It's been years since I have walked, much less run around the entire Queen's Park Savannah. On Monday, I reacquainted myself with the picturesque Port-of-Spain venue when I decided to make a Savannah run. The distance around the Savannah is about 3.5 km-but after watching Jamaican super-sprinter Usain Bolt and T&T's athletes conquer the world on the tracks at the Olympic Games in London, I felt inspired. Taking along my friend Nicholas for company, I set off, determined to conquer the vast open space. To warm up, Nicholas and I did some jumping jacks and basic stretching exercises to prepare our bodies for the task ahead. Our starting position was obliquely opposite Chancellor Hill. It was about 6 pm and while the sun had gone down, it was very humid. We started off walking briskly, which didn't take much effort. However, about two minutes later, Nicholas said we should jog-and that's when the pressure was on. Suddenly, my hopes of trying out for the 2016 Olympic track and field team seemed far-fetched. Nicholas and I jogged for about five minutes before running. By this time, I had built up a sweat and my legs were feeling the strain. Nicholas is very fit and has a brown belt in karate, so I was already at a disadvantage. "Didn't we just see this guy?" I asked Nicholas, referring to a man who ran past us when we were warming up.
I realised that people take this Savannah thing seriously. We saw men, women and even a few youngsters trotting along, some moving faster than others, but all very determined to get a good workout and get fit. Walking, jogging and running work the entire body and are great ways to burn fat, increase one's endurance and lose weight. After a few minutes of running, I started walking again because I needed to catch my breath. Nicholas wasn't too pleased, but he was a good sport and slowed down his pace. Walking has many advantages. Health professionals say walking three days a week for 30 minutes can help lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol/the "bad" cholesterol, raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol/the "good" cholesterol, lower one's blood pressure and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. As I walked, I was also conscious of my breathing. I previously read that practising proper breathing techniques can enhance your walking experience by making it more energising. Experts assert that the breathing cycle should start in the stomach. Most people breathe very shallowly using only the shoulders/clavicles and the ribcage for inhalation and exhalation.
However, fitness gurus advise that while shallow breathing will keep one alive, it doesn't offer much help in situations where one requires more oxygen, such as walking at a moderate pace. I admit that breathing "the right way" made me feel somewhat energised and after a short while, I was ready to turn the walking into jogging and running again. At this point, Nicholas and I had covered more than half the circumference of the daunting Savannah and before long, we were on the home stretch. I couldn't wait to finish. My legs felt heavy and I had to really push myself to continue running, (if you can call it that). Nicholas, although sweating, seemed perfectly fine. When I spotted my car parked at the bottom of Chancellor Hill, I knew my job was complete. I felt burnt out but proud. I had successfully conquered the Queen's Park Savannah, and it only took a little over 40 minutes. Who knows? Maybe I'll give the Olympics a try after all.
Fun: Seven out of ten
Expense: Zero dollars
Skills needed: Endurance, patience
Convenience: It's available to all every day and it's free
