Holy hamstrings!
I awoke this morning to hamstrings that were super tight and sore. Apparently yesterday’s leg workout was seriously legit. One hundred squats is no joke!
I wasn’t sure whether or not I’d even be able to run when Ryan and I got to the gym, so I began my time on the treadmill with some fast walking. Walking fast actually made my hamstrings feel worse, so I picked up my pace and started running. After about five minutes, they loosed up a bit and didn’t bother me much for the remainder of my five-mile run.
I made sure to spend a good 10 minutes stretching them out after my run which hurt so good.
And now I am walking like a duck.
Breakfast
Today’s breakfast was awesome.
I made myself a wafflewich by topping two toasted whole wheat waffles with muenster cheese and two fried eggs. Turkey bacon rounded out the meal.
I love using waffles as the bread of a sandwich. For some reason they make breakfast sandwiches much more fun.
Most Walkable Cities
The other day I stumbled upon an article about the most walkable cities in the Unites States.
The article defined “walkability” as the ability to walk to the grocery store, restaurants and other amenities like the post office.
The most walkable cities in America include:
- New York City
- San Francisco
- Boston
- Chicago
- Philadelphia
- Seattle
- Washington, D.C.
- Miami
- Minneapolis
- Oakland
You may search for your city’s walkability score on this website.
My former hometown of Orlando pulled in a score of 74 out of 100, earning it the title of “Very Walkable.”
When I typed in my current zip code, the location of our new home earned a score of zero, deeming it “Car Dependent.”
I definitely miss the conveniences of Orlando. It was so nice to live in such close proximity to everything I needed but Ocala has a lot more trees, greenery and the stars shine extra bright at night. That counts for something, right?
Question of the Morning
- What score did your hometown receive on the walkability scale?
- Do you think it’s important to live somewhere extremely walkable?
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I cannot imagine living in a place that is not walkable – I go back and forth between NYC and Chicago, and love being able to walk everywhere.
Woohoo!! Go Boston! I am so proud we’re #3 even though we get tons of snow. I love living in a city that is so pedestrian friendly, especially since I have taken up running. The whole city is so clean and safe it’s a great place to walk around! 🙂
Phoenix would score in the negative! I lived in a very walkable city in college and absolutely loved it. I walked almost everywhere because I could and felt much more active than I do now that I drive sometimes 100 miles a day for work. Buuuttt, Phoenix has lots of opportunities for my career, my entire family, and all the best friends I’ve had for over 10 years, so a few things are more important than walkability, but I definitely miss it!
I got a 0 for where I live! I guess that happens in Boondocks, SC 😉 hehe. But I have to say… over the summer I visited FL for the first time and went to Miami… I was too scared to walk ANYWHERE. My brother had to be by my side at all times and the only time I let him go away from me was when we drove down to South Beach… to me that city is completely unwalkable… and undriveable too HAHA. I’m used to living in the middle of nowhere! I agree with the first commenter and I think my town deserves a higher score based on beauty 🙂
18 out of 100 — Car-Dependent. *sad face*. Wish there were more places within walking distance.
Ever since moving to NYC, I have walked much, much more. It is crazy how much more movement you can cram into one day when you live in a ‘walkable’ city.
Oh I just checked Williamsport and we got a 6! I’m not surprised though, I’m currently living in the middle of the country! I just typed in where my boyfriend lives and it got a walkability score of 88. Much better! I love living in a place that’s bustling with people and activity out on the streets, that doesn’t have to be seen through cars. Once I graduate that’s definitely the type of place I’m going to move to!
What a cool website! I live in a Washington, DC suburb with a walkable score of 85, which actually seems kind of *low* to me! We can walk everywhere–the gym, mall, restaurants, gas station, convenince store, salon, church, grocery store, library–everything we could possibly need is within walking distance. I don’t have kids, but I guess that there isn’t a public school within walking distance, so maybe that lowered the score?
I grew up in Charlotte, NC and our neighborhood has a score of 23–not surprising to me at all.
My parents have a house in Comers Rock, VA, and that has a score of 0!! 45 minutes by car to the nearest grocery store will do that. 🙂
My city (Omaha, NE) scored a 48- car dependent 🙁 But I consider it VERY walkable. Only a few blocks up the street is a very nice 7 mile trail that surrounds a lake. And there are several state parks only 10-15 minute drive with several walking trails through the woods. If I had to choose I would prefer walkability in terms of scenery and nature versus walkability to amenities.
