Throughout the Million Step March, Kathy and Gary are joined by a guest walker from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. Tom Robertson, resource/technical manager in Information Services at BCBSNC, joined the walk last week between Fayetteville and Wilmington, and gave us this report from the road:

There are a few things one learns very quickly when beginning a walk on an open country road: Look out for very big, very aggressive dogs; don’t pet the snakes crossing the road, and 18-wheelers can create hurricane force winds.

Oh yes, it is hot and sticky and the sun is relentlessly beating down. As each day becomes a little hotter, a little longer with temperatures reaching 100, we’re marching along, talking about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

Everyone we meet along the way looks at us quizzically and asks the same exact question: “What are you doing?”

“Well,” we say, “We’re walking from Asheville to Wilmington.”

“Why on earth would you want to do that?” they ask.

It is then one comes to realize the not so obvious part of the Million Step March. This walk is more than just one foot following another. With each step, one becomes a part of a much larger picture – a picture painted in the shared imagination of Kathy Higgins and Gary Marino, the walking man.

The team of Kathy and Gary imagine a world where everyone is healthier, happier, and feeling better than they did yesterday. They’re walking to prove it. How cool is that?

They don’t ask for money. They don’t ask for anything. Their request is quite simple: Just walk, go as far as you can and then go a little farther. You will feel better, you will probably live longer, you will be happier and you might just hear yourself laughing. I learned that if walking is good, walking with Kathy and Gary is better.

I’m glad my “get up and go” got up and went walking this week, for 40.23 miles (that’s 102,885 steps if you’re keeping track). After all, I won this chance and wasn’t about to waste it wondering why I’m out in the woods walking the five hottest days of the year. This walk is a meditation, a vision of winning a healthier me earned one step at a time. You can win too.

We all can’t walk with Kathy and Gary but you can take them with you when you decide it’s time to go walking. These two have given a new meaning to “walking the walk.” If they can walk 600 miles, I’m sure you can walk one or two or perhaps even 10. It’s so simple.

For today, I’m glad to be walking with them, watching their commitment in real time while strolling down the country roads and picking up the pace to put a little distance between me and the last curious dog. Thank you Kathy, thank you Gary, thanks to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. The Million Step March really matters.

Tom Robertson

Posted by BCBSNC on June 10, 2008

A Share Your Story item from Sharon points to a successful approach to staying in shape and maintaining a healthy weight:

"I walked faithfully five to seven days per week for two to four miles each time, but did not have the weight control I have now until I added weight training at the YMCA three times per week (30 minutes on the 18 Nautilus machines). Also, choosing foods with low glycemic impact in mind has helped. I have now KEPT the 30 pounds off I lost in 2005 when I added the weight training to the aerobics.

"About eight to 10 hours per week of exercise is not drudgery at all. I belong to the Uwharrie Running Club now and am meeting the nicest people and enjoying running nearly every day. Even in this unusually hot weather, the early morning runs are very doable and exhilarating!"

Shared on June 9, 2008 Share your story

After a day of walking with the Million Step March team near Fayetteville this week, I sat down with Gary Marino to talk about his experiences walking across the state. This podcast touches on some more topics, including advice for anybody wanting to start a physical activity program and a look ahead to the Million Step March finale in Wilmington.

You should find two ways to listen: Simply click on the link to start playing it, or right-click the link, then select "Save target as..." and save the file. The conversation lasts about 7 1/2 minutes.

Click to listen to podcast

Posted by Kyle Marshall on June 6, 2008

Throughout the Million Step March, Kathy and Gary are joined by a guest walker from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. Kimberly Hargrove, a customer service specialist at BCBSNC, joined the walk last week near Fayetteville and gave us this report from the road:

I must say that after last week, I can't be the same! When I was chosen to participate in the Million Step March, it felt like winning the lottery. To me it was a long shot. I mean, I was probably in the worst shape I have ever been in my whole life, and my three beautiful and vivacious kids were paying for it. I was in denial. I thought, "Hey, I've been an athlete all my life. I can never be out of shape." I was wrong, and after having kids, reality set in and I had to come to terms that I don't get enough physical activity - and some weeks I wasn't getting any. I needed an intervention, and BCBSNC gave me that, and I couldn't be happier or more appreciative.

I had a short week because of the holiday, so we got started early Tuesday morning. I met the road crew and Gary and Kathy, and I must say I had never felt so comfortable around a group of strangers in my life. Gary is the definition of "real" and Kathy is an inspiration!

About two miles in we were joined by Gary's longtime friend, Russ Surrette, and he added many laughs to the journey. At first I thought while walking, "This is easy. The pace isn't grueling and although I'm out of shape for the most part, I'm keeping up." But then reality set in. In the words of fitness instructors everywhere, I started "feeling the burn." But Kathy made sure that I was stretching and wasn't pushing myself to the point of injury. She would always assure me that even if I don't do 15 miles, the miles that I can do are all worthwhile! She would say, "Take this time to really focus on your health, Kim," and for once I was.

By day two, however, we traded in our sun for rain. I was so sore I couldn't feel my legs anyway. The rain was icky at times, and walking and dodging huge mud puddles was the task of the day so everyone picked up the pace to try to get the miles in a little quicker. Once I got loose it was better and I could feel my body starting to relax, and my feet were practically moving on their own. The ride home was uncomfortable because our backs were wetter than our fronts, but Gary and Russ had jokes galore to make the ride enjoyable. I also got a nickname from Gary. For the rest of the week I was known as "Little Kim."

A few hot baths and bag of Epsom salts later, I was leading the pack for a while on day three. I finally got over my plateau and I was feeling good. The wind felt good on my face even if it was courtesy of the big stinky livestock 18-wheelers that flew past. I just kept thinking of how I couldn't stop now if I wanted to.

My mind raced with thoughts of how to incorporate 10 miles a day into my schedule (just kidding - more like two or three, but that's still good compared to the zero I was doing before I left). We were joined on that day by another BCBSNC employee, Mark Stinneford from Corporate Communications. He was a great guy and he added even more humor to the pot. I also began to look around at my surroundings more and appreciate what a beautiful state we live in. I thought to myself that you really don't even notice these things when you're driving by so fast, but when you're walking you see everything.

My last day was bittersweet because I had begun to miss my kids, but I really didn’t want to leave. We had two events that Friday at Stoney Point and Bill Hefner elementary schols in Fayetteville. They were having a great contest between them to see which third grade could take the most steps during their day, and they had fabulous prizes for the winning school, teacher and top five third-graders. The children's excitement and energy was infectious! If adults had half that much energy we would not have an obesity epidemic.

After my walk last week, the hard part was over. The pains in my limbs are gone and I feel great and very energetic. To be healthy you have to make a lifestyle change, and I am making the decision to do just that. Change is necessary and it's guaranteed to happen, so why not go with it? Besides, I'm hoping that over the next few months instead of me telling my kids to slow down, they'll be telling me that.

I am just an average person. I'm not getting paid to say anything about BCBSNC or write nice things about my experience. I was just lucky enough to be afforded this opportunity. But we don't necessarily need to walk 600 miles to make a difference in our health; we just need to take the first step in the right direction. Small changes in our daily routines can do so much. Take the stairs instead of the elevators or park farther from the store than you usually do. If you don't want to do it for your family, do it for yourself. We only get one body and it is past time for us to start treating it better.

I just want to say thanks a million to Gary, Kathy, Russ and Tangela and the other road crew and BCBSNC employees that have worked so hard to make this a success. You guys have really changed my life. I owe you big time!

Kimberly Hargrove

Shared on June 5, 2008 Share your story