Greetings from Burlington... or mile 278 as we call it on "The March." We put up our first 20-mile day yesterday thanks to Dr. Don Bradley, who has joined us to walk for the next week and who sets the bar high for us all.
Me? I did my part and kept up. The old saying is true, my
friends: If I can do it, you can do it.
This past week the Million Step March stepped on in to the
Winston-Salem and Greensboro areas, and the energy and enthusiasm for the walking
campaign caught even us off guard! Our events at Corpening Plaza, companies
like BB&T, TIMCO and our appearances the Greensboro Grasshoppers game
Saturday night were a blast. People are inspired – which is what this campaign
was all about to begin with.
Video from our event stops is on its way this week. In the
meantime come down to our halfway point rally on Tuesday in Raleigh.
Information is on this Web site, and it should be quite an event.
Posted by Gary Marino on April 27, 2008
If you're wanting to check out the Million Step March up close and in person, this Tuesday, April 29, in downtown Raleigh is a great opportunity.
Kathy Higgins and Gary Marino will lead a short lunchtime walk on Fayetteville Street. Before and after the walk, the 400 block of the street will be teeming with Million Step March activity. The whole idea is to show how easy, rewarding and downright fun it is to add regular physical activity to your life. Here's a partial rundown:
11 a.m. - Activities begin, including bicycle blender smoothies, "workplace of the future" treadmills, an iPod raffle, Omega Sports footwear consultations, a Be Active North Carolina demo, and an appearance by the Carolina Hurricanes' mascot, Stormy
11:30 a.m. - On-stage events emceed by NBC-17 news anchor Bill Fitzgerald, with Kathy and Gary
11:45 a.m. - Fayetteville Street walk
12:05 p.m. - Free lunch (half-sandwich, apple, water) for the first 300 walkers; additional activities
1 p.m. - Activities conclude
Home base will be the 400 block of Fayetteville Street, which will be blocked off for the event. If you're not typically downtown on a weekday and would like to join in the fun, a good place to park should be the parking deck for the Convention Center and Progress Energy at 429 S. Wilmington St. (corner of Wilmington and Cabarrus streets).
Come out, bring a friend, and put on your walking shoes.
Posted by Kyle Marshall on April 25, 2008
Hey gang. We are in Advance, N.C., and advancing to Winston-Salem very quickly. We hit the 200-mile mark today! Not bad for a guy who wouldn't walk across the street just six years ago, huh? Who am I kidding? I'd get winded in an elevator back in my 397-pound days.
So I thought the 200-mile mark might be a good time to share a few things I've learned walking across North Carolina for those aspiring road warriors like me, who are thinking of taking a long walk to promote a cause of their own. So here we go with the top eight things I've learned on the Million Step March:
1. The soft shoulder is your friend.
2. Sidewalks (where you can get them) are a luxury.
3. Road kill is a dandy appetite suppressant (if you're trying to lose weight like me).
4. People in North Carolina are so nice they'll stop and ask you if you want a ride (unlike my home state of Massachusetts, where they get road rage when they aren't even driving).
5. Kathy Higgins from Blue Cross is an amazing lady and will walk all day if we let her!
6. Barbecue is not just for breakfast here in the South.
7. Sometimes you have to look out for 18-wheelers on the road, and other times actual houses that are being transported via 18-wheeler.
8. Getting healthy can actually be fun!
We'll see you when we come to your town, OK?
Posted by Gary Marino on April 23, 2008
Wrapping up the big event in Charlotte last week, we've posted this photo gallery online at the Flickr photo-sharing site.
Many thanks to all the Uptown Charlotte folks who came out and participated. Keep logging those steps!
Posted by Kyle Marshall on April 22, 2008