Last year, I moved out of a VERY walkable city to a somewhat but not really walkable (but I never walk anywhere) city. It made me really sad because I loved being able to run across the street for a bottle of wine or reeses cup at any time of the day. Now, I drive to the grocery store that like a mile away, not so easy! 🙁
I think it’s a progression though. Through my college years (in NYC) and my post college years (smaller walkable town in NJ), it was really nice. Now my boyfriend and I live out in the suburbs where it’s not so walkable, but I love the idea of having a house and a driveway! I couldn’t see myself raising a family somewhere that is very walk-dependent. Most places like that don’t have backyards for children or pets to play in.
So funny that you posted this!! I’ve been walking everywhere this week because I can’t drive my boyfriends car(stick shift) and my car is being shipped to Florida. Pretty much no one walks here. I just checked and our house is a 32 out of 100. I guess it’s better than 0? lol
I can see that they didn’t really take safety into account for the walkability. I live in Oakland (#10) and while there are very walkable areas of the city–you can walk to the grocery store, post office, and out to dinner. There are certain neighborhoods (not really close to where we live) and times of day (nighttime) where I wouldn’t walk within 3 blocks of my house. I spend a lot of time in San Francisco, which was also rated very highly for walkability, but I holy hills batman! Just covering a mere mile in SF can have you running up and down some pretty steep grades depending on where you are.
I sound like a bit of a crank, but I really do love the Bay Area, it just isn’t quite as walkable as this report may make it seem 🙂
I definitely miss the walkability of Boston and New York. LA didn’t get a bad score but it really depends on the neighborhood you’re in and I’ve never enjoyed walking this city like I did NYC and Boston.
My neighborhood got a “somewhat walkable” and Phoenix as a whole got “very walkable” which I completely disagree with. Everything is SO spread out here and our public transportation is terrible but we do have wonderful weather from October – April so it would only make sense that our city could be more bike and pedestrian friendly..
I love cities where you can walk everywhere. The town where I grew up in Canada is perfect for walking around. Anywhere you needed to go was most likely within walking distance. Also helps it’s only 28,000 people 😉
#3 Hooray for Boston!
Driving is miserable in the city and everything is in close proximity to everything else…So you definitely get a good walk anywhere you go in Boston, plus we have lots of hills and cobblestone streets to explore!
So come visit people! 🙂
My city only got a 2 out of 100! There is really no where I can walk to in terms of shopping or restaurants. I have always been envious of people who can walk to everything. That is something I will look for, if we ever decide to move. Great breakfast by the way 🙂
Fort Worth got a 52..but really to get to the best restaurants there you have to drive.
Woohoo – Philly actually scored well on a city test for once! I walk or bike everywhere here. We only use our car about twice a month.
Hey, have you ever tried using “The Stick” massager? It is the BEST for hamstrings. My husband and I both use it everyday to massage out tight hamstrings while marathon training.
Also, I’m glad you stuck on the treadmill for 5-min! That’s what I always say to myself when feeling sub-par: “Just keep running for 5 minutes” – usually by then my muscles have loosened up and I’m feeling much better/awake.
Well. . . Tucson got a 65, but my actual address got a 37! Boo! I would LOVE to live in a city where I could walk anywhere. I recently moved here from Baltimore (where my address had a walkability score in the high 80s) and I really miss that aspect!
By the way, this morning I incorporated the 100 squat challenge into my work out. I felt the burn while I was doing the squats, and I am anticipating that “feel so good burn” tomorrow morning! 🙂
I just checked my address and our walk score is 95!!! A walker’s paradise it says! Nice!
We just moved to Portland which ranked #12. Whoop whoop!! We moved from Kansas City to Portland one month ago partly because we wanted to live in a city that was more walkable. Portland also has the largest green space within city limits, so we kind of have the best of both worlds here. We save a ton of money on gas and are in the process of getting rid of our second car. We love it here!
your breakfast looks so good!!!
the walkable city thing was fun. san antonio scored 88, very walkable…however when i typed in my direct address it got a 34…boo. oh well.
Ohh this has got me craving waffles!! Maybe I’ll have some tomorrow for breakfast! (Or tonight for dinner!) That’s interesting about the walkability report! I really love cities where you can walk everywhere which is why I love SF (though it’s hard to do in the 5 inch heels I live in)! That was actually something I hated about LA that you really couldn’t walk anywhere! It just feels like that’s one of the best parts about big cities!
I took my first body pump class on Tuesday and I am also walking like a duck!
i don’t live inside the city of philadelphia anymore, but i’m right outside of it. philly is very walkable as you read!
We can walk to a couple stores but that’s mostly due to good location. For the most part we’re car dependent around here (NH).
Wahoo!! 92– I live in Lethbridge, Alberta (Canada) That’s the FIRST thing I noticed when I moved here for work, a few years ago, EVERYONE is outside walking, rollerblading, biking, running! It’s awesome 🙂 YAY us! Ha Ha!
