These Legs Were Made For Walking

In 1977, 20% percent of trips between school and home by children (ages 5-15 years) were on FOOT.  Do you think that the mode of transportation has changed in the last few years?  If you said yes, you guessed correctly!  By 2001, only 12% percent of trips between school and home for the same age group were made on foot.  That is an 8% decrease in 24 years! 

So, you may be thinking, 'Of course I remember how much more I walked, I was the one walking to school in 1977.'  Are you still walking to locations when it is feasible?  What has made the difference for your personal life?  Have you noticed a similar decreasing trend in how often you grab your shoes over your car keys? 

During the Spring Challenge, you have had the opportunity to find one day during the week to walk to a location you normally drive to.  Hopefully you have appreciated a few of these benefits already from simply moving more.

• Feel great.  Regular physical activity reduces stress, increases energy levels, and supports mental well-being.  Aside from the physical and mental benefits, monetary benefits are always a plus these days!  Do you need to drive, or with adequate planning could you walk and not spend as much money these upcoming summer months on gas?
• Manage aches and pains.  “Arthritis is the number one cause of disability in Utah and physical activity is an essential way to manage symptoms and maintain a healthy weight.” Rebecca Castleton, Utah Department of Health (UDOH) Arthritis Program Coordinator.  Just walking somewhere you would normally drive can "reduce pain, improve function, and promote weight loss".
• Envision yourself ten, twenty, thirty years from now.  What would you like to be doing?  Do you see yourself playing with grandchildren?  Gardening?  Enjoying life with reduced levels of pain and discomfort?  If you envisioned yourself activitely engaged in life, incorporate it now. 

Perhaps there are more factors inhibiting you from putting on your walking shoes.

• Inadequate space on the road to share with pedestrians or cyclists
• Broken, unsafe sidewalks
• Busy intersections
• High traffic speeds
• Unsafe routes

Don't let these factors prevent you from getting out and moving more!  Find alternatives.  If you live near a highway and feel unsafe (as you should) walking on the shoulder of the road, consider driving to an area in town with sidewalks, walking paths, safe intersections, and lower traffic speeds.