Walk Well with Northumbria Ramblers to improve fitness [19 May 2004]
The Northumbria Area of the Ramblers' Association is launching a summer-long
walking for health initiative that seeks to encourage people to improve their
fitness and to explore the countryside in the Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and
North Durham areas.
The Walk Well programme starts on Wednesday 26 May, and aims to introduce people
to walking through a programme of short walks of between 3 - 5 miles, lasting
between approximately 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 hours. This is the inaugural series of walks run
by the Ramblers, and the programme is supported by ARRIVA through the Community
Foundation.
Between the end of May and mid-August eighteen walks will be held throughout the
region, free and open to all, some specifically aimed at families to encourage
children to walk; a flexible range of weekdays, weekday evenings and weekends
has also been planned. None of the walks will require specialised walking gear,
but a waterproof and footwear suitable for muddy conditions are recommended.
Walking is the perfect low impact, low risk exercise, which is low cost, easy to
enjoy and ideal as a family activity. It is possible to walk on coastal paths,
mountain tracks, canal towpaths, city and country parks and urban trails, and,
with over 130,000 miles of public footpaths, there has never been a better time
to start walking your way towards health and fitness.
Regular walking can halve the chance of coronary heart disease; reduce blood
pressure and cholesterol levels; it can help reduce weight and maintain weight
loss; it increases bone density helping fight osteoporosis; and it enhances
mental well being by reducing stress and anxiety. All of these health benefits
can be achieved by as little as thirty minutes brisk walking a day, five times a
week.
Terry Pollard, of the Northumbria Area or the Ramblers' Association, said, "If you're
thinking of starting to improve your health and fitness this is the perfect
opportunity to get started. People are becoming increasingly aware that they are
not taking enough exercise in the daily lives, and we hope that the Walk Well
initiative will provide the springboard to greater levels of exercise for many
people."
For more information about the walks visit the Northumbria Ramblers website or call Terry Pollard on 0191 488 7693.