As winter approaches, staying active can feel like a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. The Marathon Family Health Team is excited to announce the return of the Indoor Walking Program, a great way to keep our community moving and healthy during the colder months.
Program Details
The Indoor Walking Program will be held at Marathon High School every Monday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, running from November 4, 2024, to March 27, 2025. It’s open to all age groups, and you can drop in at any time during the session. Walk at your own pace and take breaks if needed. The walking route forms a large square through the school’s hallways, creating a simple indoor walking “loop”. Best of all, the program is free – just bring comfortable shoes.
The Health Benefits of Walking
Walking is a simple but highly effective way to improve your overall health. Whether you walk faster, cover more distance, or increase the number of walks each week, every step brings you closer to better health. Even if you’re new to walking or returning after a break, starting with just 25 minutes a week can make a noticeable difference. As your strength and endurance grow, gradually increasing to 150 minutes a week will lead to even greater health benefits.
Regular walking offers many benefits, such as reducing your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and Type 2 diabetes. It can also lower the risk of certain cancers. Beyond that, walking strengthens your bones and muscles, boosts your mood and energy, improves balance, helps manage back pain, and even supports better sleep. Walking also helps support your immune system and overall well-being.
By adding walking to your routine, you can take a simple step toward better physical and mental health.
Community Support
This program wouldn’t be possible without the help of our amazing community volunteers. We’re incredibly grateful for those who’ve supported us in the past and for those joining us this year. Their dedication ensures that we can continue offering this valuable resource to our community.
We’re currently looking for a few more volunteers to help this season. Volunteer responsibilities mainly include managing the registration/sign-in table, providing information to participants, and ensuring program guidelines are followed. The time commitment is minimal – just 2 to 4 hours per month.
Don’t let cold weather stop you from staying active. The Indoor Walking Program offers a safe, warm space to keep moving this fall and winter.
For more information or to volunteer, contact Michèle Lajeunesse at 807-229-0384 or [email protected].
