Silver sneakers: Upgrade your walking workout

After a less than satisfactory experience trying to order a treadmill online, I signed up at the rec center with a freebie seniors account to have a safe place for daily walking.

Where I live has narrow roads with no sidewalks. The big-box store that used to be ideal is crowded during the day.

The high school no longer has after-school hours for people to walk the hallways and climb the stairs. Then there was the faulty treadmill purchase.

So, the rec center it was if I wanted to have a safe place for walking. I neglected to consider the very big men who play basketball and run or fall into the walking track oval that goes along the outside wall.

I neglected to consider the kids who play basketball and throw the ball everywhere but into the net. I neglected to consider the people who are learning to play pickleball.

However, all is not lost. With the help of front desk staff and a copy of the current monthly schedule, we identified one afternoon hour that should be fairly hazard free: before the kids get out of school, before the men get off work, before the pickleball games start and — best of all — the hour when the only thing on the schedule is track walking.

I tried it today. It was wonderful. Just several other seniors and me walking at various speeds.

The next step is a new pair of walking shoes. I’ve been reading reviews and have determined what are likely the best shoes for me, available at a local shoe store.

Add my step counter and a lightweight jacket — staff warned that the air conditioning will be running full blast when the weather warms up — and I’ll be ready to get in shape this summer.