A “good walker": Pronation

Journal Entry 12/28/09: Weight = 175 lbs; Curb coinage = $.47, Canister coinage = $2.02

Journal Entry 12/29/09: Weight = 174; Curb coinage = $.89, Canister coinage = $1.95; Two fun finds included a new quarter along a curb that was just shinning forth with a big welcome; and just before were two dimes lying side by side in a parking lot.

Feature Entry: Pronation and a “good walker.”
In this series that focuses on the meaning of “good walker” several have defined a good walker as one that is biomechanically sound. To them, a good walker is one that has conquered the pronation battle. Walking pronation means rotation of the foot during ambulation. In overpronation the foot rolls inward while walking, and in underpronation the foot rolls outward. People with high arches tend to underpronate. Those with flatter feet are apt to overpronate. Eventually, walkers with improper pronation experience one or more painful symptoms including lower back pain, ankle pain, knee injury, and foot/toe pain.

One blogger waxed poetically about the design of the foot, “The foot is a marvel of function design. Leonardo da Vinci called it "The greatest engineering device in the whole world". Each foot is a complex of 28 bones arranged to form 4 arches, held together by over 100 ligaments, and activated by some 20 muscles.“

There are many ways to correct improper pronation during walking. Selecting a proper fitting full support walking shoe is the point of beginning. A store totally devoted to jogging and walking shoes usually have a trained sells associate that can help you pick the right shoe for your pronation style of walking.

Note: the photo above is from a recent walk in Wilton CT. I'm not sure if I am over or under pronating but walking on snow is a rare treat for this New Orleans moneywalker.

MoneyWalker

Good Walker Series--the Good Walker Walking Liberty Silver Half Dollar

Journal Entry: Just returned from a five day Christmas trip to New England, specifically Wilton, CT. The first thing upon returning was a 90 minute walk. Had great success on the curbs and found $.80. Being a Sunday, the Mid-City car-wash canisters were loaded, retrieved $5.04 in coins. In the stack of mail was a receipt from Baptist Friendship House, the group that ministers to battered women and their children. In the last two months we have donated $200.00 in found coins to their effort to bring counseling and comfort to these families.

Feature Entry: The MoneyWalker read in a Brookner novel about a "good walker." I found the simple phrase to have intrigue and it aroused my curiosity about what others might describe as a good walker. By Googling using Google advance, many interesting hits were found. The key words were "walking" and in the exact wording section, "good walker." One hit featured the 1918 S Good Walker Walking Liberty Silver Half Dollar. It consist of 90% silver. In numismatist lore, the coin is known simply as the "walker" coin. The obverse image representing Lady Liberty is considered the best design ever issued by the United States mint on a silver coin. That is why this image was used for the American Silver Eagle starting in 1986. I didn't find this coin, but I may want to buy both the half-dollar and the Silver Eagle for my hobby.

Future blogs will explore other aspects of what it means to be a "good walker."

We took a few walks in Connecticut, but no money was found. It is good to back in New Orleans.

MoneyWalker

Santa giving thought to starting his flexibility program

Journal Entry: Weight = 176.2; Coinage = Curb finds $.38, Canister finds $2.16.

Feature Entry: Santa will be at rest for a few days. He will begin his new flexibility exercise program on January 2. Stay tuned for the results. Those hamstrings need help.

Merry Christmas from the MoneyWalkers

MoneyWalker

Is walking recommended for people with Arthritis?

Journal Entry: 12/19/09: Coinage = $3.95, .81 curb finds; 12/20/09 Coinage = $1.80; 12/21/09 Coinage = $1.83; Average Weight = 175.5

Feature Entry: Should people with arthritis participate in walking programs. It is known that hard physical work can lead to joint pain and arthritis. According to writers of About.com, If you have arthritis, exercise is essential. Exercise is important for healthy joints and provides these benefits as well

• increases energy levels
• helps develop a better sleep pattern
• helps with weight control
• maintains a healthy heart
• increases bone and muscle strength
• decreases depression and fatigue.
• serves to improve self-esteem and self-confidence

Moving your joints daily helps keep them fully mobile. Strengthening the surrounding muscles helps support the joints. Also, joint movement transports nutrients and waste products to and from the cartilage, the material which protects and cushions the ends of the bones.

If you have inflammation, consult with your physician. Water aerobics is also highly recommended and may be recommended for some suffers of arthritis. Also, a gentle stretching program is highly encouraged.

MoneyWalker

Civility and Walking

Journal Entry: 12/17 Weight = 175.6; Curb coinage = $1.08, Canister coinage = $2.23; Glass bottles = 2; Ground Scores = 2. Note: a lined man’s extra large jacket was found on a recent walk, washed, smoothed, and placed on the garment pole. It lasted less than 30 minutes.

Journal Entry 12/18: Weight = 175.2, $1.31, all curb coins; Ground score = 1; Glass bottles = 4; Best coinage find = a quarter from one newspaper stand and a nickel from another by its side.