46/100 – Car-Dependent, but I already knew that! I typed in the zip code of where I’d love to live and it scored a…12. Sad! lol
I am surprised that Boston was higher on the list than Chicago. I have lived in both and based on my current location definitely feel that Chicago is way more walk-able, but I guess it is all relative to where you actually live within the city.
Meridian, ID Scored 85! Woohoo
My address got a big ZERO on the walkability…I live in a small town in Georgia about an hour outside of Atlanta. I drive 45 mins to work so I’m definitely not surprised!!
I went to college in Burlington, VT and that town is rated a 98/100 or “walker’s paradise” because it truly is! B-town is such a great college town and everything is in walking distance. Bars, music, food stores, everything! Then I moved to Germany for a year and I think the entire European continent in general is more walker friendly than the U.S.! I was spoiled living in these places, so I definitely weigh the decision of how “walkable” a city is if I want to move there! It makes life easier/healthier!
I currently live in Chicago, which is #4, but I grew up in Kansas City and it got a score of 55 – which i was VERY surprised at! I guess it’s because certain neighborhoods are very walkable, but there’s no way I would have been able to walk to places from where I lived without making it a bit of an event.
89- Boston represent!
I’m in Boston, and this city is definitely very walkable. Everything (except Target!) is within walking distance. I feel lucky to live here!
I’m number 6 for original hometown (Seattle), but I lived in the ‘burbs so nothing was walkable.
And now I have to walk 1.5 miles to get to the grocery store, but then I can’t haul anything back. I do it more for the starbucks 🙂
Ha I got a 69, not bad 😉
However I do live 15 min. south of San Francisco so I get a 2 also! 🙂
How do you stay motivated to run 5 miles on the treadmill? I get so bored and can’t stop thinking about how much I want to stop. I would rather run outside but weather doesn’t always agree. How do you keep yourself pumped on the treadmill? I loathe them! I can last maybe 20 min. and then I’m over it.
I total feel for you on the 0 walkability score… my boyfriend and I just (FINALLY) moved back into town after living in the country/forest for almost 3 years (10 minutes from a small not-even-incorporated town and 45 from the main “city”). I never thought that living on a dirt road would suck so badly (I mean, great running, right!?) until our first winter of mud and ice so bad I couldn’t leave the house. So, be glad your roads are paved and you don’t get snow!! 🙂
honolulu scored 91….walker’s paradise.
but looking at the map, i think they’re only talking about the business district part of downtown….
i drive everywhere…i wish i could just walk to place! (i guess i probably could..lol)
My hometown has a walk score of 66.
I think it’s nice to be able to walk to things, but never grew up with that convenience, so driving is no big deal to me.
I live in on a street in Virginia where all of us have 3 acres of land. And that makes for a looooooooooooong street. My score? 18/100. My biology teacher’s got nothin on me… i always got at least a 20/100 on all her tests!
Burlington, VT 98%
Woo!!
It’s definitely a walkable city that has pretty much everything you could ever need within a 1mile radius.
SO fun!
My city got a score of 39, which I totally disagree with. LOL. There’s not a chance I would walk to any of the places I go most due to busy roads with no sidewalks.
I spent the summer in Washington DC, and while there are definitely plenty of sidewalks and people walk everywhere, Capitol Hill and the Georgetown area have cobblestones everywhere. And cobblestones eat shoes for breakfast, particularly heels are soft soled flats 🙁
Julie, I feel ya – we just moved from Seattle – #6!!- to the middle of nowhere in Utah – I’m sure it would be a zero as well. We have exactly one bank, one grocery store, one gas station and one restaurant. BUT YES, the stars do shine extra bright out here and that definitely does count for something. So does the pool we ended up with – just like you 🙂 Its a give and take my friend!
I’m in city number 3! 🙂 Boston and it’s surrounding areas are great for walking and/or public transportation. I really like not having to worry about a car. 🙂
THIS! i love being in a city and not having to worry about car payments, insurance, etc!
That’s so cool…I’ve lived in Boston, Chicago, and Philly and I’d say of those three Chicago definitely is the most walk able…but if you live near the Pru in Boston then you are pretty much set for life and never need to leave that itty bitty area ha. My home town got a score of 37%–well below average…not surprised. I think walk ability is important depending on lifestyle. I hate driving so walkability is a must.
Knoxville, TN…22 🙁 Car dependent!
i live in jersey, about 12 miles from NYC–and my town got a 94. it’s quite safe in my suburb and still close to exciting nightlife. i’m very happy here, lol(though i have to say, as far as nature goes…i’d have to bus it to watchung reservation if i want to see stars. ocala sounds visually pleasing!).
My sister is in #1
My parents are in #3
I am currently in #4
I’d say those are pretty good numbers!
64…..
Not so great.