by Dave McGovern

When you ask a 25-year veteran of the U.S. National Racewalk Team to write about the virtues of walking, be prepared to take notes, because I can’t say enough positive things about it! Frankly, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re probably already aware that walking is a great exercise. It’s easy to do, you don’t need any special equipment or training, and you can do it just about anywhere.

Walking is one of the few true scalable fitness activities. Beginning exercisers can start out at an amble and gradually ramp up the intensity over time. Indeed, walkers range from recovering couch potatoes to Olympic athletes. Whatever your level, walking can be a part of your fitness routine.

About 80 million American adults walk for fitness, making walking the most popular fitness activity in the nation. Most of those walkers will tell you they do it because it’s fun, easy and fits into any busy day. 

Walking on a regular basis has been shown to lower your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, certain cancers and diabetes. It can help you lose weight, lower your cholesterol, increase bone density and reduce joint pain.  Emotionally, if you suffer from sleep problems, anxiety or depression, walking has been shown to be an effective way to keep symptoms under control.

All you need to start is a good pair of shoes, a little discipline, and you’ll be well on your way to a more healthy, rewarding life.