Feature Entry: Civility and Walking

Encounters with others while walking is a given when the walks are in busy urban confines. Things can go wrong so I try to walk with civility. I have had an unread copy of Stephen L. Carter’s book, Civility, Manners, Morals, and the Etiquette of Democracy in my library for many years, but an episode from this morning’s walk motivated the MoneyWalker to actually read a few pages. Among the gems was this comment: “Civility has two parts: generosity, even when it is costly, and trust, even when there is risk.”

The episode involved a cigarette lighter and what was to be my first ground score of the day. I was zooming through the parking lot of a Starbucks parking lot checking for change. At the same time of the lighter sighting, I spotted a stranger walking along the sidewalk just below. With civility I said “Good morning!” as I reached for the lighter. He announced with a non-hostile also civil voice, “I was just about to pick that up.” He was not of my race, but my response was an easy one, “Please, you take it!” I gave it a high toss for an easy catch and we both went on our way. Then he yelled back, “And it works too.” That is connecting, that is civility.

There are threats to civility; Dogs that bite—Territory infringement— Indifference to others-- The turning automobile-- An attitude of preferring isolation--Racial profiling. I remember when one snarly beast charged and I yelled at her apparent owner, “Keep your dog on a leash!” She yelled back, “It’s not my dog mister!” Another time at 6 a.m. I was cutting through a huge restaurant parking lot and the owner ordered me to stay off of his property.

It is not always easy being civil, but it is the right thing to do. What? Yes dear, I can be better at remembering to pickup my clothes.

MoneyWalker

Walking as a prevention of cancer?

Journal Entry: Average weight over last seven days = 177.0 (yikes!); Coinage 12/11 = $1.88, Coinage 12/13 = $2.04, Coinage 12/14 = $3.59, Coinage 12/15 $2.81, Coinage 12/16 = $.66. Note the $1.88 and $.66 totals were vacuum container free. The MoneyWalker will not turn his back on the generous agreement with the Mid-City Car Wash’s generous policy of leaving their vacuum bays unlocked and their non-harassment management policy, he continues to find more enjoyment in finding curb coins.

Feature Entry: Walking as a prevention of cancer?

Medical research continually indicates that chronic tension and anxiety attacks the immune system. Many medical researchers have found that cancer cells openly reside in our body but are arrested or held harmless by a healthy immune system. We also know that individual decisions such as a good night’s sleep, stress management, eating healthy, and exercise lead contribute to the body’s immune functioning.

Thus walking appears to be an important weapon in the war against cancer. Not only does walking assist in weight control and keeping the body physically fit, it provides an excellent way to shape emotional energy thus reducing the effects of chronic tension. While there is no scientific evidence that links the habit of walking with cancer prevention, it is logical to assume that the practice of systematically walking as a life style habit helps the body’s immune system in keeping dangerous cancer cells at bay.

MoneyWalker

Meditation walking vs. money walking

Journal Entry: Weight = 175.2 (Second day of consecutive losses); Coinage = $3.08 (great day for quarters, found money in most of my money spots) 83 pennies, 4 nickels, 8 dimes, 5 quarters (amount also included 29 cents (1 quarter and four pennies) from a long residual walk to the post office and the grocery store; Ground scores = 10; Glass bottles = 3. Residual walking is a great way of “walking green.” Retrieved a Barq’s root beer bottle with this inscription: “Please recycle—NY-MA-OR-ME 5¢ MI 10¢ IA-VT-CT-DE 5¢.” Also the beverage contains calories = 160 for 12 oz serving.

Feature Entry: The MoneyWalker is beginning to receive e-mails from friends that deal with the culture of walking. This act of friendship is appreciated. One wrote:

“I thought of you the other day when I found a quarter and a penny during my daily walk. I almost never see any coins and these were in a lovely and very quiet Japanese garden, which seems the unlikeliest place to find them. I left them for a moneywalker to find.

My enjoyment of walking is very different from yours as you explained it in a post about the middle of last week. (I am, as usual, behind on my Trollope post reading.) I walk for the physical feeling of walking and the enjoyment of the minute changes I see every day. I have a lovely park to walk in with various gardens (rose, perennial, lilac, formal, Japanese . . . you get the idea.)

Another sent me a website on how to do “meditation walking.” From that site (http://www.wikihow.com/Do-Walking-Meditation) was this advice:

“Many Buddhists incorporate walking meditations into their routine. Some people find meditating easier to do while walking than while sitting still for extended periods of time. You can also take the opportunity to Ground and Center as you walk: Imagine that every time you put your foot down, it connects with the center of the earth”

Both comments stimulated this thought, is the MoneyWalker vulgarizing the act of walking by searching for money? “Ground and Center” is a meditation process that “ … is a visualization and meditation exercise you can use to focus yourself on the present and learn to feel more whole, more aware.” I’ll give the question more thought, but for now the MoneyWalker is a little to giddy about finding $3.08 to worry about it.

