Organizing a Neighborhood Fitness Walking Group

We all know the health benefits of being activeand make up a schedule.
and getting outdoors for fitness. Did you knowWhen starting out, its best to pick three days a
one of the most beneficial exercises that you canweek and walk for 45 minutes per day. As your
do for yourself is outdoor walking?group gets more active, you can add a day or
A few years ago, my mother and I organized aincrease your walking time to 60 minutes.
neighborhood fitness walking group. We decidedWith our group, we rotate our walking schedule
that it would be safer for us to walk in smallaccording to the seasons.
groups, plus it was a great way to meet someIn the winter time, we walk during the later
new women in our neighborhood.afternoon hours because its warmer outside. In
We drafted up some fliers and put them on ourthe summer time, we walk during the early
neighbors doors about our new walking group.morning hours or early evening hours when its
Within days, we had seven new women joining uscooler outside.
on our walks.3. Safety. After we formed our walking group,
Our group has steadily increased in membershipwe notified our local police department. We gave
over the past 4 years.them a copy of our walking schedule and a copy
Things to consider:of our walking route.
1. Members. How many members do you want toThe police officers will now make several patrol
allow to join your walking group?runs along our walking route on the days and
I suggest keeping your walking group to aroundtimes that we are out walking. I have also
ten members. If you decide to have more thanarranged for one of the police officers to come
ten members, then you should consider breakingtalk to our group once a year about safety when
your group down into two smaller groups, eachwe are out walking and they will usually do this
with its own organizer.for free. You can never be too safe.
2. Walking Schedule. Select the days and times