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Walking is lauded worldwide as the safest, most agreeable, and most accessible exercise. And
yet, I often wonder how the expression “I’m just a walker” originated? Or
why some scoff at walking. For the uninitiated, walking may not be a glamour sport, but
don’t tell that to an Olympic race walker or people who celebrate walking.
Walking may sound humdrum because that’s the definition of pedestrian: Going on foot.
Ordinary and dull. That definition prevents people from experiencing its physical, mental, and
spiritual benefits. It’s not stressful like running, and when enjoyed regularly at a good
pace, it’s great for your body regardless of age.
You can walk any time and place: early in the morning, late at night, at lunch or after dinner,
outdoors or inside, in the mall or on a treadmill, alone or in groups. To encourage year-round
participation, race organizers include walking
events within running races. Team participation is also becoming popular, as noted by the
hundreds of relay events found on the Internet—running, swimming, cycling, and, yes,
walking.
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