Urban Hiking and the Power of a Dog to Keep You Moving

One of my favorite ways to get movement in has nothing to do with a gym. We call it “urban hiking.”

Whenever we’re in New York City, we walk. A lot. On a recent day, I logged more than 11,000 steps just walking the streets with Ruby, exploring neighborhoods, walking to wherever we were going and stopping along the way. I could walk around New York for hours and never really think about the fact that I’m exercising.

And now, having a dog has added another layer to it. Ruby needs to go out, which means we need to go out. There’s no deciding you don’t feel like walking today when you have a puppy looking at you and waiting to go. Recently, our 26-year-old son watched Ruby for two days and one of the first things he commented on was how much she increased his step count.

There’s actually something pretty great about that. A dog gives you a reason to get outside, walk a little farther and move throughout the day. You’re taking care of them, but in the process, they’re doing something pretty good for you too.

I think sometimes we make movement more complicated than it needs to be. It doesn’t always have to be a workout. An afternoon of urban hiking, 11,000 steps through the streets of New York City with a dog by your side absolutely counts. And for me, it happens to be one of my favorite ways to move.