Information compiled from nationaltoday.com
National Walking Day is every year on the first Wednesday in April and takes place on April 2 this year. National Walking Day is a day to celebrate the easiest way to be the healthiest version of you. Walking for thirty to sixty minutes per day may sound like it isn’t much, but studies have shown that it can drastically improve your health and even help prevent ailments such as type II diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.
Whether it’s John Muir’s spiritual journeys through the woods; pilgrimages to Mecca; or just a casual stroll through your local park, walking has always held a close, dear place in the hearts of humans. It’s no wonder that there are so many health benefits associated with it and also why National Move More Month and National Walking Day were created to promote this fantastic and surprisingly easy pastime.
Suffield has many places that make for great walking: Main Street, the Windsor Locks canal trail, the walk down Mountain Road, the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail at the end of Phelps Road, several of the Land Conservancy areas and the Southwick Wildlife Management area to name a few.
Here are some talking points to help promote walking.
National Walking Day Statistics
- 3.1 miles per hour — the average walking speed of a human.
- 500 miles — the walking duration a pair of tennis shoes lasts for.
- 50% — the percentage of Americans who exercise regularly.
- 6,000 — the number of steps a day that improves overall health.
- 65,000 miles — the distance a person walks in their lifetime.
- 10 miles — the distance it would take to walk every week to end 500 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions every year.
- 20 minutes — the number of extra minutes of walking it would take to burn seven pounds of body fat per year.
- 2,000 steps — the number of steps that equal one mile.
- 60% — the percentage boost human creativity gets from walking.
- 15 minutes — the time it takes to curb sugar cravings by walking.
- Walking is the most popular form of exercise in the U.S.
- Walking does wonders for our mood. It increases blood flow to the brain and improves our mood..
- Walking is a lifespan indicator. Walking speed tells us how long a person will live.
- Walking prevents diseases – It can help reduce the risk of colon and breast cancer.
- Hippocrates said it right when he said, “Walking is man’s best medicine.”
- Walking gets us outside. Getting outside is an important element to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Walking is a great way to get outdoors!
- It improves our health – Walking 10,000 steps per day is an effective way to improve your own health.
- It’s easy to do. No weights necessary. No running. No special skills or talents. Just get out there and walk!