With more than 100 teams and a goal of 1,000 walkers from MUSC participating in the annual AHA Heart Walk on September 17, we want to make sure everyone is ready for the three-mile walk. The best way to prepare is to start now! The sooner you get going, the more time you’ll have to build up your endurance and make sure you’ll really be able to enjoy the Walk. The best type of training, regardless of fitness level, is to begin moderately and to increase your training in small increments. Pushing yourself to go too far, too fast, will only result in injury.
- Incorporate light strength training two to three times per week. Not only will it strengthen the muscles, ligaments and tendons to help prevent injury, it will make the leg muscles less prone to fatigue during the event.
- Buy yourself some new walking shoes and a pedometer to get motivated.
- Walk with a friend, or bring your mp3 player if you’re walking alone.
- Treat yourself to some scenery. Try new routes, beaches, parks, or trails.
- Keep an extra pair of shoes and socks at work, and keep them at your desk. Then take a walk on your lunch break, or use coffee breaks to take a brisk 15-minute walk. Two walks a day lets you accumulate 2.5 hours of exercise a week!
If you need some more motivation, take a few minutes and watch MUSC President, Raymond Greenberg, M.D. who is serving as the Chair of the American Heart Association’s 2011 Lowcountry Heart Walk, explain why this is such an important cause.
Wear your heart walk t-shirt to work at MUSC on Friday, Sept. 9th and Friday, Sept. 16th to your show support of the American Heart Association and the Lowcountry Heart Walk.
