How far do you walk each day? Could you walk from Darwin to Melbourne? That’s a touch over 6,000 km if you walk mainly around the edge. On August 18th, 2000, at 9:00 am, Jean Béliveau left Montreal, Canada. His goal is to walk around the planet to promote “Peace and non-violence for the profit of the children of the world”. In October this year, on the 62nd leg of his journey, Jean began a trek in Australia most of us would never even attempt.
If you are in any of these places keep your eye out for Jean: Australia - Darwin (2009-10-07), Palmerston (2009-10-10), Adelaide River (2009-10-13 - approx), Pine Creek (2009-10-16 - approx.), Katherine (2009-10-19 - exact), Daly Waters (2009-10-27), Tennant Creek (projected Nov. 10), Mount Isa (projected Dec. 1), Townsville (projected Jan. 1), Rockhampton, Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne - 6,013km. Perhaps you’ve already seen him?
However, I digress. What I really meant to write about is the 10,000 steps project. If the organisers, CQUniversity in Rockhampton, and the Queensland Department of Health had their way, we’d all be wearing pedometers, and aiming for that magical 10,000 steps on the way to better health. This month my buddy Janet and I have nearly walked across Florida (only 3 days and 25,000 steps to go), and last month we walked across Devon.
Somehow our lifestyle has made most of us sedentary. We hop in our cars, go to work, sit at our desks or in our classrooms, do minimal walking, and then get in our cars, drive home, flop down in front of the TV. Some use public transport and they walk more. But very few of us, according to research, walk nearly enough.
The 10,000 steps site allows users to create their own personal interactive Step Log, sign up for monthly I-challenges, hook up with a buddy, and access a variety of online resources.
10,000 Steps is committed to ongoing Research, Development, Distribution and Support of new and existing 10,000 Steps support materials at the local, state and national level, all with web-based support. The aim of this program is to increase participation in physical activity through the state and nation.
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