I know walking is good for your health, but at Saturday’s Race for the Cure I saw how good it was for the heart too. It made me feel so good to walk for such a great cause! More than 40,000+ people walked/ran in the 5k event to raise money for breast cancer research.
Some people participated for the love of the sport (they were the ones that were lined up first and were done before I even started). Some walked for the health benefits. Some walked in memory or in honor of someone. And some people walked just to be part of a great cause. No matter the reason, we all reaped the benefit of an early morning walk.
As I walked, I realized I could probably walk every weekend for a great cause. I came home and checked out the race director’s web site. Tuxedo Brothers alone is organizing 17 events through the end of August, including the Go Girl Go Triathlon on August 29. I’m planning on doing that one and would love for other FitCity Moms out there to join me.
Ken Long & Associates has 13 events on their calendar during the same time.
Studies recommend walking at least 30 minutes a day, 5 or more days a week. I recommend – especially after the inspiration I felt walking in the Race for the Cure – that you walk at least once for a cause that makes you feel good. Not only will you get great exercise, but you’ll feel good knowing that you’re making a difference.
One other thing I’ve learned from personal experience is to have the right shoes and drink plenty of water. Blisters from shoes that don’t fit right are never a good thing and dehydration is even worse. Trust me; I learned the hard way and my feet are still upset with me! Get your family and friends involved too. It’s always more fun when you have someone you can walk with – I witnessed that on Saturday!
Write back and let me know what cause you’re walking for – and where and when it is. I’d love to “walk into” another FitCity Mom!
Tags: Ken Long & Associates, Race for the Cure, Tuxedo Brothers, walking
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Great post, Kelly! It is amazing how many organizations plan fundraising walks such as Race for the Cure…I agree that we could be walking every weekend from now until November! Some other great ones include the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk and Outrun the Sun (for Melanoma research.)
Thanks for bringing those to my attention. I just checked out Outrun the Sun and it sounds fun. It’s at Ft. Benjamin Harrison (cool and different location) and it’s at night. It’s June 6 – maybe I’ll run or walk into you there.
FYI: The Memory Walk is Oct. 11 for a great cause too!
The charitable walk-runs are such a great win-win: you feel better after a good walk/run; you’ve helped a good cause; and the cause gets some much-needed money and awareness! Our family is doing the Run for Ronald at White River State Park on June 20. It’s along the canal and benefits the Ronald McDonald House of Indiana.
Next weekend, my 13-year-old and I are doing the 5K portion of the MIni Marathon. After doing the 13.1-mile Mini for five years, I decided to try the 5K and LOVED being done in 30 minutes! While I don’t regret this switch, I think everyone should do the full Mini at least once! But you MUST train for it if you want to enjoy it.
Hi Jen D. – Thanks for sharing and posting about the Run for Ronald – I’ll have to check that out, especially since it benefits such a wonderful organization. I hope you and your 13-year-old enjoyed the 5K/Mini Marathon. What I love about that is you’ve involved your family in an event you’ve enjoyed for several years. Walk on!
I walk for the American Heart Association’s Start! Heart Walk. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of Americans, killing more than the next 5 leading causes of death combined- including all forms of cancer. 1 in 3 women are dying of heart disease. But it doesn’t have to be this way! I walk in memory of my dad and in celebration of my choice to reduce my risk!
Instead of walking for a cause I downward dogged and tree posed my way through a yoga challenge to beat arthritis a few months ago. http://www.powerofmovement.ca/ Superfun!! Movement is the best medicine, isn’t it?