Walking 10,000 Steps a Day - Best and Worst Places to Do It

Good: Against traffic. Bad: With traffic.

Walk against traffic, and you can see drivers heading toward you. Walk with traffic, and you have little to no warning when a driver swerves your way.

Good: On the sidewalk. Bad: On the street.

Walk on the sidewalk, and you stay out of the same path used by cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Walk on the street, and you are fighting the laws of physics in the event of an accident - a fight that you will lose.

Good: In lighted locations at night. Bad: In unlit locations at night.

Walk at night in a lit location or one that you light yourself with a flashlight or something similar, and you can see where you are going ... and be seen by others. Walk at night in an unlit location, and you might trip over something, walk into something, or get hit by a runner, cyclist, or driver.

Good: In a location with controlled or bearable temperature. Bad: Outdoors in temperature extremes.

Walk indoors or in an outdoor location with a bearable temperature, and you will not "wilt" or "freeze" during your walk. Walk outdoors on an extremely hot or cold day, and you are taking your chances with heat stroke or frostbite, respectively.

Good: In a location with controlled or bearable humidity. Bad: Outdoors in high humidity.

Walk indoors or in an outdoor location with a bearable humidity, and you will be fine. Walk outdoors in high humidity, and you could be exposing yourself to a dangerously high heat index.

About the Author

Kirk Mahoney, Ph.D., loves to walk and run, and his website provides practical research for runners and walkers. By going to http://www.SpryFeet.com/Reports/, you can get Free his special report about eleven programs to help you reach and sustain walking a very beneficial 10,000 steps per day.