We all know walking is just about the most perfect exercise.

Out the door, one foot in front of the other, 30 to 50 minutes – three or more times per week and you’re on your way to feeling fit.

I joined the Rosedale Walking Group, to be healthier, but more importantly, I wanted to connect with other women. And, I was lucky. I met a small group of feisty and inspiring women – ages from 30s to 70s – at the Rosedale Running/Walking Room in Toronto.

Together, we learned about proper shoes, bras, nutrition, stretches, core work, etc. We all knew some of this stuff, but we learned new things about our own bodies in a different context. We shared health and fitness tips, stories and we learned about each other’s lives.

Our clinics started with short walks, but we quickly progressed to hill training and longer walks.

That’s when everything changed.

We became more deeply committed to the walking, training for races and to each other. The group’s energy propelled us all forward. We entered races in our own city (Toronto), Chicago, Spain and two women from our group traveled to Greece for the 2500th Anniversary of the Olympic Marathon!

How did our group progress from walking 5K to half-marathons and beyond?

The “Secrets” of the Rosedale Walking Group:

1. Stay in the moment – breathe, look around, feel the joy
2. Talk about food, flowers, families, books, movies, the weather – keep it light
3. Avoid politics – for the most part
4. Observe Lucy’s Rule – the longer the walk, the more details needed per story
5. Plan your vacations around walking – see the world in a new way
6. Enter a race – raise money for a cause, reap the admiration of family and friends
7. Keep walking – feel positive about yourself!

As our wonderful coach, Donna Foster-Larocque says: “Stay Active and Anything is

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Possible.”