Every morning at 7.15 I sigh and put my trainers on - and then I Power Walk. Yes, I am German and we Power Walk. Go to Hamburg and you will see hundreds of people Power Walking their way around the Alster. I don´t do Nordic Walking with sticks, that looks too ridiculous in a big city, but I hold my head up high whilst swinging my torso from left to right and tugging an imaginary rope with my hands. And yes, I know it looks absolutely stupid. But you know what looks more stupid - me jogging. And Power Walking treats the muscles nicely and the posture as well. So there.
Power Walking has yet to be discovered in this beautiful town. I am the only protagonist at the Thames by Tower Bridge; all the others jog along. And sneer at me. When people say that you can do anything in London without anyone looking at you they are telling a big fat lie. They stare blatantly at me when I pass them. Some of them even make the effort to overtake me with their city-boy-stride. Very funny! But I stare as well. It seems that many people jog to their workplace. They carry big rucksacks on their back and hop along to their office. Amazing and so very efficient. I guess when you work 14 hours a day you have to squeeze exercise time in somehow. Another observation I have made is that most of the people I Power Walk by wear trainers as well - but they are not jogging.
I remember “Working Girls” with Melanie Griffith changing from her comfy shoes into her smart office wear. For a long time only women didn’t want to suffer on their way to work. Their tight and uncomfortable smart shoes were already waiting in the office for them. But now it seems this wise decision has convinced the city boys as well. Every second man who passes me by in the morning is wearing trainers. I haven’t seen this in Germany, but I am sure my fellow countrymen will adopt this soon. On the other hand they could teach their British counterparts that Power Walking is a decent method of morning exercise. I would be much obliged.