If you’re going outside to walk, here’s how to do it safely, according to a local expert

Outdoor exercise is permitted under North Carolina’s current stay at home order, as long as you maintain six feet of distance from those around you. If you’re going to leave the house to go on walks, it’s important to do so safely.

We asked Brian Mister, local outdoor exercise expert and organizer of the Around the Crown 10k (now happening on December 6, 2020) for his advice on avoiding crowds and keeping our outdoor time as safe as possible.

Follow the rules to keep yourself (and others) safe

Remember that the county has closed parks to vehicular traffic in an effort to keep crowds down. When you go out for a walk, be sure to stay six feet away from other people and avoid touching shared surfaces.

If you’re going to be somewhere where that isn’t possible, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing a face mask – even a DIY one. Also, you should only go on walks with people you’ve already been self-isolating with to reduce the risk of infecting others.

Pro tip: In general, the best time to go for a walk is early in the morning or late in the evening because it won’t be as crowded. “Plus, that’s the perfect weather right now,” Mister said.

Change up your walking route

The well-known walking spots are probably going to be crowded, so try some hidden gems instead. A change of scenery can make your walk more exciting, plus it’ll be easier to maintain 6 feet of distance.

College campuses
UNCC, Queens University, Davidson College, and other area schools have sent all or most of their students home for the semester. If you’ve always wanted to explore their picturesque campuses, but didn’t want to get run over by students rushing to class, now is your chance.

Backyard Trails
This network of rugged trails (used primarily by mountain bikers) is located off Tyvola Road behind Park Road Park. It’s a great place to go if you feel like hiking; your shoes will probably need to be washed once you’re done. There are over 16 miles of trails.

Explore Charlotte’s murals
Using the Agenda’s guide to the city’s murals, check out the ones closest to where you live. Mister recommends using the Charlotte cycling guide if you need help finding the best way to get there.”Typically, these are safe routes that either have sidewalks or are lesser-used for automobile traffic.”

Campbell Creek Greenway
Mister recommended this greenway because it’s usually one of the least crowded in the city. The trails here are wide enough that it’s easy to maintain six feet of distance if you do cross paths with someone, though.

Around the parks
Instead of walking through crowded parks, explore the neighborhoods around them. Freedom Park, Latta Park, and Eastover Park are surrounded by beautiful streets, many of which are in our luxury street ranking.

Change why you walk

For some people, just simply going for a walk isn’t enough. They need some other reason to motivate them, especially if they don’t have a dog who is begging to be taken out.

Every single street: In 2018, Ricky Gates decided to run every city street in San Francisco, where he lived. He started the ESS movement, which encourages people to explore where they live by running (or walking) every single street in their city or neighborhood.

Strava Art: Strava is a useful tool for athletes looking to keep track of their outdoor efforts, but it can also be a creative outlet. The app uses GPS to keep track of where you go and then provides a map of your route when you’re done. You can plan your walk to “draw something” using the streets, like the city skyline or a word. For ideas, check out the #StravaArt hashtag on Instagram.

Complete an errand: Limit the number of times you leave your house by using your daily walk to complete another task, like picking up takeout or mailing letters. “We’ve done the post office a couple of times, too. I’ll bike there with my daughter and keep her and the packages in the stroller,” said Mister.

Happy (and safe) walking, Charlotte.

For training tips and free workouts you can do at home (no equipment necessary), check out OrthoCarolina’s blog.

(This content was created in partnership with OrthoCarolina.)