How to Start a Speed Walking Group

Starting a speed walking group is a great way to build support and motivation for your own exercise routine. You will be accountable to someone other than yourself, which is a great for sticking to your program and meeting your overall goals. You will also have a lot more fun and possibly make some new friends.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Ask friends and family whether they would be interested in walking with you. Some potentially devoted speed walkers could be right around you, and this could be a great way to spend more time with those you are close to while improving your physical health.
2. Open your group up to coworkers and colleagues. Post information about your group on the cafeteria bulletin board, leave ads in meeting rooms and ask to have it included in a company-wide email.
3. Spread the word that you want to start a speed walking group in your community. You can do this by placing an ad in your local newspapers, on public posting boards or on a community website.
4. Hold an organizational meeting, so that everyone can get to know one another and establish goals as a group. Meet in the local library, coffee shop, or park. Make everyone feel included by introducing one another or wearing name tags.
5. Discuss the logistics of your speed walking group with the other members. Decide how often you will walk, where you will meet, what time walks will start and end, whether you will stay strictly outdoors or indoors and what distance you plan to cover.
6. Exchange contact information with group members, so that you can get in touch regarding scheduling or bad-weather cancellations. You can also use emails to send out encouraging reminders and keep your power walking group members committed to their goals.
7. Stay pumped up about your speed walks by having fun with them. Decide on a group or club name, walk for charity events, create music CDs to listen to and increase your goals of distance and intensity over time. Be sure to encourage one another.

Tips & Warnings

• Incorporate stretching into your speed walking routine to further promote the health of your speed walking group as well as reduce the risk of strain or injury.
• Encourage any members with health problems to consult their physicians before they start speed walking.