2-10-97 20 years old. 3 years after the diagnosis. Two observations are noted when I walk and immediately after I walk. The first is an interesting feeling overtakes my body whenever I sit down after walking a distance of 3/4 of a mile or more. My legs, particularly the calves and most recently my shin muscles, become tense after I walk this distance of 3/4 of a mile. However, the feeling I receive after the walk is worth the tense moments. When I sit down, I can feel the tension from my calves and shin muscles just become like butter as they ease away, leaving me with the feeling of extreme comfort. It is such an amazing feeling to have this but at the same time I don’t know if want to be in a state of comfort all day. It is strange for me to say I don’t want to be in a state of extreme comfort all day and the reason is I am afraid I may not accomplish my work. The second observation is the way in which my upper body moves when I walk. The motion is similar to a rocking forward and backward one. I feel the forward and backward motion is contributed to my hips and lower back becoming weaker. Whenever I walk in this rocking manor, my back becomes increasingly tense as the distance I walk grows. Strengthening my lower back and muscles on the sides of my hips in order to correct this rocking motion from continuing, if I don’t want to look like I am trying to hula hoop as I walk, is an area I need to work on. In the meantime, I will continue to monitor my walking motion over long distances and implement new techniques for improving the “look” of it.