December 26, 2005

Ready, Start, Walk

          The Walk ND program is ready to step off on its next challenge on Sunday, January 8^th.  Walk ND is a NDSU Extension Service-sponsored program that encourages participants to work toward a goal of walking at least 10,000 steps a day to achieve better heath.

          The most recently completed challenge included 444 walkers from 32 North Dakota counties and 5 states.

          Together the walkers logged 201,402,778 steps or the equivalent of 100,701 miles during the eight-week program.  That is equivalent to walking around the earth over four times!

          Walk ND is open to anyone who wishes to become more physically active.  Walkers can join as individuals or groups.  Every two weeks, participants record the number of steps they have taken.   A target goal for participants is to walk 10,000 steps, five days a week for eight weeks.  That amount of walking is equivalent to 5 miles a day on 5 days of the week.

          Why is Walk ND encouraging people to walk more?  Walking has a variety of benefits including building strength.  Brisk walking gets your heart pumping and sends oxygen through your whole body.  It strengthens your heart and the muscle groups responsible for movement.

          Brisk walking also burns fat. In place of stored fat, the body develops muscle. So a walking program rewards you with a lean body, along with a higher metabolism.  Walking also aids in the production of the human growth hormone, which maintains the size and strength of your muscles. As walking is low impact, it is good for your bones and joints.  Even a rapid pace rarely causes strain or injury to knees, ankles, back or hips.  Walking uses the strength of your bones and joints to stimulate development.  As you walk, your legs and feet work against the earth’s gravity, which acts as a natural weight your bones and muscles counteract. The body responds to the relatively mild stress of is own weight by building bone cells and soft tissue.  

          Register for Walk ND by clicking on their web site of, www.walknd.com and paying a fee of $10 per person of $5 for students.  You will receive an incentive prize as soon as you sign up and by signing up are eligible for the grand prize.  Check their web site to see what that prize is!   The web site also include more info on why walking is healthy, how to use a pedometer, how to convert time spent walking into steps and a walking map of ND.  See you on our walk around ND!