Sharpening skills in an urban environment

theonew

theonew

Joined
May 16, 2006
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Well after 6 or 7 years of working freelance from home, my biggest client sucked me into coming to work for them in their office. So now I travel to midtown Manhattan and work in a skyscraper. Gone are my lunch hour walks with my dog in the park and sneaking away in the afternoon for a short hike. So to compensate I'm trying to use the urban environment to sharpen my skills. Here is what I've come up with so far. Riding the subway, I try not to hold on to anything, it seems like it might help develop balance (its also nice not to have to touch anything while in there). Even though it looks a little silly, I've also taken to climbing stairs two at a time, to keep the hiking leg muscles in shape. The building I work in is semi-high security, but if they let me, I may start taking the stairs up, 40 floors :eek:

Anyone have any other ideas?
 
Never eat from the Turkish cooks in the east side... jk there food is very good. For a quick snack EAT from the Turkish cooks in the east side.
 
Tourist dodging will soon be an olympic sport.
Works on your awareness, agility and stamina.
We never run out of tourists in mid-town.

Walk, skip a couple of subway stops and walk them.
Fits in well with tourist dodging.

Trip on up to Central Park and see how many different critters you can find.
That can get real interesting.

Then there is always the continuing search for midtown's best Gyro.

:D
 
theonew said:
Well after 6 or 7 years of working freelance from home, my biggest client sucked me into coming to work for them in their office. So now I travel to midtown Manhattan and work in a skyscraper. Gone are my lunch hour walks with my dog in the park and sneaking away in the afternoon for a short hike. So to compensate I'm trying to use the urban environment to sharpen my skills. Here is what I've come up with so far. Riding the subway, I try not to hold on to anything, it seems like it might help develop balance (its also nice not to have to touch anything while in there). Even though it looks a little silly, I've also taken to climbing stairs two at a time, to keep the hiking leg muscles in shape. The building I work in is semi-high security, but if they let me, I may start taking the stairs up, 40 floors :eek:

Anyone have any other ideas?
Click to expand...

I've never been to NYC so this may not apply, but if you are anywhere near Central Park, there is a guy named Steve Brill that does wild food hikes. He is quite well known and has written a couple of books, in fact, if you do a search you will find his web site.

IIRC, Rescue Riley went on one of his hikes and if IRC, he could fill you in.

Doc
 
You can practice your dead falls and twitch ups on dog size rats, be sure to eat what you kill:eek: Just kidding, I am sure no one will mind you taking a few them guys out for the sake of practicing skills.:thumbup:
 
People watching :)

I love just people watching in cities , its heaps better value than going to the zoo .

OK , it doesnt prepare you for much , but it kills time and makes you think .
 
i always take the stairs two at a time, just because it takes too long to take them one at a time. stair climbing is great...if you don't watch out, you will be in better shape than you were hiking doing 40 floors worth of stairs...

if i remember right you are about my size, stairs two at a time should be no problem. i will be impressed when you can run all the way to the top without a break...:eek:;)

also, perhaps you could get in the habit of carrying a purse with some essentials in it...but again if i remember correctly you prefer to go minimalist in your carry gear.
 
moose1132
You talkin' street vendors?


Ebbtide
Tourist dodging definitely sharpens agility that's for sure. You never know when they will stop short to gawk. I fear with the weak dollar, tourist dodging is bound to get alot tougher this summer. If I'm in a rush I will sometimes just walk in the street, which changes the game into bus, taxi and car dodging :eek:


Doc
I've been on a few tours with Steve Brill, though not in Central Park. He definitely knows his stuff and I've learned a heck of a lot. Somehow though foraging in city parks seems less than appetizing. You always have in the back of your head, "I wonder how many dogs have peed on this 'edible' plant."


tonym
That is a great idea and would probably get me a write up in one of the local tabloids :thumbup:


Myal
I've been people watching during the day and watching out for people at night as long as I've lived here. That's what makes the wilderness such a welcome treat on the weekend. :)


Siguy
I'm glad to hear from another "two-timer", and yes I think we are of a similar build, I'll let you know when I can run the 40 flights :D I do like to keep things minimalist, so far just a Vic Tinker. One of the owners of the company received a fruit basket today and asked one of the secretaries for a knife to open it. I was in his office and handed him my SAK, he smiled and said, "Ahhhh, a Swiss Army Knife," and sliced it open. :thumbup:
 
i cant think of a time i didnt take two steps at a time.. If i take one step at a time my legs get tangled up... Siguy is right doing 40 floors twice a day and you would be in better shape then hiking everyday.. But living in NYC i cant even imagine that and i live in los angeles...

sasha
 
theonew said:
Doc
I've been on a few tours with Steve Brill, though not in Central Park. He definitely knows his stuff and I've learned a heck of a lot. Somehow though foraging in city parks seems less than appetizing. You always have in the back of your head, "I wonder how many dogs have peed on this 'edible' plant."
Click to expand...

Good point and it's not just dogs..............:( We sometimes categorize wild edibles as BPL and APL which stands for Below/Above Piss Level. :D

Doc
 
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