Don’t let the snow and the cold keep you from walking and getting your exercise this winter. Instead, take it inside every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Indian River High School gymnasium. This year’s Indoor Walking Program kicked off on Friday, January 6 and will run until Easter weekend. This program started up about seven years ago and is still made possible thanks to Madeline Reid and Viona Adams who are not only participants but volunteers who take the time to open the doors at 7 pm each night and register all the walkers. This past Monday night Madeline registered approximately 35 people for the walk and informed me that last year there were as many as 88 people on any given night.
This indoor walking is great not only because it offers people a warm and safe place to exercise but it welcomes men, women and children of all ages and there is no pressure. You walk for an hour at your own pace, break when you need to, and stop when you are ready. For those wanting a higher endurance walk, walking up and down the staircases is an option. Speaking with some of the participants about why they walk was a challenge for me as I had difficulty keeping up and writing at the same time, and wouldn’t you know it, I left my running shoes at home.
Marie Russell, a resident of Valley Vista Retirement home is 83 years young and could probably speed walk circles around me. When asked why she walks she said “because I love it”. She has been walking almost every day since the age of 17 and loves to walk. When the weather is nice she enjoys walking outside and since taking up residency at Valley Vista, she walks from there to the water falls in George Huxter Memorial R.V. Park every day and back, and when the weather turns cold she joins up with the Indoor Walk Program. She even brought along two family members on Monday night.
Edsel Taylor will be 60 his next birthday and has had two hip replacements. He walks faithfully all year round because it is important that he gets his exercise but he also enjoys getting together with the others on walking night. Edsel is one of four men who has registered so far this winter and the group encourages other men to come out and join in. Also taking part were 13 members of the Dropping Pounds group of Springdale who faithfully attend the first and third Mondays of every month after weighing in at their gym. Long time members of the Tops program take advantage of the program as well and come out to walk as often as possible.
For all of you out there who may have a New Years resolution to lose weight, get fit or just live a healthier more active lifestyle, or maybe you just gained a few extra pounds over Christmas you would like to get rid of, come on out and join in the walk. You have nothing to lose...but pounds!
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