OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Sixty-seven Tallgrass Creek retirement community residents and 32 staff members took a long walk this past month when they participated in an annual wellness challenge sponsored by Erickson Living, the managing company of the community. The walked more than 4,500 virtual miles; a rescue dog named Nugget accompanied her resident owner during the fitness event.
Resident and staff teams were measured weekly on a map of the United States posted in the community’s lobby with miles logged as if walkers were actually traversing the country. The starting point was Baltimore, MD, with all participants heading west to California.
Resident walkers ended the competition by walking from Maryland to McPherson, Kan., a distance of 2,313 miles. Staff walkers walked into Lawrence, Kan., a distance of 2,210 miles.
For the second year in a row, Roger Johnson led the resident walkers by logging 183 miles of walking time. Roger, a longtime, enthusiastic walker, is a great believer in the healthful benefits of walking and exercise.
“Walking helps clear your head,” says Roger, who walks on Tallgrass Creek’s 65-acre campus almost every day. “It’s really a great and necessary part of my day.”
The second-place resident walker was Jeanne Hershey, who walked 141 miles during the competition. Jeanne says inspiration comes from her rescue dog Nugget, a nine-year-old yellow Labrador retriever.
“Nugget needs lots of exercise so we walk about five times a day,” says Jeanne. “We sometimes go to the dog park, but we’ve covered the grounds many times.”
Jeanne, who moved from Iowa to Tallgrass Creek in June, loves to golf and formerly always walked the course carrying her clubs. She also enjoys walking at the Overland Park Arboretum, a 300-acre botanical garden located in south Overland Park, just a few miles from Tallgrass Creek.
Winning staff walker was Amy Cottrell, who markets Erickson Living Health Services and walked 100 miles. Right behind her was Debbie Messmer, sales director, who walked 95 miles during the competitions.
“I walk about three miles a day on my treadmill at home while watching shows I’ve taped,” says Messmer. “I’m working back up to my former walking time of five to six miles a day.”
The walking continues at Tallgrass Creek with many residents daily covering the entire area of the community both inside and out. “It’s an easy way to enjoy the outdoors and nature,” says Jeanne. “And the health benefits are great.”
Miles during the walking challenge were measured in time walked with 20 minutes equating to one mile. Participants submitted weekly log sheets of miles walked, and Rader posted both groups’ locations in a “where are we now” section on the map.
Any non-walking exercise (chair exercise, gardening, lifting weights) counted as half the minutes. For instance, if participants participated in 40 minutes of chair exercise, that counted as 20 minutes of walking or one mile.
Five Good Reasons to Strut Your Stuff, According to Tallgrass Creek:
- Exercise helps control weight and reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
- The latest research shows a minute of walking can add two minutes to one’s life.
- Studies in people over the age of 60 show that walking and other forms of exercise considerably increase brainpower.
- Brisk exercise improves mood and relieves stress by releasing the body’s natural happy drug — endorphins.
- Fitness experts suggest that adding 2,000 steps (one mile) to your day’s activities can reap noticeable physical, emotional, and mental benefits over time. Remember to start slowly and build up. Whether it’s one long walk or several short ones, they’re all beneficial.