Julie, Senior Food Editor

Here in the food department, it is easy for your weight to get away from you. On average, we taste 6 recipes a day, and all of them taste so good that I want more! Once challenged to walk, I found an easy way to increase my mileage was by walking to work. One of the ways I was surprised by this challenge was how much distance I cover just around the office. My computer is located far enough away from the Test Kitchen that I log a tenth of a mile on the roundtrip! I try to be efficient with my trips, but find myself logging about a mile daily running back and forth. I definitely am trying whenever possible to take the "long way around" and up my distance. My daily high to date? 7.3 miles.

Anna, Editorial Assistant

Every Tuesday, I have running practice in Central Park for a triathlon I'm training for. While practice totally ups my miles and leaves me in a good mood, getting there is always frustrating. It's about a mile and a half away to where practice starts, involving taking two different subways that invariably leaves me feeling rushed and in a bad mood. So, now, especially with the warmer weather, I've started walking to practice--and found it's an AMAZING warm-up that provides a great transition from work. Not only that, but it was great to "find" a walk--not having to schedule it or think about it, but doing it for a functional purpose--I needed to get from the office to the park somehow. And it was SO stress reducing! The temperature was in the beautiful mid-70's and everyone on the street seemed to be in a good mood--I hope everyone doing the Walking Challenge is enjoying spring!

And everyone at FC seems to have race fever! Betty and Meg's half-marathon experience inspired me so much I'm doing a 10K this Sunday. Wish me luck!

Gay, Senior Editor

This pedometer/walking thing is so much fun--it gets better and better. I find myself checking it regularly--last night just before I was set to crawl into bed, I noted that I was at 4.99 miles. Nothing to do but pace a few more steps, back and forth there in the bedroom and roll the numbers over to that lovely 5.00. I'm proud to say that this recovering couch potato has logged four (count 'em!) 5-mile days in the past two weeks. I've also discovered that karate kicks (great for the buns) register as steps. So there I was in the kitchen at 9:30 last night, doing 15 front-kicks with each leg while catching the end American Idol. (Melinda Doolittle gave me chills--again--that girl can SING!)

Here's the best part of the walking challenge, though--we know from science that it takes 21 days to create a new habit, and I find that adding a few steps here, a half mile there, walking instead of riding, really is getting to be the norm for me. Already I'm seeing tons of benefits: I'm feeling more energetic during the day and sleeping better at night. I'm also excited to learn about new research showing that aerobic exercise actually improves brain function. Sounds good to me!

Meg, Health Editor

After Betty talked me into doing the half-marathon with her (Thank you, Betty!), I decided to rope one more person into the plan. My mother! At 60, she had never done any sort of “race” before. She doesn’t run, but does like to go hiking in the summer. But she lives in upstate New York and so has been cooped up indoors for most of the winter (except for a few jaunts out on snowshoes!).

She was hesitant when I asked her to take on 13.1 miles. She said she’d see what she could do. She headed to the local sports center in her town and began walking the track—18 times around for a mile.

One day she called me to report that she had done 3 miles. I tried to react positively, but I had to admit that walking the same loop 54 times sounded to me like one thing—misery!! But she kept at it—doing some of her training on the track and some on a treadmill.

When race day came around I told her that it would be okay if she could only do seven miles. After I completed my 13 miles in just under 2 hours, I hugged my dad, husband, daughter, dog, brother, sister-in-law and niece—all who came out to cheer us on! They reported that they had spotted my mother at mile 6 and she was looking strong. I was so excited to hear this news. I looped back and met up with my mom at about mile 11 and walked the final two miles with her. She looked terrific and began telling me about how she was going to get her friend Liz to walk the race with her next year.

When I crossed the finish line I felt good, but watching my mother cross the finish line made me feel GREAT!

Betty, Executive Editor

Yippee! I finished my first half-marathon yesterday in 2 hours, 17 minutes. What an exhilarating, inspiring experience. It was an all-women's race, so lots of mother-daughter teams, friends, and family on the course. (Meg Ragland, our health editor, ran with her mom, Dianne!) Everyone looked like they were having a great time. And after two months of training, I was so pleased to find that my body held out well for the 13.1 miles, even through the hilly paths of NYC's Central Park. My husband, 6-year-old daughter, and 9-month-old son came out to meet me at the finish. Seeing them at the last stretch made me smile and gave my tired legs a burst of energy so I could sprint to the finish line.

