By Taylor Chen
On a cold morning in early January, 64 Americans participated in setting a world record for walking the greatest distance (128 miles—the record is currently awaiting approval by Guinness World Records) covered by partners on a treadmill, at Grand Central Station’s Vanderbilt Hall. Sponsored by the American Heart Association (AHA) as well as Subway Restaurants, Healthy Choice, and AstraZeneca, Start! is an ongoing campaign that invites Americans to lead heart-healthier lives by walking. On April 8th, National Start Walking Day, designated Start! walking paths in local communities will be unveiled throughout the country.
How they did it: The AHA set up two treadmills side by side, which operated 16 hours without pause. Pre-selected pairs took turns walking in 30-minute increments, demonstrating how effortlessly you can incorporate a half-hour walk into your day—reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.
Who did it: Suzanne Elliott, an executive vice president at the nonprofit Dress for Success, was one of the participants. “Being a runner, I really liked the idea of showing other people how easy it is to stay active: You don’t need to do a marathon—you only need to walk for 30 minutes a day,” she says.
Walk online: The record-breaking event marked the successful launch of MyStart! Community (startwalkingnow.org), a virtual tool that lets you track walking activities and distance, plot walking routes, and even connect with other people walking in your neighborhood. Recent surveys show that Americans are 76 percent more likely to walk if someone else is expecting it of them. The 20,000-plus members of the online community provide support and motivation, and offer praise when you reach your goals.
Be accountable: “MyStart! Community helps you find a buddy and be accountable to each other, but also be accountable to yourself should you choose to track and post your information,” says Timothy Gardner, M.D., president of AHA. “If you show the world your exercise accomplishments, that confidence helps you tackle your next big walk.” Elliott says she loves the social aspect of exercising with friends. Plus, it helps her stick to her routine.
Get started: To register, set up a profile and map your route. The technology can even track your daily calories. Need encouragement? Connect with others using the online conversation tool. Elliott signed up after the event at Grand Central station, and hasn’t stopped using it since. “Walking is a big part of my daily routine, but it’s hard to keep track of it. With the MyStart! tool, I now know I walk almost two miles,” she says.
How they did it: The AHA set up two treadmills side by side, which operated 16 hours without pause. Pre-selected pairs took turns walking in 30-minute increments, demonstrating how effortlessly you can incorporate a half-hour walk into your day—reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.
Who did it: Suzanne Elliott, an executive vice president at the nonprofit Dress for Success, was one of the participants. “Being a runner, I really liked the idea of showing other people how easy it is to stay active: You don’t need to do a marathon—you only need to walk for 30 minutes a day,” she says.
Walk online: The record-breaking event marked the successful launch of MyStart! Community (startwalkingnow.org), a virtual tool that lets you track walking activities and distance, plot walking routes, and even connect with other people walking in your neighborhood. Recent surveys show that Americans are 76 percent more likely to walk if someone else is expecting it of them. The 20,000-plus members of the online community provide support and motivation, and offer praise when you reach your goals.
Be accountable: “MyStart! Community helps you find a buddy and be accountable to each other, but also be accountable to yourself should you choose to track and post your information,” says Timothy Gardner, M.D., president of AHA. “If you show the world your exercise accomplishments, that confidence helps you tackle your next big walk.” Elliott says she loves the social aspect of exercising with friends. Plus, it helps her stick to her routine.
Get started: To register, set up a profile and map your route. The technology can even track your daily calories. Need encouragement? Connect with others using the online conversation tool. Elliott signed up after the event at Grand Central station, and hasn’t stopped using it since. “Walking is a big part of my daily routine, but it’s hard to keep track of it. With the MyStart! tool, I now know I walk almost two miles,” she says.
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