The New York Sprint
In junior high, I realized I could get home faster by walking than by taking the bus. If I didn't have a lot of books to carry, I could sprint home in about 10 minutes by making a beeline through people's backyards.
In college, instead of gaining the freshman 15, I lost 10 pounds unintentionally speedwalking around campus.
Several years ago on my last day in Paris, I took a sprint through the 7éme arrondissement. The local Sunday strollers nearly snapped their necks watching me whiz by.
It turns out my need for speed may contribute to my longevity. The New York City Health Department has determined that New Yorkers, on average, live longer than other Americans.
Why? Because people who walk faster live longer, according to an epidemiologist quoted in a recent New York magazine article. In fact, a British Council study found that New Yorkers are the fastest walkers in the U.S. (Singapore leads overall.)
Lightning-fast walking is just one of several factors contributing to New Yorkers' longevity, but it's a pretty significant one, it seems.
Now that we've got the secret to longevity down, how long before someone discovers the fountain of youth?
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