Walking is too easy and running is too hard. What are some other outside options for the advanced beginner that aren't gear intensive?

— Andrew Levine, San Francisco, California

The most obvious next step (no pun intended) is to go up. Walking hills or stairs is a good way to up the ante of your workout without resorting to running. In fact, if you live in an area where there are plenty of vertical variations in the landscape, you can get as good a workout by walking up and down as you would running on level ground. Do uphill walking as a series of repeats, going up at a moderately hard pace for two to three minutes and then walking back down for one to two minutes. You can gradually increase the amount of time you go hard, while keeping your recovery time about the same.

Depending on your definition of gear intensive, there are lots of other options for exercise. One of my favorites is speed disc golf, a variation on the traditional ball and club game. To play, pick out an object such as a tree or park bench about 100 to 300 yards away-- that will be the hole. Drive the disc toward the hole, but instead of standing there admiring your throw, take off after the saucer at a fast walk. Move along until your disc strikes the object, stopping only long enough to pick out the next hole and throw again. This is a great social activity and you can end up with a set course, which you try to play a little faster each time with a lower score. In fact, many town parks have organized courses complete with baskets. Be careful though, you may get so excited you actually run after the disc.