In shock-amazement of the year so far, I realised today that I have actually managed to keep to one of my new year’s resolutions. Well, walking to work wasn’t actually a resolution (mine was to take up ballet, but nevermind – I am a ballerina in spirit and also I own a tutu), but I did start it in January, through the snow, wind and rain, and I’ve kept it up, beyond mine (and everyone else’s) expectations.
I was thinking about this today, as I made my way. According to MapMyWalk.com, where I now have a training log for no palpable reason beyond smugness, my walk is 3.3 miles, and this is only if I walked in straight lines, so I make it 3.5 miles at least. Now, this is obviously good for my booty (though, enragingly, I have put on weight – the humanity!), but the thing I have noticed most, is the absolute sensory overload I am bombarded with on my travels; and each day, a different experience entirely! Take this morning, my route-related emotional state:
Kingsland Road – fear of giant schoolkids, who are all massive and wearing ridiculous bomber jackets – obviously Jamie Oliver’s school dinners are pumped with growth hormones, or all the underage binge drinking is turning them into giants.
Old Street – annoyance – why do ladies in saris always wear Nike-style flip flops with socks? In the rain? This logic completely confounds me and makes them walk at the pace of better-dressed snails. Get them some trainers.
Clerkenwell Road – greed, with temptation in the form of freshly roasted coffee aromas and greasy but delicious-smelling bacon butties everywhere. The mouth-watering smell of Subway baking bread (smells so much better than it tastes) and the signs stating ‘fry-up £2.99′ are an assualt on my not-yet-fed taste buds. Luckily, I know better (except when hungover).
Farringdon Road – overwhelmed. Suddenly, on turning this corner, the smell of hot tar mac, car fumes and dust from building work hit me straight in the face, and I become very aware of being in one of the world’s busiest cities. Odd how that does it, but suddenly the feeling of the city being something alive, growing and evolving; almost human, becomes very strong.
Blackfriars Bridge – wonder/wistfulness. What is it about bridges that evoke thought, nostalgia and a feeling of being so alive? Come cloud or sun, this is my favourite part of the walk without question. After 45 minutes of being enveloped by the city, I am suddenly spat out, blinking, into the glorious openness of river and sky. Also, at this point, usually feelings en-route include pain (my feet – I can’t bring myself to be one of those women who wear trainers with office clothes – it’s too horrendous for words).
I’ve noticed that what I have on my iPod and also whether the builders whistle can affect my mood en route. Sad, but once, on a particularly unattractive day, a builder yelled at me “I DON’T FANCY YOU!”, which I thought was very mean, seeing as how he was old, fat and wearing neon yellow without a trace of irony, whereas I was simply hungover, sans-blusher and a bit wan.
Bottom benefits aside, I am continually exploring different ways to fill my walk, such as Positive Thinking Walk, Annie Lennox Walk and soon, I think, PodCast Walk. I seem to be the last person not to have got into podcasting, so now, I need to find some interesting things to listen to to fill my mind between the hours of 8.45 and 9.50 in the morrow. But, do they do podcasts about the art of shopping? Where to begin? My search starts here…
