today.” That’s what I told my wife right before I left to walk 4.2 miles this morning on my way to hitting a quarter of a million steps 40 days into my walk. It was in the 60s when I left. Overcast. Good walking weather and a good pace to start got me there.
February 8 - 4.33 miles
Today I found a new old route. Kind of. A turn here, a different street there, maybe a cut-through or traffic circle. Something different and I hit the 4-mile mark. Sunshine and the 60s helped, though I was dressed for the 50s. That’s 50 degrees, not the 1950s.
February 7 - 3.69 miles
OK, I need to find a new route tomorrow. This is getting old. Comfortable, but old. A little chilly. Started out with a long sleeve shirt and hoodie on and finished with just the shirt.
February 6 - 3.68 miles
The same route as yesterday yields very similar results as I crossed 100 miles on my 506-mile journey. Another good day for walking and though I could use a rest day, I’m sure bad weather will give me more rest days than I want sometime this month.
February 5 - 3.68 miles
The weather has been great for walking and it looks to continue for the next several days, hopefully allowing me to “get ahead”. Current virtual location is 8312-8640 US Highway 190 headed towards Lometa, Texas.
February 4 - 4.04 miles
My farthest walk yet in February and first 4+ mile walk in February. The ankle felt good, very little pain, but I know painful days are ahead as part of my recovery. Great progress today and am approaching 100 total miles.
February 3 - 3.59 miles
A run of good weather had me pushing a bit today for another half mile or so. There will certainly be weather days in February that won’t allow me to walk, so every step now is one I don’t feel guilt about down the road. Another milestone - I passed 200,000 steps.
February 2 - 3.14 miles
A little shorter today, but still enough to improve the odds of making it to Amarillo by July 4. With a decent walk tomorrow, it looks like I’ll hit the Lampasas city limits.
February 1 - 3.69 miles
Got off to a good start in month number 2 of my challenge despite some pain in my ankle/foot/leg. Another good weather day that couldn’t be ignored despite the discomfort.
January 31 - 3.22 miles
Finished up January with a shorter jaunt that put me over 80 miles for the month, which is a little less than I hoped, but with 6 or 7 weather days and an outpatient surgery, not too bad all things considered. Planning a day off shortly as I don’t want to get fatigued or bored, but simultaneously want to take advantage of good weather.
January 30 - 5.19 miles
This one surprised even myself as when I left I told my wife, “I’m not sure how far I’ll go or how long I’ll be gone.” The answer was 98 minutes and over 5 miles. Upon reflection, my drive was to maybe, perhaps, potentially reach 80 miles in January.
January 29 - 4.19 miles
Another 4 mile day, though I suspect tomorrow (or Wednesday) will be shorter to give my aching dogs a (slight) rest. As the song says, “I’m a thousand miles from nowhere” headed up US-183 headed towards Lampasas, Texas Today I’m approaching Briggs, Texas on a long straight stretch of US-183.
January 28 - 4.53 miles
OK, so it’s not 5.68 miles, but anytime I can reach four and a half miles it’s a good day. The book about walking the Appalachian Trail certainly helps and I’ve already got another in mind.
January 27 - 5.68 miles
Now we’re talking! The longest trek of the trip so far on a quiet Saturday morning/afternoon. Started chilly, but warmed after a mile or so and got into a groove. I’ve found that listening to a book about walking, particularly one where a dude is walking up and down MOUNTAINS for 13 or 15 miles or more a day, pushes me further because well, how hard is wh…
January 26 - 2.47 miles
I had a much longer walk planned in my mind, an effort to catch for some of those weather days, but a different routine led me to a different start time, which led to my phone dying after a little more than 2.5 miles. I contemplated continuing on, keeping my distance by my watch, but thought better of it and rerouted home.
January 25 - 3.82 miles
Better weather and more motivation today led me to 3.82 miles and I could have gone further. Maybe tomorrow I’ll reach the 4-mile-in-a-day mark for the first time in the new year. I’ve passed Liberty Hill and have quite a hike up US-183 to get to Lampasas.
January 23 - 3.28 miles
On a drizzly, overcast day I intended to walk 1.37 miles. I ended up over three and a quarter as the weather cleared and warmed a bit. I needed 2.29 miles to hit 50 for the month and I blew that away, now sitting at 50.99 miles with a week to go in January.
January 22 - 2.19 miles
After a couple of days of bad weather I was able to get over 2 miles in today and it turned out to be pretty good weather on the walk. Not sure if today or tomorrow will be conducive to walks weather-wise, but it looks like things will clear up for Thursday.
