Walking on Sunshine: Summertime Walks in Houston

During the quarantine, the only way my friends and I could see each other (when we had no cars and there was no indoor meeting allowed) was walking. We continued this trend amidst the daily stress of high school life. On the weekends, my friends and I meet up for our ideal way to vent while getting exercise, going for a walk. We would drive to each other’s houses and gather for a minimum of an hour walk filled with gossip, makeshift therapy, and life updates.

Despite the Houston summer heat, for many, walking is still a favorite way to get exercise. Part of the appeal of walks can be personalization. You can walk alone or with friends, listen to music or a podcast, and add weight or none. Recently, avid walkers have begun to incorporate a weighted aspect in the form of a vest or arm weights into their walking regimen.

“Walking is my favorite form of exercise for various reasons,” Suzy Telle, a student at The University of Texas, said. “It’s just a really healthy form of exercise because it’s low intensity but still active. I can go on long walks without burning myself out or getting too tired.”

Walks can be a great way to move your body or have a relaxing moment in the craziness of a day.

“I love to walk in Bunker Hill, my neighborhood, but recently I have been walking Memorial Park a lot, which is a nice three miles that I can share with all my friends,” Elizabeth Morse, a recent graduate of Memorial High School, said.

Some walkers prefer their neighborhood to traveling for convenience and practicality.

Memorial Park remains a favorite for Houston walkers but a simple walk up Knipp to Taylorcrest back down Bunker Hill Road is a perfect three-mile walk for Bunker Hill residents.

“I think walking in my neighborhood is ideal because I can just walk out the door,” Telle said. “I also feel safe and enjoy the shade from trees. It’s also easiest while I’m working this summer because I don’t have to drive somewhere, [which] saves time.”

Many walkers have also started incorporating weights in their walks.

“I recently got one-pound Bala Bangles (the internet famous arm weights)  that I have started using,” Telle said. “It’s a nice added challenge.”

Along with arm weights, a new trend of weighted vests have become popular with walkers. The vests are used for an enhanced challenge to improve endurance and can be used during walks or simply during daily chores. 

While walking, there is time to escape daily stress and catch up on music or have a quiet moment to yourself.

“I love to get my steps in and try to reach my step goal each day; it’s a great way to have low-impact exercise,” Morse said. “It’s my quiet time in my day to listen to music or a podcast.”

Morse typically listens to “The Mel Robbins Podcast” during her walks. For a more comedic listen, I would recommend “Therapuss” with Jake Shane, which features numerous celebrity guests in a therapy-style interview. And for true crime fans, “My Favorite Murder” combines crime and comedy in their episodes for a lighter take on various cases.

Other walkers use their time for music.

“Whenever new music comes out, I like to go on a walk to listen for the first time distraction-free,” Madison Ramke, a recent graduate of Memorial High School, said. “If no new music is out, the album 'Golden Hour' by Kacey Musgraves is my go-to on a walk.”

For tunes perfect for a summer walk, check out our playlist here.