This episode of the WALK Magazine Podcast has two segments.

From left to right: Deb and me with Tammy Stevenson in Utah.

The first segment features Tammy Stevenson, a race walker from Utah. I first “met” Tammy when she wrote an article for WALK! Magazine about losing more than 100 lbs through Weight Watchers and race walking. Since then, she has become a very competitive masters race walker. I am thrilled I finally got to meet Tammy in person in October.

The second segment is about how to start a walking club. Liz Plott and Larry Smith both started walking clubs/teams. The Gahanna Get Moving Team was started by Liz more than 10 years ago. Larry started the German Village Walking Club earlier this year. I tried to give input about the Buckeye Striders Walking and Race Walking Club. I’m a member, but I wasn’t involved in the start of it.

Highlights of this Episode

* Tammy’s successful weight loss* How she became interested in race walking* Why judged race walks* Her coach* Fatigue issues* How she fuels* How she juggles training and a family* How to get started race walking* Tammy’s walking goals

The book Tammy refers to is Walking: A Complete Guide to the Complete Exercise by Casey Meyers.

Walking Clubs

* Why each club was started* Where and when they walk — which day of the week* Extra events — Wednesdays* Communicating with members* Keeping track of participants each walk* Financing — dues, sponsorships* Members on paper vs. those who show up* The recording stopped suddenly, so this segment ends oddly.

Links

* Gahanna Get Moving Team* German Village Walking Club* Buckeye Striders Walking and Race Walking Club*   and on Facebook

Larry’s Lessons Learned List

* Walkers are not going to just show up because you established a Club.* Don’t start an outdoor walking club in February (the coldest February on record).* Don’t rush things.  Keep expectations realistic.* It is OK to get frustrated, but don’t give up.  Accept “rejection”.  It is not everyone’s “cup of tea”.* Talk about the Club to everyone, everywhere.* Tell people to just come out once to check it out.* And, let people know why they want to be a member.  Have your elevator speech ready at all times.

Hear more from Larry Smith in the Summer Hydration with Larry Smith episode of the WALK Podcast.

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In Episode 13 of the WALK! Magazine Podcast, I talk to Dr. Bob Sallis, the physician spokesperson for Every Body Walk! and a physician with Kaiser Permanente. Every Body Walk! (EBW) is The Movement to Get America Walking, created by Kaiser Permanente.

Dr. Sallis discusses questions that all physicians should be asking every patient about their physical activity. He explains the health benefits of walking just 30 min. a day, our country’s over-reliance on pharmaceuticals and his practice of prescribing exercise as medicine.

He discusses obesity and other ailments that decline dramatically when people walk every day. We also talked about the Surgeon General recommending walking, and just October 1, the Surgeon General again promoted a campaign to get more Americans walking.

Dr. Sallis also practices what he preaches. His Walking Travel Blogs show how easy it is to fit walking into a healthy lifestyle, even when traveling.

Though most readers of this blog and listeners to this podcast already walk regularly, this is a great podcast to share with less active loved ones.

Links to topics covered in this podcast:Every Body Walk! website: http://everybodywalk.org/Every Body Walk! app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.kp.everybodywalk.androidThe Walking Revolution Documentary: http://everybodywalk.org/documentary/Surgeon General’s Rx for Health: Walk: http://everybodywalk.org/surgeon-generals-rx-for-health-walk/

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The Dopey Challenge has become the Holy Grail for Disney race fans. The four-race series held in January includes a 5K, 10K, half marathon and finishes with the Disney Marathon for a total of 48.6 miles! And to commemorate the achievement of finishing, participants earn six medals and six race shirts.

The bonus medals – The Goofy Challenge on the left and the Dopey Challenge on the right.

When I first heard about both the Goofy and Dopey challenges, my first thought was, “Why would anyone do that?”

In January of this year, a group of 5 women from Ohio entered the Dopey Challenge – with one friend who did the Goofy. Recently I  talked to two of them – Karen Edwards and Stephanie Waterman – to find out what the attraction to this race series is.

Highlights include:

* Registration is about a year in advance.* The Dopey Challenge sells out quickly, the Goofy Challenge takes a little more time to sell out.* The Dopey Challenge registration fee is over $500 — not including travel expenses.* You have to be in the corrals by 5:00 a.m. race morning.* The courses don’t change from day to day, and neither does the after race food.* There are always long lines for port-a-johns in every race.* It’s a great challenge.* Participants enter Disney races for the Disney experience.* After the Dopey participants finish the marathon, they receive the marathon medal, Goofy medal and the Dopey medal – a lot of weight!* Finishers of the Dopey have walked 48.6 miles over 4 days.* The 2016 Dopey and Goofy challenges have already sold out.* http://www.rundisney.com/disneyworld-marathon/#dopey-challenge

The women who entered the Dopey Challenge and the Goofy Challenge, from left to right: Diane Burris, Karen Edwards, Stephanie Waterman, Darla Kaikis, Vicki Brunetto and Shelly Thompson. Shelly did the Goofy.

The ultimate bling! From left to right, medals for the 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Full Marathon, Goofy Challenge and Dopey Challenge.

The race shirts in the order of the events: 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Full Marathon, Goofy and Dopey.

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In this episode of the WALK! Magazine Podcast, I talk with my friends Deb and Pat about the RunTheBluegrass Half Marathon, March 28 in Lexington, KY. Because we were going to be in the car for several hours while driving home from the race, we decided to record the conversation in the car.

Highlights of the Race

* The expo was small and tight, but nice. Pat and Bob bought Woodford Bourbon.* Pat did not like her race shirt/hoodie at first, so traded it for the unisex version. We all agreed that something different from a standard technical shirt was nice. (I love my hoodie!)* There was an issue regarding the timely delivery of the medals and shirts, and the race director did a phenomenal job of making sure the medals arrived, and making an alternate plan for shirts.* It was cold for this time of year.* The pre-race dinner was an all-you-can-eat buffet at one of the horse farms. One of the featured speakers was Scott Menzies, the husband of the last Meg Cross Menzies who was killed by a drunk driver in January 2014. Pat was so cold, she did not stay for all of the speakers.* At the start of the race, the corrals were roomy. The singing of the National Anthem and playing of My Old Kentucky Home were both beautiful.* The corrals moved quickly. Once our corral was released, the streets were not overly crowded.* The course is hilly! The course is beautiful!* Mile 9 – the most memorable mile – was dedicated to Meg, and a shoe tower was built there in her honor. We had our picture taken there.* At mile 12.1 there was beer on the course. (Yes, I had a sip.)* There was plenty of food at the finish. Everyone could also get one beer. (Yes, I had a beer.)* The race staff were great! The race is very well organized.

A special thanks to Bob who drove both to and from Lexington and dropped us off at the start line race morning!

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