January 19 - 1.44 miles
Another milestone as today I passed 100,000 steps for January. My ankle was painful today with the cold and wind, but I was determined to put at least 1.37 miles on it and I made it. I was in the low 40s with a 20 MPH wind and I saw a runner, much younger than I, in shorts and a tee shirt.
January 18 - 3.68 miles
Finally a beautiful day for a nice, long walk and I’m back on my way to Amarillo. Such a nice day that even periodic pain couldn’t stop me and if I didn’t have a doctor’s appointment I would have kept on going.
January 17 - 2.22 miles
After three days of no walking due to a winter storm I was back at it today for almost 2 and a quarter miles. I had some pain, perhaps due to the cold and metal in my ankle, but it was a bit shorter than I hoped, but progress nonetheless. Crossed the 40-mile mark today as I passed through Cedar Park on my way to Leander.
January 13 - 3.83 miles
Most days I have no idea how far I’m going to walk when I start, telling my wife I’ll be gone “between 30 minutes and an hour and fifteen.” I really didn’t plan on walking this far today, but that is what came out, likely because of an off day on Thursday, a short day on Friday and severe cold weather ahead that will limit my walks for the next few days.
January 12 - 1.37 miles
Back, but a short walk today as it was too cold in the a.m. and spent some time with the Mrs. this afternoon. Minimal gain but this will be the case for the next 5-7 days as winter weather settles over the area.
January 10 - 3.59 miles
The final walk before my first off day and it was a familiar route totaling 3.59 miles and the weather was a fantastic mid-60s with sunshine and wind for a very small portion of the way. I’m now on US-183 North in the Pond Springs Road area of North Austin, 33 miles into the trip.
January 9 - 3.60 miles
Another 3.5+ mile day and one more day until a day off and most likely a short day on Friday. Tomorrow I make it on to US-183 and the journey to Cedar Park, but for now I’m still in the Austin city limits.
January 8 - 3.82 miles
Planned on about 2 and a half miles and ended up at almost 4. Goes to show you what can be done when you put your mind to it. Weather was 71, windy part of the way, a little drizzle off and on, sun in, sun out, but not too bad overall. Nearing the Allendale area of Austin, which is close to where I used to work and hang out at lunch.
January 7 - 2.01 miles
Short day today to recover from feeling tired and sore the last couple of days. Sunshine and about 65 with no wind to speak of. Originally planned just 3,000 steps, but couldn’t help myself and pushed it to 2 miles or about 4,500 steps. I’ve made it to the Lady Bird Lake area near West Lake Hills.
January 6 - 3.59 miles
Beautiful day for a walk, but feeling a little sluggish. My ankle again felt good for the first two miles and pinching after that, but my legs felt weak. Sunshine and about 65 with light wind. Still on Loop 1 (MoPac) in Austin and made it to Barton Hills this afternoon, falling just short of 20 miles total.
January 5 - 3.61 miles
Waited till afternoon today, because it was warmer and no jacket was needed. Cool for the fist half mile, then perfect, then it started getting warm near the end. Ankle felt better than ever for 2+ miles and then a little pinch toward the end. I’m currently on Loop 1 (MoPac) in Austin and will be for the next several days while I make my way through Austi…
January 4 - 2.97 miles
Another cool morning with not much wind and I just barely missed 3 miles. I try not to “watch watch” when I’m walking, that is, check how far I’ve walked. I’d rather walk till I feel like I’ve done what I can do for the day, or until my ankle hurts, whichever comes first.
January 3 - 3.43 miles
Wasn’t feeling it this morning, but once I got out there I felt good for the first 2+ miles and then pushed on through for a nice walk. 45 degrees didn’t feel as bad with little to no wind and even a slight mist did not deter me. Today’s route was from Farm to Market Road 1626 on to Texas-45 W in South Austin and then Loop 1, where it will morph into US-1…
January 2 - 3.60 miles
Another cool morning (46 degrees), but without much of the wind that made yesterday feel colder. Took a different route and caught a second wind, which will help because rain is ahead and may cause an off day tomorrow. We shall see. Today’s route was all Farm to Market Road 1626, where I crossed in Buda, Texas and will pick up tomorrow before connecting …
January 1 - 2.73 miles
When contemplating this challenge I knew there would be rainy days, days I’m sick and days that, for whatever reason, won’t allow me to walk, like January 12th when I have a medical procedure scheduled. I woke up this morning to 46 degrees and a 16 MPH wind. Not ideal conditions, but this is where setting the goal with numbers attached kicks in and driv…