the walking man

Fort King Middle School teacher Gary Chotiner is known as a man about town, make that a walking man about town.

› By JoAnn Guidry › Photography by John Jernigan

Putting one foot in front of the other, over and over again. Walking is Gary Chotiner’s simple prescription for his problematic family history of high blood pressure and weight issues. He usually logs 50 miles a week, walking alongside busy paint stains, gym shorts, white socks and Merrell Moab hiking shoes, Chotiner has become a familiar striding fi gure to drivers zooming by. Think Forrest Gump.

“I was always an active kid and played football right through couldn’t run, I could walk,” he says. “That was more than 20 years ago, and I’ve been walking ever since.”

Most weekdays, Chotiner is walking by 3:30am—yes, you read that right—and tallies wasn’t as active. Soon, my family history of high blood pressure and weight issues caught up with me. First, I started running and really liked it. But then I blew out a hamstring and that ended my running.”

When his blood pressure shot up into dangerous numbers and his weight reached 260-plus pounds, Chotiner decided to lace up his shoes again and hit the road.

“I figured that even if I five miles before the school day begins. On weekends, he hits the road around 6am for longer treks of 15 miles a day. He alternates two pairs of shoes, with each lasting about 400 miles.

On his walks, Chotiner finds things—wallets, cellphones, money, passports, tools and lots of bungee cords. He returns what he can to their owners.

“I found an 1837 U.S. Eagle half dollar in a ditch,” he says. “I gave it as a reward for outstanding work to one of my students.”

And although

Chotiner enjoys deep sea fishing and spending time with his wife, Kathy, and their daughters, Sarah, 29, and Marie, 27, he rarely misses a

“In the last year and a half, I missed maybe 20 days,” says Chotiner. “That was because I had hernia surgery, hand surgery and a head cold.”

And what’s the status of Chotiner’s blood pressure and weight?

“I have a resting pulse rate of 47; my blood pressure is 106 over 70,” he says. “And I keep my weight between 170 and 180.”

The proof is in the walking.