I’m a reluctant exerciser. I’m so reluctant, in fact, that I don’t. Exercise, that is.
But I really need to. It’s good for my health. It’s good for my heart. And if that isn’t motivation enough, it’s good for my legs and waistline. Diet alone no longer yields the results I aspire to yield …
So I’m going to start. Exercising, that is. And I’ll start with some baby steps: walking.
The Magnificent Mile? It’s filled with some serious eye candy and a giant panty-exposing Marilyn Monroe …
Just leave your purse at home or you might find your walk bogged down with heavy shopping bags …
Millennium Park? You have a giant reflective bean, a fountain people are encouraged to splash around in and an outdoor Pavilion with free concerts …
… but on a warm, sunny day you may find your brisk walk reduced to a crawl behind the hoards of tourists who flock there.
Now, in my very own personal opinionated opinion, the best place to walk in Chicago is along the lakefront. There are miles upon miles of paths …
… with my favorite walking path found along Montrose Harbor.
At this time of the year, it truly lifts my heart to see the boats returning to their moorings …
It signals the official end of winter for me.
And then, as I walk, there’s the amazing Chicago skyline on my right …
… and cherry blossoms blooming on my left …
Oh, and I can’t overlook the geese …
… who decided to hop up onto the dock …
… and proceeded to groom themselves …
… as they got ready for their close-up …
Uh oh …
… now they’re getting a little too close for that close-up.
This walker is backing up and turning around and picking up her pace. Okay, more like sprinting back to her car …
The one thing missing from this post are the sounds. The sounds of the calls of those geese and the cries of the seagulls …
… and the quacks of the ducks …
If you didn’t know any better, you’d think you were at the ocean, not a lake.
Although, the noise is pretty loud. If only I had an iPod Shuffle to drown out all those calls and cries and quacks …
.. oh, wait …
… maybe I can rectify that issue by entering the Walk It. Pin It. Win It. sweepstakes going on over at the American Heart Association (you can read more at www.swavolunteer.blogspot.com). Five iPod Shuffles with $25 iTunes gift cards up for grabs. All you need to do is pin a photo of where you walk and you’ll be entered into a random drawing.
Here’s how it all works …
1. Take a walk and snap a pic of your favorite path.
2. Pin it on your Pinterest account and add #walkit in the description. Then leave a comment on the contest post on their blog (www.swavolunteer.blogspot.com) – or, if you’re on Twitter, you can tweet them with your username @heartsouth — and they’ll find you and re-pin it on their Walk It board.
3. You’ll be eligible to win one of five prize packages (iPod Shuffle-4th generation and a $25 iTunes gift card to buy some new walking tunes!).
4. Contest runs 4/4/12 – 4/25/12, winners selected in a random drawing.
So tell me, where do you walk?
And then be sure to visit the American Heart Association sweepstakes and show them your Pinterest pin where you walk …
… you have until April 25.
P.S. I wrote this post out of the goodness of my very own heart. This is not a paid endorsement from the American Heart Association. I in no way benefit from this post. In fact, it’s the polar opposite. By sharing this contest with you all I’m actually hurting my own chances of winning one of those coveted five iPods Shuffles with those $25 iTunes gift cards …
Sharing at Funky Junk Interiors …
Hi there! My name is Linda and I’m a Jersey-born-and-bred Midwestern transplant who lives in Chicago with my husband and two children. We've lived in our home since 1995 and over the years our style has changed and evolved. I wouldn't call my home a work-in-progress -- more like a rework-in-progress as I refresh and remodel things around here ... one room at a time.
What a beautiful place to walk! I have started walking as well. I live very near two gorgeous natural water falls. I have started hiking one of those and don’t even feel like I am exercising. I totally understand the whole thing of diet not working anymore. That age thing really starts taking its toll…
Linda,
You are the very very best friend in America! I love where you walk and you are truly amazing! You made my entire week
blessings,
me
Great pics. I miss the downtown area and all the sights, as well as the 20 lbs. lighter version of myself. Appreciate the “walk” down memory lane!
Love the ducks what a great walk
I have only seen Chicago from the air, but it looks like a nice city. I have their airport memorized as I spent many hours there on my way to Houston to visit my sister. A bit windy, but we get those winds about an hour or two after Chicago. Yes, the lakes are large and the only one I have never seen is Lake Huron. Lot’s of history here.
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Glad you are exercising now. I have to get moving, too….. and soon.
i love chicago! one of my favorite cities in the world… completely true. this was a great post and the bonus of photos brought back nice memories of the city! i will be visiting it again soon
have a happy weekend!
I *heart* Chicago and love walking all the way down to the river (at the Wrigley building) and back to the big-a$$ stores. I saw Thistle’s call to show where I walk, but I walk all over the ‘hood…and can go ten or fifteen different routes. I’m going to post mine tomorrow when I do House Stalker and show all my little routes!
beautiful pics, linda, and a lovely place to walk!
LOL! Those geese are EVIL! I’ve run away from quite a few myself.
Thanks for sharing, I’ve only ever driven straight through Chicago. It was nice to see a bit of the city.
You live in an amazing city. I can’t believe you get to experience so much on your walk! Although you might walk home with a lighter wallet, at least your arms will be buff from the heavy bags!
Haha, I’m picturing your running yelling “the geese are coming, the geese are coming” in downtown Chicago.
I love Chicago!! It’s my favorite city in the U.S. I was based there when I was a Flight Attendant for United for 15 years. The hubs and I have an annual pilgrimage to downtown Chicago every December, to get this midwestern girl a dose of Winter Wonderland. Love the way they light up the magnificent mile! We have lived in California for the last 12 years. (SO NOT Christmas-y!!!)
I love the way Chicago looks in the spring and summer too! You have a fabulous city to walk in! Stay away from those crazy geese!
xo-Lisa
I love your Chicago pics! We always try to walk along the lakefront early in the morning when we visit downtown. My sil and i have met a couple of times for the symphony on Wednesday in the summer. Free, smaller crowds, beautiful music! Love it. Have a blessed day! Thanks for stopping by my blog. Your comment made me laugh!
I’ll be on the next flight!! Can’t believe I’ve never been to the Windy City! What fun pics – except for those scary geese – I would have done an OJ Simpson thru the airport out of there!
Kelly
How lovely Linda! I have never been to Chicago and loved your little walking tour of it. keep up the walks and the lovely posts.
Thank you Linda! You rock! I really appreciate your support. (I’m Kari’s sister)
Ahhh, beautiful. I really, really need to exercise more. Chasing around a one year old counts, right? Right.
Jaime from crafty scrappy happy
THANKS, LINDA!
This TOTALLY inspired me… I went for a walk today. I took my camera. I have a post planning to post for tomorrow. I have had 3 heart surgeries… one was very serious. My dad has severe heart failure…. so does his twin brother.
This post is close to my *heart*. And so is Chi-town BTW…
Thanks, again!
Joanne
P.S. SO sorry about the tree!!!!!