Walking For Fun and Good Health!

Running approximately 2400 miles long from Chicago to Los Angeles, Route 66 passes through the heart of the United States. It was one of our country’s first transcontinental highways. Though it is no longer a main route across the country, Route 66 has retained its mystique and is now designated Historic Route 66. The romance of Route 66 continues to captivate people from all over. It is also the inspiration for Route 66 Walking Challenge, locally. “Route 66 Walking Challenge” is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield and offered through The Dale Association with the hope that a group of people will walk the equivalent of 2400 miles. Teams of two people each will accumulate walking miles over six weeks towards the 2400 goal. Pedometers will be given out to keep track of the miles. Teams can sign up together or individual people can sign up and will be partnered with another individual. Scheduled group walks will help maximize weekly steps or individuals and teams can walk on their own time. Teams will compete against other teams for total distance walked. Recognition prizes will be given out at a celebration at the end of 6 weeks. The walking challenge is free, fun, and healthy. A walking kick off meeting is being held on July, 8, 2014 at 2:00pm at The Dale Association, 33 Ontario Street, Lockport. The walking challenge starts July 14th with the six weeks of walking ending on August 24th. A celebration party is Tuesday, September 3rd. Registration in advance is required; please call 433-1886 or stop at 33 Ontario Street to register. Walking may be the single best — and easiest — exercise you can do to improve your health. Not only will going for a daily walk help you feel better now, it will help you maintain your independence and ability to do daily tasks as you age, according to a health professionals. Research also has shown that walking regularly can help protect the aging brain against memory loss, dementia, help cut the risk of heart disease, reduce the chance of developing type 2 diabetes in high-risk adults by a whopping 60 percent. And we're not talking marathon walking. The peak benefits come from 30 minutes of exercise several times a week, say experts. Most of us do need to move more: Only 30 percent of people ages 45 to 64 say they engage in regular leisure-time physical activity, and that drops to 25 percent for those 65 to 74, according to the National Institute on Aging. As the song says, “Get your kicks on route 66” and get up and walk.