Riverfront Trail Notes No. 25: Walking To Your Health

Of course, more is better but every step counts as long as you are achieving a cardiovascular effect (elevated heart rate). And the benefits are statistically shown to have broad benefits beyond improving cardiovascular fitness: general agility, heart health, cancer prevention, quality of life, anti-depressant effects, weight loss, oxygenation of the brain, and, in this season, rosy cheeks!

In addition to being a recreational and social resource, our Riverfront Trail is a community health resource that can be very useful in quantifying our efforts toward cardiovascular health. There are 2000-2500 steps in a mile of walking, depending on stride, height, and pace. A brisk walk on level ground can typically cover a mile in 22-28 minutes. That’s more than twice the recommended minimum of 11 minutes to achieve health benefits!

Use the following distances between Trail access points to plan your walk. Simply double the given distance for an out-and-back total between any two points:

Riverfront Park < 1 mi. > Lewis & Clark Event Park < 2.4 mi. > Kiwanis Pocket Park at Klindt’s Cove < 1.1 mi. > Chenoweth Creek Access Parking < 1 mi. > Taylor Lake Bridge < 1.3 mi. > Discovery Center < .4 mi. > End of Trail West of Discovery Center

There are many ways to achieve cardiovascular benefits (treadmill, spin bike, etc.) but brisk walking outdoors is the least expensive and maybe most available and enjoyable. Call a friend and go for a brisk walk on the Riverfront Trail. It can be habit forming and the benefits are far beyond the physical. See you on the Trail.

“Walking is man’s best medicine.” - Hippocrates