Residents turnout for Aspirus walking program at Airport Park

IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP - Area residents have continued to turn out for Aspirus Grand View's Healthy Step Challenge, held at the township's Airport Park each Tuesday since July 7.

The challenge runs from 4 to 7 p.m. and lasts six week, ending on Aug. 11.

Walkers track the number of laps they complete on the park's quarter-mile track and earn rewards for hitting certain benchmarks, David Sim, the manager of marketing and public relations for Aspirus Grandview, explained.

"It's a good way to get people out and active without pressuring them into doing something," Sim told the Daily Globe during Tuesday's walk.

"Sometimes when people are like, 'Be active and fit;' it can be a turnoff. People can be a little apprehensive," he said. "... Really one of the best ways you can do it, is to just start somewhere."

For every 2 miles completed, a walker is entered into a drawing for one of three FitBits - a wireless, digital fitness tracker - the hospital is giving away. At 7 miles, a participant receives a $25 gift certificate toward the purchase of a pair of running shoes, 14 miles is a $50 gift certificate and 21 miles earns a $75 gift certificate for new shoes. There has always been a weekly giveaway of wellness-related products such as pedometers and water bottles for participants.

Even with the benchmarks, the walks have a limited structure, Sim said. He explained people who haven't participated can still come out to future walks and not every walker has participated every week.

"People are welcome to come and go," Sim said. "People seem to like the open format of the program."

There are numerous health benefits from exercise, Sim said, adding that even doing something as simple as walking is great for improving blood pressure, memory, critical thinking, reducing and preventing Type 2 diabetes as well as contributing to weight loss and fighting depression.

According to Sim, walking regularly three times or more a week saves around $300 a year in medical costs.

Given the positive health benefits, he hopes walkers continue walking once the challenge ends, he said, and has been extremely pleased with the turnout so far.

"Frankly, the reception has been outstanding. The community has been very receptive to it, people seem to genuinely like this program," Sim said. "It was our first time doing it and we didn't know how it was going to go but we've already heard from community leaders ... talking about how great it's been."

Part of the success could be due to the ability for walkers to socialize while exercising.

"Walking is one of the few activities you can do with a friend and not be huffing and puffing and out of breath," Sim said. "It's sort of a fun social activity."

Participants have also been of all ages and walked a wide variety of distances.

"(It's been a) really good mix of people - young, old, families, kids," said Sim. "That's probably been one of the most surprising things (about the event)."

Through the first three weeks of the program there has been a total of 168 participants, according to Sim, with each week drawing over 90 walkers, combining for a total of 921 miles since the challenge began.