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One in four adults in the U.S. sit for more than eight hours a day, according to the CDC. Prolonged sitting raises your risk of heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, cancer, and even premature death.
However, the good news is walking is a great way to improve your health and lengthen your life. To achieve these benefits, you don’t need to walk 10,000 steps a day — which is a popular myth based on a 60s-era marketing campaign for a pedometer (although I admit to having used that metric myself in the past).
Just taking a brisk 11-minute walk every day can lower your risk of premature death by nearly 25%, according to one of the largest studies on physical activity that looked at data from 30 million people. This amount of daily exercise was also enough to cut the risk of heart disease by 17% and cancer by 7%.
Of course, walking’s health benefits are reward enough — but Fairfax County is sweetening the deal. Join the Walk and Win Challenge and you'll be eligible for weekly gift card and merchandise giveaways from local retailers and restaurants, including Caboose Brewing, The Bike Lane in Reston, and South Block.
It’s also a chance to make new friends. Consider joining a walking club to get your daily steps in while building new social connections.
There are many options like the Shepherd Center’s Walking Club which I took a stroll with last year (see photo above). They meet every Tuesday in Vienna; call Casey Tarr at 703-281-0538 to join them.
Or check out the Northern Virginia Volksmarchers. You may also join the Reston Community Center’s Walking Group or meet up with the Kilmanjaro/Reston Walking Group for their weekly four-mile lap around Lake Anne, followed by a social gathering.
Spring is here, and the trails are calling. Even a short daily walk could add years to your life. I hope to see you out there.
Regards,
Walter
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