My knees were pretty sore by the time I got home—ice and rest!! Listen to your body. If you're increasing the intensity of your workouts at all, make sure to do it gradually and give your joints a day or so to recover after a strenuous session. Once I'm feeling good as new, I'm going to start planning my next race. Whether you run a race or join a charity walk, it's nice to have a big date on your calendar so you have something to work toward and to keep you motivated.

Danielle, Assistant Photo Editor

Like some of my mag-mates below, I have become minorly obsessed with my pedometer. My friends were even joking that they are going to paint it blue for my wedding day, to be my "something blue." I think my dog Audrey is loving the Family Circle Walking Challenge more than anyone though. Her walks have doubled or tripled in length so far. She literally jumps for joy when I put on my sneakers.

In Linda's letter for the recent January issue, I was quoted as having made the resolutions for 2007 to eat healthier and exercise more, as well as to get involved with fundraising for charities like the ALS Associations Walk to D'Feet ALS, in memory of my dad. Well, thanks to the Family Circle Walking Challenge (as well as dietary changes, Jeopardy bike time, and setting up a Walk page on the ALSA-NY Saddle Brook site), I am actually turning my resolutions into reality this year. I am losing weight, feeling better than I have in a long time, and getting closer to my goals... one mile at a time. By the time I get to the ALS Walk in June, 5K will seem like a mere walk in the park!

Darcy, Articles Editor

I've been having a great time with my pedometer, keeping it on throughout the day just to see how much walking I actually do daily. It was heartening to discover that even when I don't make a point of exercising, I still log on 3 miles or so. But one of the highlights, so far, was when my daughter refused to go to sleep and after my nth trip to her room, I peeked at my pedometer and realized I had done an additional quarter-mile as I went from living room to bedroom. It put a positive spin on the last 30 minutes, and turned my exasperation into exhilaration.

Still, due to weather, I hadn't found a way to add a family walk to our schedule. Then, this weekend, it happened UNEXPECTEDLY. We had a sudden icy, snowstorm on Friday night—a last gasp at winter, I presume—and when we woke up on Saturday we decided to check out the conditions. We bundled the kids up, got out the sled and made the trek (ALMOST a mile) to Central Park. In places the streets had a clear path, in others we had to climb over small snow piles. My husband put our 2-year-old on his shoulders to keep our 20-minute-or-so journey from turning into an hour. She just couldn't resist detouring to touch the snow, but our eight-year-old happily kept up the pace. When we arrived at the park, Cedar Hill—one of the best places for sledding in the city—was packed. Everyone made multiple treks up it—definitely don't need the elliptical when you do that! We built our final snowman before heading home. No one noticed that we had walked nearly 3 miles, we were having too much fun. It was a truly memorable way to say goodbye to winter.

Betty, Executive Editor

I've been training for my first half-marathon (next Sunday!) and this weekend was my last chance to get in a long run before the race. So I was a little stressed out to wake up on Saturday to find that the luck of the Irish had blessed NYC with 5 inches of snow! As the morning progressed, I kept checking outside my apartment window to see if the sidewalks were being shoveled. By 1pm, my street looked pretty clear, so thinking other streets in my neighborhood would be too, I donned my sneakers and hit the pavement. Two blocks into my jog, I realized Nikes and snow don't mix! Every few yards I had to stop, tip-toe or leap over slushy puddles, climb over lumpy snow banks, and all the while avoid getting splashed or hit by a passing car. I had nine miles to put in today and so I ventured on, sometimes on the sidewalk, sometimes in the middle of the street, constantly checking over my shoulder to make sure no cars were headed my way. But navigating snow piles isn't so good on your ankles or your knees. And the last thing I needed a week before my race was to slip and injure myself. So after two miles outside, I hopped on the subway to my gym and logged in the rest of my miles on the treadmill. Not as much fun (downright boring, in fact) but I did it. Now I'm in my taper week (yay!) where I'll walk/run just a few miles every day until race day. Can't wait for spring to be able to enjoy the flowering blooms instead of yucky city slush during my walks and runs! Hope you keep on stepping!

Linda, Editor in Chief

The weekend blizzard was a definite deterrent to walking outside but my 13-year-old daughter Susannah wouldn’t let me bail out. We bundled up and took our dog for a walk—not the longest walk but it was better than nothing. I would have happily stayed inside cleaning closets if she didn’t guilt me into going out. My kids are great motivators—they are loving their pedometers. Eight-year-old Nick wears his to school, which his teacher thinks is really cool. And Susannah has vowed to exercise everyday, whether it’s at swim practice, walking outside or on an elliptical trainer. Their older brother C.J. plays basketball or baseball every day and dad exercises daily on an elliptical too. I’m the one that needs more self motivation. So I decided to get a home treadmill. Since I don’t like walking outside in bad weather, a treadmill will give me no excuses not to walk. I’ll let you know which one I get and whether it is the inspiration I needed to keep me dedicated to the challenge.

