Walking Lake Pepin (WLP) 2024 has started. Sunday, June 2nd, was the official start of the walking challenge for community members who signed up to improve their level of fitness and start logging their minutes or miles of walking or other moderate physical activity over the next 10 weeks. For anyone who wants more information about the Walking Lake Pepin challenge check out the webpage; walkinglakepepin.com.
Everyone is invited to join in and can still sign up by stopping in at Treats and Treasures on Washington St., Anytime Fitness on 7th or online at the WLP website, walkinglakepepin.com. Log sheets for keeping track of miles or minutes walked and the Wednesday evening WLP group walking schedule can be picked when participants sign up.
The theme for this year’s event is “Walking….It is Good for the Soul” emphasizing the mental health benefits of walking and doing other daily moderate physical activity.
When WLP was started in 2008 the goal of the summer program was to promote physical health and wellness by increasing physical activity. Current research is showing with increasing evidence that physical activity (walking, biking, swimming, jogging, etc.) can also improve our mental health.
A 2022 article on the website, Psychologies, (https://www.psychologies.co.uk/walking-mental-health/) describes the many benefits of walking to maintain good mental health. The article explains that our bodies are designed to move and when we are not physically active “stress and pent-up energy” is created. Walking is a way to “decompress from everyday life.”
The Centers for Disease control and many other health organizations recommend 150 minutes of moderate physical activity (30 minutes 5 days a week) to reduce chronic disease and improve mental health. A sedentary lifestyle is a precursor to most chronic illness; heart disease, diabetes, obesity and some cancers.
Each Wednesday at 6:30 walkers will gather for a 1 ½ to 2 mile group walk in locations in and around Lake City. All community members are invited to join in. The Group Walk schedule is on the webpage.
Each Wednesday at 6:30 walkers will gather for a 1 ½ to 2 mile group walk in locations in and around Lake City. All community members are invited to join in. The Group Walk schedule is on the webpage.
June 5th, the group walked at Hok-si-la Park and began the season with a walk in woods being mindful of the sights and sounds of nature. Mac Baird, retired family physician spoke to the group about the need for regular physical activity to maintain and improve health and wellness, both physical and mental.
The WLP group walk on June 12th will be the Catholic Workers Farm on Goodhue County 5. To carpool at the farm, meet at the MCHS Lake City Clinic/Hospital parking lot at 6:30 pm.
Weekly info and updates will be published in the The Graphic, on Facebook and on the WLP website. Contact Patty Svien 345-4383 with questions.
RSS Feed