MoneyWalker

Testing what you know about caloric expenditure and exercise mode

Journal Entry: Weight = 175.6 lbs and barely holding off holiday eating; Coinage = $2.73, 98 pennies (one wheat), 8 nickels, six dimes, 3 quarters (two residual quarters from the day before, one from a newspaper vending machine and one from a coin vendor at a pay parking lot); glass bottles retrieved = 8; Ground score = 1.

Feature Entry: A caloric expenditure exam question: Which of the following exercisers expended the most calories during a one mile exercise bout?

A. Marathon runners running one mile
B. Regular exercisers walking one mile
C. Obese subjects walking one mile
D. All expended the same number of calories per mile of exercise
E. Obese subjects and marathon runners expended the same amount of calories and statistically more than the regular exercisers.

The above question was posed as a research question by noted exercise physiologist Dr. Mark Loftin of the University of Mississippi. According to Loftin in a forthcoming article is D, all three groups expended the same number of calories for a one mile bout of exercise. Of course the marathon runners were essentially twice as efficient as the obese subject in that they covered the one mile in more than half the time as the obese walkers.

So crawl, creep, waddle, walk, jog, or run, just put in the miles for a healthier you.

MoneyWalker

Walking, the Common Cold, and Your Resolution System

Feature Entry: Walking and the Common Cold

Crud, heck, darn, fooey--the Moneywalker has an upper respiratory illness also known as the common cold. It has affected his “resolution” system. The symptoms include runny nose, congestion, mild sore throat, minor aches and pains, but no fever. But worse, I just don't have the resolve to hit the road.

The question is not if, but should I exercise with this condition. The answer is not equivocal but generally positive according to Naomi Sklar, M.D. She states that mild-to-moderate exercise (i.e. walking) when sick with the common cold does not appear to be harmful. In clinical trials, subjects were able to engage in exercise during the course of the illness without any negative effects on severity of symptoms or performance capability. She suggests that if the symptoms are “from the neck up,” moderate exercise is probably acceptable and, some researchers would even argue, beneficial.

However, Thomas Sevier, MD in the Journal of Athletic Training indicated that elite athletes should monitor symptoms and adjust training schedules with more rest.

But if you have the flu, the advice is definite, no exercise. Experts recommend that you concentrate on healthy nutrition and on drinking large amounts of fluids. My mom used a fresh squeezed lemon, 12 oz. of hot water, mashed aspirin, and a little sugar. Today, Ms MoneyWalker is more apt to use water and electrolyte replacement drinks like Gatorade in order to prevent dehydration. Once the flu has completely run its course, the walker can slowly re-initiate a walking regiment.

Some people confuse the common cold for influenza. And for good reasons, there are over 200 different types of coronaviruses and rhinoviruses. Some result in more serious symptoms than others. The key to knowing if you have the flu is body temperature. If you have a fever, you should check with your physician to determine if it is safe to exercise.

Journal Entry: Weight = 176.2; Last coinage = $.58; Currency find = $5.00 along a curb near a convenience store; Glass bottles = 21; Ground Scores = 10 Finding a five makes for a nice walk and helps cure the symptoms gained from an assaulted resolution system. With Ms MoneyWalker's concurrence, I should be back on the trails tomorrow with mmune system and resolution system both in all points go mode.

MoneyWalker

Finding an Indian Head Penny

Journal Entry: Weight = 174.6; 12/1 coinage = $2.73; 12/2 coinage = $2.77; 12/3 coinage = $.87; Total Glass bottles = 20 (3 broken, one near a school bus stop); Total ground scores = 18 (mostly hardware that only my Grandfather would want); Significant find = 3 quarters in a drive through car wash coin return; Once in a life-time find = 1899 Indian Head penny in near mint condition.

Feature Entry: The MoneyWalker’s fitness walk was nearly over and there it rested an 1899 near mint condition Indian head penny (note, the photo is a stock photo, the actual find is in better condition and is an 1899, not an 1898.) For more than one hour, my thinking was spent sorting through various competing ideas for my blog. The battle for eliminating rather than generating blog ideas was unusual in that I had been experiencing a “blogger’s block” for several weeks. Then boom—all the great ideas were blown away by this once in a life time find.

An Indian head penny that was minted 110 years ago must be dealt with. It was such a long time ago. So long, that there were no Indians living in the state of Oklahoma because it didn’t receive statehood until 1906. In the year before 1899, my grandfather would have been 25 years old, but he could not have listened to a phonograph record or enjoyed a coca-cola or viewed the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The Columbia Phonograph company and the Pemberton Medicine Company (inventors of Coca-Cola) didn’t begin until 1899, the same year the Eiffel Tower was created.

President Grover Cleveland signed into statehood the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Washington. Clemson University was started that year, the same year as the Johnstown Flood that killed 2200 people. Adolf Hitler was born April 20, 1899 and the English poet Robert Browning died Dec. 12, 1899. Also, the Wall Street Journal was started that year.

Symbolically, it was all there in that glorious one cent piece just waiting in a turned over Tupper Ware container outside of a thrift store dumpster waiting for the MoneyWalker to make his rounds.

MoneyWalker