Michael, Associate Food Editor

Good News/Bad News
Yes, I do walk back and forth to work each day for a total of 2 miles. Jaunts to the men’s room and from the test kitchen to my desk add an additional mile for a total daily average of 3 miles. Good, right! Well not really; isn’t the point to increase the amount we normally walk? As soon as this weekend’s snow disappears, I am determined to increase my total by a minimum of 2 miles per day with a brisk walk in the morning, supplementing at lunch or after work as needed. Experience has demonstrated that I am much more likely to keep up a brisker pace in the morning before work when time is short and I am on a schedule. And yes, I too have become very attached to my pedometer! Actually, maybe this is all Good News/Good News?

Karmen, Creative Director

I found out from my pedometer that I averaged about 2.5 miles per day. My goal by the end of the challenge is to log about 5 miles per day, average. Just keeping track and noticing how much --or little--I am moving on some days has motivated me to make regular gym visits more a part of my regular routine. I now do about 2 miles on the ellipticals in addition to some basic strength training. I do want to be 10 lbs lighter come the end of the challenge as well.

Jonna, Senior Editor

Setting the clocks ahead an hour Saturday night felt oddly premature to me because I definitely haven't been feeling spring-y. But Sunday at 5 p.m., I found myself at a crossroads. Typically, with the sun in the Down position, I would look to set my son up with a DVD while I tidied the kitchen, took out the garbage and got dinner going. But, spurred by the still-plentiful light, my always-energetic little boy whipped on his sneakers and kept pointing at the door, saying, "Outside? Go outside? Please?" And on the spur of the moment, with my pedometer in mind, I decided we would take a walk. We drove 5 minutes to the nearby beach that has a 1.5 mile boardwalk and we walked as far as his little legs could carry him, sometimes running, sometimes playing tag, laughing a lot. When he got tired, we walked back, him on my shoulders—he's basically a 33-lb free weight, so I assume this upped my calorie burn!—and went home. I now plan to make an early-evening stroll part of our routine whenever we can. The fresh air and exercise did both of us good.

Stephanie, Associate Editor

As Blondie once sang: "Nobody walks in L.A." But everyone—and I mean everyone—walks in New York, so I didn't think it would take long to start racking up miles on my pedometer. In the warmer months, a brisk jaunt to work, a slow walk to dinner and a distracted amble through Central Park are all part of my usual routine. When it's 30 degrees, though, it's harder to convince myself that spending an extended period of time outdoors is actually a good idea.

Determined not to let uncooperative weather derail me, I realized how I could continue walking toward my goal: by becoming better at bundling up! Now, each morning, instead of checking weather.com and opting for a two-block trek to the subway, I layer (a lot), wrap a scarf around my neck, put on my warmest hat and gloves, grab my iPod and hit the pavement. Because while it may be winter in New York, my mind is already in summer mode, imagining how much better my new bathing suit will look after all this walking.

Julie, Associate Publisher Marketing

I have also become a pedometer addict! Like Gay, I ALMOST want to keep it on all the time — you know, to get credit when I get up in the middle of the night for water and then 2 hours later for the trek to the bathroom — because every step does count!

I try to keep myself from peeking at the counter too often, so that when I do look the movement on the mile counter is meaningful — but sometimes I can’t help myself!

I have always been a walker, but I find myself pushing to go a few extra minutes to get those extra precious steps!

Bethany, Associate Health Editor

Sorry, suede knee-high boots and red leather belt—my pedometer is my new favorite accessory. I’m seriously into this new gadget that I wear on my waistband every day. Thanks to the Walking Challenge, I now know that it’s 50 steps from my cubicle to the water cooler, 450 steps from my apartment to the grocery store and 2,000 steps from my front door to my favorite shop. Every day is a new challenge to see how far I can walk. Three miles? No sweat. I did that without even trying yesterday (although I admit that I did get up to fill my water bottle, oh, fifteen times). Five miles? Sure, especially if I wear my pedometer to the gym. My record is 17,000 steps (it was last Saturday, and the major mileage was due to shopping and running errands on foot). My newfound pedometer obsession has taught me two things. First, exercise totally adds up. Even on days when I don’t try to be active, I wind up walking a few miles. Also, everyone has time to squeeze in some fitness. Even on a crazy-busy day, I can find time to walk 2,000 steps at lunch or after work. So use your pedometer as a source of motivation, and challenge yourself to walk a little farther each day.

