In this issue:

• NEW 2024 Couch to 5K Walking Program

• Free Articles

• National Trails Day Recap

• Soft Trail Stroll

• Free Videos

• Train for Vacation

• About Me

Walking is great, but it isn’t always easy to get started. Have you been thinking that you would like to do a charity 5K walk, but keep putting it off? Now is the time! Do you want to walk to improve your health, but haven’t gotten around to starting? Now is the time!

I have written a Couch to 5K Walk plan, and now I’m putting together a group in which we can support each other as we follow that plan.

Begin wherever you are, whether that is literally the couch or not, and walk a little farther each week. The program begins Monday, July 29th and concludes with the Walk to End Alzheimer's in Des Moines on Saturday, September 28th.

Join this group to receive…

• A custom walk journal with the Couch to 5K Walk plan

• Group training walks on paved trails in parks around town

• Access to a private Facebook group to interact with other participants

• Personal advice and answers to your questions

• People to walk with at the 2024 Walk to End Alzheimer's

• Printed certificate of completion

Cost for the program is $15. And after you complete the Walk to End Alzheimer's, I will make a $10 donation to your fundraising page.

If you have a friend who has been talking about wanting to do a 5K, share this link with them!

The theme this month is walking! I have a new article up on the website to inspire you to start walking or to keep walking. There are so many benefits to walking, and I’m sharing my seven favorite.

Have you wondered how many steps you should walk in a day? I don’t like word should, so you might guess my answer!

If you would like to do a 5K walk but prefer to do it alone or live too far away to join the Couch to 5K Walking Program, you can follow the Couch to 5K Walk plan on your own.

We celebrated National Trails Day on Saturday, June 1 at Sycamore Trails in Johnston, Iowa with a 1-mile walk, a 5K hike, and a trail run.

Storms in the weeks prior to the event left a lot of downed trees and the river was up over parts of the trail. Thank you to all the volunteers who spent time out clearing! We admired their handiwork and kicked/tossed a lot of remaining sticks off the trail. We also picked up the trash we could find.

We enjoyed the trail that was available. It’s always good to get away from the sounds of cars and listen to the river and the birds.

Don’t worry if you missed it! You can always join us for our several-times-a-month Soft Trail Stroll. Typically 1.5 to 2.0 miles in length, the walks in this free series are designed for people looking for a simple way to become more active.

Are you looking for a simple way to become more active? I have a free series of walks on trails in and around Des Moines, Iowa designed for you!

This month we’ll visit parks we have been to before, but at the end of the month, we have a new route!

All Soft Trial Strolls begin at 10:00 a.m. Detailed directions are available by clicking the graphics.

Join the conversation in our new Soft Trail Stroll Facebook group!

My YouTube channel also has Follow-Alongs, Exercise Demos, and Movement Snacks.

Maybe you’ve trained for a 5K or trained for a golf tournament. Have you thought about training for your next vacation?

It’s not a crazy idea. Think about your vacation plans this summer. Are you going on a walking tour? Will there be a lot of stairs? Are you going to have luggage to carry?

Increasing your strength and endurance before you go will help you can get more enjoyment out of your trip.

I can create a custom training plan that helps you achieve it! We can start with your travel date and work backward to today. Schedule a free initial consultation now.

(Photo by Gabriella Clare Marino on Unsplash)

Whether you are 55… 75… 30… or any age, you've probably noticed that some things aren't as easy as they used to be. That might be climbing the stairs, putting the heavy platter in the top cupboard, or riding your bike all day.

I can design a program for you that takes into account what you do and improves what you need, so you can succeed at what you want to do.