“Run (walk) 3K every day in May”… stated the announcement on the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation Events web page – “who would want to do that every day?” I asked my husband. He knowingly gave me one of those looks and 5 minutes later I was signed up! Since I was already involved in the Wirral Walking Festival for the month of May and the Roy Castle team suggested you could “start off with a mix of walking and running” – this challenge seemed perfect for a novice runner like me.
As a qualified Yoga and Breathwork Coach, married to a Nordic Walking Instructor, the opportunity seemed too good to miss – so on May 1st off we went!
I decided to record my progress each day on my Inspiras Move Facebook Page (InspirasMove) and then share a summary Reel or two on my Inspiras Move Instagram (InspirasMove). I also planned to write this blog at the end of the Challenge to reflect on my 31 days of walking (with a little bit of jogging!)
Yes, I must admit … there were days when I felt a little tired, and even a bit grumpy, about having to complete my daily 3k, but as the month progressed I began to look forward to what each day would bring. Meeting up with friends, exploring the beautiful Wirral peninsula with its stunning beaches, County Parks and magnificent sunsets: walking in the rain, sun and wind. I also thoroughly enjoyed the recently introduced opportunity to Nordic walk the 5k Park-run at Birkenhead Park and chatted to some very enthusiastic walkers on the way – “Hello chatty Sophie – aged 7”!
I definitely feel healthier after my daily walks and have experienced first-hand the many ways walking has improved my own breathing pattern with a marked improvement in my VO2 Max. There are so many benefits … Whether its Boosting your lung capacity; strengthening your breathing muscles; improving your oxygen circulation; encouraging better breathing patterns or even helping you to clear your airways (if you’re a little bunged up)! I’ve summarised all these benefits in the walking” infographic opposite if you’d like to know a little more.
So there you have it – the answer to “can walking really improve your breathing?” is definitely “YES” – it can! and, … I’m also very happy to report, that having run/walked 124K+ over the month of May, I’ve definitely improved my overall health and fitness levels too. x