Rachel, Editorial Assistant

I have a confession—I’m kind of obsessed with my pedometer. There’s something very satisfying about knowing the number of steps and miles you’ve walked in a given day. The other night my roommate and I were vegged out on the couch, watching Grey’s Anatomy. After a long day at work, I have the tendency to become a super couch potato—a habit that I’m trying to break. But get this! I looked down at my pedometer and I had only walked 3.5 miles and the goal is 5 a day. It was dark and cold outside, but I couldn’t let my pedometer down. I put on my shoes and jacket and took a trip to Target, which is open late. (Note: I live in the city and the walk to Target, even at 9:30 p.m., is very safe.) The distance from my apartment to Target and a loop around the store was 1.5 miles. My relationship with my pedometer got me off the couch!

Anna, Editorial Assistant

So, I finally caved and bought new sneakers this weekend. I had been wearing the same sneaks for the past 10 years. They've lasted through three summers of camp counseling, softball practices, endless hours on the elliptical, and, last summer, triathlon training. Lots of fun memories, but I knew it was time for them to go. I went to a shoestore near me that specializes in analyzing the way you walk or run by setting you up on a treadmill with a video camera recording the way my feet fall. In my case, my ankles turn inward on impact, so I now have some cute blue sneakers with extra arch support.

That was high tech, but it doesn't have to be. Go to a store that specializes in athletic gear near you and talk to one of the salespeople to get their recommendation for the best shoe for your foot and workout style. Typically, shoes are only supposed to last between 300-500 miles, so if your sneakers have lasted through more than one Presidential term, it's probably time for a new pair, since correctly fitting shoes can prevent a whole host of problems, from knee pain to stress fractures--that can cramp your walking style. Walk on!

Linda, Editor in Chief

My family and I were supposed to begin the Family Circle/American Heart Association/Start! Walking Challenge last week, but it didn’t go so well. Bitter cold, snowy weather was a major deterrent and no one (myself included) was up for a stroll around the neighborhood by the time I got home from work. It was just too dark and slippery. But my 8-year-old Nick was so enthralled with his new pedometer (like most kids he loves gadgets, even low-tech ones) that he made me promise to walk to town and back on Sunday morning. It was still pretty cold out and if Nick had changed his mind I would have happily stayed put in my p.j.s and read the newspaper—but he was determined. So we set out on our 4.2 mile trek and you know what? We had a blast. It took us two hours (we had to go slow because much of the route was on a main street with no sidewalk), but Nick was chatting away. And I realized what a gift it was to be just the two of us. We’ve lived in the same town for nearly 12 years but we'd never before taken such a long walk. By the time we returned, we were so excited and energized that I'm pretty sure the rest of the family was jealous. Sure, walking is ideal for getting in shape, but who would have guessed it’s the perfect activity for getting closer to my kids? I hope the Challenge strengthens your family bonds as well. Keep on walking.

Jonna, Senior Editor

True to form yesterday, my two-and-a-half year old son was up shortly after the sun flooded his east-facing bedroom and was ready for action. Because I'm trying to walk more as part of FC's challenge, rather than loading him into the car to go buy bagels and newspapers, I thought, "Great! We'll walk." Well, we did…but milage wise, it didn't do very much to up my total. And in fact, it took us 55 minutes to walk 8 blocks round-trip. But even my step-count was woeful in comparison to the time spent, we had a lot of fun. Jackson kicked a rock, closely inspected some bright green crocus shoots bordering the sidewalk and gleefully chased a little garter snake that was slithering along in the grass. Note to self: If you want to cover any appreciable distance in under two hours, don't attempt to do so with a toddler. So-called "power walks" will need to be done solo or with him in the stroller for the time being.

Gay, Senior Editor

This walking challenge couldn't have come at a better time for me! I recently had to give up swimming while a strained rotator cuff heals (no reptitive motions with my arms allowed) and needed something else to pick up the slack. I've always been a walker, but doing the walking challenge with co-workers and readers is really inspiring. Twice already, I've been on the fence about adding a few steps to my day; knowing I could log in and keep track of my miles inspired me to move the bod rather than hop on the subway. (I did restrain myself this morning from hooking the pedometer onto my pyjamas while I made breakfast; that seemed a little much...then again maybe not!)