Georgetown employees laced up their sneakers and stretched out their muscles before taking off on a brisk walk around the neighborhood as part of National Start! Walking Day on April 8.
National Start! Walking Day, sponsored by the American Heart Association, encourages professionals to ditch their desk and go for a walk to boost heart health. With encouragement from the American Heart Association’s bright red, 6-foot “Heart Man,” Georgetown employees moved as one under the
GUWellness banner to stretch out before the walk.
“Stick out your leg, sit back and stretch,” called out
Melissa Hendricks, a Yates Field House staff member, as she led the group in a community stretch to warm up before the walk. “Now the other.”
Walking is a good way to get in shape and improve vitality, according to the American Heart Association. More importantly, it’s something almost everyone can do easily, without a gym membership or special equipment. GUWellness has a partnership with the heart association to encourage faculty and staff to take up activities such as walking and other wellness pursuits.
“Walking doesn’t need to be a big deal,”
Charles DeSantis, associate vice president and chief benefits officer, told the crowd. “All you need to do is put your shoes on and go. Whether it’s 20 minutes or an hour, any amount of walking will benefit you.”
Every step counts, DeSantis added, while admitting he never used to believe that. Then he looked around at the success colleagues have had with walking programs -- weight loss, better cholesterol levels, more energy -- and in his own life. Now, DeSantis is a believer and asked the Georgetown to embrace walking as well.
The Georgetown pack took off at a fast pace for a one-mile walk around the neighborhood.
Hazel Bryant and Carolyn
Baldwin were among the first to complete the walk. Striding back onto Copley Lawn, Baldwin offered a simple explanation for her participation.
“I want to start and not stop,” said the systems applications analyst in University Information Services. “I’m always stopping.”
The walk motivated Bryant, manager in the bursar’s office, to dust off her walking shoes after the winter. In nice weather, she usually walks three miles two times a week. Bryant said the GUWellness event motivated her and let her see the wellness efforts happening around the university.
After the walk, Bryant and others moved between tables set up as part of the walking event. Employees from Georgetown Running Company fitted people for sneakers and discussed best walking habits. While snacking on fruit, granola bars and Vitaminwater, walkers also learned more about heart health, signed up for walking programs and spun a prize wheel for T-shirts, bracelets and more.
Brenda Roane walked away with the top raffle prize, a GUWellness gym bag filled with fitness goodies, including a yoga mat, T-shirt, gloves and a water bottle. Roane, who works in Hoya Staffing, decided three months ago to start her own walking program and said being healthy for her grandchildren is one motivation to stick to it.
“I work at the Harris Building on Whitehaven Street, so I need to come to Main Campus about three times a week. Now, I walk here and back,” Roane said. “It’s helped me slim down – I’m down 15 pounds so far – and my blood pressure is down, too.”
For those ready to start walking, the GUWellness Web site offers suggested routes in nearby neighborhood. As part of GUWellness’ participation in National Start! Walking Day, Georgetown community members also may visit mystartonline.org to track their walking progress, enter their routes and log in nutrition information.
