backwards, mostly for balance

I read this article about backwards running a while ago; hadn't tried it till this morning, when I walked a backwards lap around the park. A few notes:

• This is probably easier to do without Ondine walking circles around me and wrapping her leash around my legs.
• This might be better to do on super-early morning walks instead of during the morning rush hour when everyone is either going to work or taking their kids to school. I was a little self-conscious. On the other hand, who cares?
• I found it hard to keep my eyes and chin up; I caught myself hunching once or twice trying to watch the edge of the sidewalk just behind me, which is really unnecessary. (I mean, do I look down at the sidewalk the whole time I'm walking forward? No I do not.)
• I need a new rain jacket for work and for hiking. I'm leaning toward red for better visibility. This has nothing to do with walking backwards but it's on my mind because it's rainy today.