Walking For Health

      Most days of the last several weeks have been great walking days.  Afternoon highs in the 70s and morning lows in the 30s make for beautiful days.  Walking is the only kind of exercise I do.  It seems to improve my physical and mental health.  I don't really know if walking extends life or prevents disease but it sure doesn't hurt.       Walking at a fairly brisk pace is kind of like aerobic exercise, good for the heart and lungs.  One of the best things about walking is it's accessible, easy and free.  Most months I walk between 65 and 85 miles.  Depending on the season my walking times very.  The early and mid day times are best  but it really depends on the weather more than my schedule.  From mid December through February I usually really cut back on walking because of the cedar pollen in the air.  Last year during that period the cedar pollen count got above 30,000 on some days which really took a toll on me. At the time of this writing the cedar count is 13 so you can imagine how bad one fells when the count is 30,000. One can take medication but staying indoors is the best medicine.   This year I plan to adjust the walking schedule, checking the pollen count before I hit the walking route.