Walk This Way

We’re off and running, or better yet, walking. Eight years ago, when the New Albany Walking Classic was an idea with a mission to promote physical activity as a vehicle for adopting a healthy lifestyle – with a dash of competition in the mix – the skeptics appeared. “Phil, why would you want to create a walking-only race? People want to run, not walk. You won’t attract any sponsor partners, not to mention participants.”

In spite of the detractors, I knew the time had come for a walking-only event to be conducted on the same level as any major running race. Now, eight years later, it has become the country’s largest walking-only event of its kind and will take place on Sept. 16. The naysayers have become bear-like and descended to a state of hibernation. The Walk sells out every year, attracting participants from dozens of states and more than 250 ZIP codes. A cadre of supporting partners led by our Title Sponsor, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, has been developed.

What was unexpected is the path that has been carved out by the Walk. The New Albany Walking Classic is the route that has led to the development of Healthy New Albany, an initiative whose mission is to develop a culture of health unlike any other health initiative that has taken place anywhere in the country. The Walking Classic has provided the creativity that has resulted in the development of numerous community undertakings such as our state-of-the-art farmers market, sold-out plots in our community garden, standing-room-only health lectures and … this one-of-a-kind magazine. So take a moment to walk through this issue and enjoy the informative articles that await your perusal.

Healthfully,

Phil Heit, Executive Editor