The Million Step March team is in full stride, nearing the halfway point. Today the team, led by Kathy and Gary, begins a series of Triangle events with a Raleigh rally, but before that begins, we want to recap last week in Winston-Salem.

The million steppers put on an event for employees of BB&T, the Winston-Salem-based bank, to demonstrate how to start - and stay with - a walking routine and healthy living. This video captures the day.

Posted by Kyle Marshall on April 28, 2008

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

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