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Dalton
Roberts |
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Most of the problems we have in life
are not things we don’t know what to do about. They are things we know
what to do about but for some reason remain frozen in inaction. Two recent readings reminded me of
this basic truth. One was the well-done spread in the Times Free Press
about Chattanooga’s low ranking as a “walking city” and the other
was a report on walking by Amanda Ross in Nutrition and Healing. The guidelines for ranking
Chattanooga so low had so many factors that have absolutely nothing to
do with the number and quality of walking places available to us. In no
city where I have ever lived have there been more good places to walk. It was the Nutrition and Healing
piece that really hit me. It reported that a full 73 percent of those
who walked briskly for 30 minutes a day were able to maintain their
weight of even shed a few pound. That’s almost a guarantee of success!
All we have to do is get that 30 minutes of walking time into our daily
routine. Since reading that report, I have
made it a point to walk at least 30 minutes a day and have rediscovered
some of Chattanooga’s fine walking places. Not only are these places
laid out good for walking, most of them provide great vistas of
beautiful scenery. One day I returned to the middle of
the Riverwalk around the Fishing Center. I like walking over the bridge.
Right past the bridge there’s a big rock that is perfect for a view of
the river and a brief time of meditation. The next day I walked around
Chickamauga Dam because I love to watch the Blue Herons. That day
several were out in the water fishing and they seemed to be doing better
than the many human fishermen lining the banks. Level walking is just fine but I
also like places that give you some heart action. One such under-used
place is the walking area around the boat dock on the lake side of the
dam. When I was a boy I would ride my bicycle over there just to stand
atop the hill and look at
the view of the river. It seems you can see forever from there. A walk
to the pavilion on top of the hill is certain to give you some great
heart action and your reward is a great view in all directions. Take
some old bread or crackers to feed the ducks. I am as guilty as many
others for making them into welfare cases. But, after all, what work is
a duck supposed to do to earn his upkeep? Another good place for mild heart
action is the Bonny Oaks Walkway. The track there is under-used and you
will not get a lot of great scenery unless a thriving business park
brings great joy to your heart. But the half mile track has a section of
slight elevation and it will get the old heart to pumping. If you like
it, you can just walk that area several times. There is a big beautiful
tree right where the elevated part begins and it is a mighty fine place
to sit with a sack lunch and let the birds provide your dinner music. The best part of the report almost
guaranteeing you weight loss if you walk 30 minutes is the kicker about
the study participants being told not to diet during this period of
time. The researchers were thereby able to prove that simply adding
walking to your life does the trick. Audubon Acres has a long walkway by
South Chickamauga Creek that includes a wonderful swinging bridge.
Chattanooga Nature Center has a long trail alongside tiny Lookout Creek.
There is something about that little creek that charms me. Don’t go hunting a place with
better walking opportunities than Chattanooga. Regardless of what any
magazine says, there is none.
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