Buzz
Airports can be massive (especially in big cities), which is often what frustrates us most. How far is baggage claim, again?? But if you find yourself with some extra time, why not turn the airport’s vastness into an opportunity? Walk the entire airport and challenge yourself to beat the clock.
That’s exactly what sleep expert Chris Winter recently did, covering the entire Philadelphia airport in just over an hour at an impressive 15:44 pace. He shared with us through a direct message that he’s made this a routine in other airports as well, even daring others to outpace him.
Dr. Winter explains that he began these airport walks simply to meet his daily step goal. “I travel frequently, and on some days, my only chance to get some exercise was during a layover,” he shares. He then realized that the maps generated by his fitness tracker looked pretty amazing. If you’re keen to try this challenge his way, Dr. Winter has a few guidelines for you.
No running allowed. The goal is for no other travelers or airport staff to notice you're doing this. Keep it subtle.
Your journey must begin and end at the same spot. It’s a loop, not a straight path from one side to the other.
Bring your bags with you. No using lockers.
Shuttles are off-limits, but you’re welcome to use motorized walkways (just be careful—they can be less effective when crowded).
The motorized walkway rule might spark some debate, but Dr. Winter compares them to “power-up items in Mario Kart.”
Whether you power-walk through the airport or take a relaxed stroll, walking the entire airport is an excellent way to stay active and fight off boredom while waiting for your flight to board.
