When the weather is really crummy, either horribly wet or hot, I've taken to banging out laps at the Washington Square Mall. I just LOVE walking in air-conditioned comfort when open-air walking is no fun. When I invited friends to bang out some mall laps with me, they all asked the same question: "How long is one lap?" We measured the following shopping malls with a rolling tape measure. Here are the results.
Lancaster Mall, Salem
750 meters or 0.465 miles
Including the food court wing and the south-western entry alcove
This popular, single-level mall has a few stairs in the middle, with a ramp if you don't like stairs.
Cedar Hills Crossing, formerly Beaverton Mall, Beaverton
200 meters or 0.125 miles
Including the food court alcove and the remaining entry alcove.
Powell's Bookstore has moved in, making the interior hall tiny. Many shops were closed during recent remodeling, meaning fewer shoppers to impede your walking. The very short gallery means more laps.
Mall 205, east Portland or Gresham
500 meters or 0.31 miles
With all three entry alcoves and the food court near The Home Depot.
This mall has seen greater days. Lots of empty stalls, but that means fewer shoppers to get in your way. Pancake-flat.
Jantzen Beach Center, north Portland
750 meters or 0.465 miles
Include all four of the entry alcoves and a trip behind the carousel.
This mall was much longer until bulldozer surgery cut the interior hall by two-thirds. Many empty store fronts, but the bright animals and lights of the 1930-era carousel are a flashing joy with each lap.
Washington Square, Beaverton/Tigard
1.25K or 0.775 miles
From Penney's, to Cheesecake Factory, skip the short hallway leading toward Nordstrom there, then onto the main gallery to Sears, back beneath the food court to Penney's.
The long-awaited addition adds 30 more stores and a loop near the Meier and Frank store to tempt mall-loving feet. I like to take the stairs up to the food court for a bit of climbing.
Westfield Shopping Center, Vancouver
700 meters or 0.434 miles
This applies to either of the two levels, without the entry alcoves.
The lower level is narrower because of the pillars that support the upper level. A modest shopping crowd makes the lower level hard to navigate at a good pace.
Lloyd Center, east-central Portland
Lower and middle levels are 900 meters or 0.558 miles
Walk the entire alcove behind the elevator and any one of the other alcoves.
Upper level is 700 meters or 0.434 miles
Walk all the way around the food court, past the movie theater entry.
The central level is freshly carpeted, with lavish seating all over, making for a truly cushy walk. The uppermost level hosts the food court and two wings of office spaces. The office wings are carpeted and nearly always empty of foot traffic. The intermittent three- or four-step stairs make the third level impassable to electric scooters. This level is also uneven in places, so you have to watch your step.
Clackamas Town Center, south-east Portland
Lower level is 900 meters or 0.558 miles
Include any one entry alcove.
Upper level is 900 meters or 0.558 miles
Include any one entry alcove.
The upper level used to offer greater distance, but the food court has been completely removed. It looks like a year or so before the food court will return.
Observations: Get started early - as soon as the mall doors open. By 10:00 AM on weekends, mall hallways get so crowded that you are constantly dodging shoppers. Avoid the lunch and evening hours during the week. Walk first, shop later! The distractions of the shops can be tough to ignore. Standing in place to browse is actually more tiring than walking. Walk first, eat later! Once the food court opens for business, those delicious smells make the laps harder to bang out. Next thing you know, you are standing in line for a slice of pizza or a Cinnabon. Aggressive vendors will tackle you and force you to eat a sample of their delicious fare. When that happens, you are doomed. You'll need some Tough Love from your walking friends if you get distracted here. Park together if you can. If you did not carpool to the mall, agree in advance to park in the same area. Entering and leaving the mall as a group makes for a safer day. If you have a weakness or allergy for artificial scents, mall walking may not be for you. Sometimes you can avoid the olfactory attack by crossing to the opposite side of the hallway as you pass the scented shops. We love the frequent chance for 'potty stops'. If you have an itty-bitty bladder, no problem in a shopping mall. The scenery doesn't change. Banging out laps in a small mall gets boring FAST. Bring something stimulating to talk about. Malls are ideal for friends who want to join you but are confined to electric scooters. If you want some stairs, and the mall isn't busy, walk up the 'down' escalator for a while. Cheap Stairmaster training!
Last updated: March 10, 2007
