Town Employees Walk to Boone for Fitness

More than three dozen town employees will be going to Boone in the North Carolina mountains over the next few weeks as part of the town's Wellness Program.

They won't be taking their cars with them, though. They'll be on foot.

But, since it's a virtual trip, they won't have to face the dangers of the highway, either. They're walking it, though. Every single step.

"Walking to Boone is a lot of exercise, even if it is just around town on your lunch hour or around your neighborhood after work," said Human Resources Director Catherine Whitley. "It takes a lot of willpower, but these folks have got it. Their health is important to them."

"The Amazing Walk Challenge" asks participants to simulate the 205-mile trip by taking smaller trips around town on a daily basis. Each employee gets a pedometer to track their steps and log sheets to chart their daily "trips." The log sheets get turned in to Human Resources weekly so progress can be charted.

Employees are encouraged to walk at least 10,000 steps a day. Those that complete the trip get points toward discounts on their health insurance.

Two years ago, employees walked to Washington DC and last year they went to Wrightsville Beach.

"This year, we decided to go west," she said.

Participants are allowed to substitute other types of exercise for steps if they choose. For example, 15 minutes of swimming will get you 2,730 steps, while the same amount of time on a stationary bike works out to just 1,850. Moderate yoga, on the other hand, equates to 2,180 steps.

The Challenge is one of the ways that employees are encouraged to get the exercise they need for a healthy life, which is one of the goals of the Wellness Program.