Thousands of steps to good health

Times Contributor

 

It’s a long walk when it’s measured  in kilometres  but it’s a mind-numbing number when it’s measured in steps.

LaRue Kiemele knows all about it.

The Strathmore High School teacher’s aide participated in the Alberta Primary Care Network’s Calgary Rural Jamaican Island Trek held between Feb. 1 and May 8.  

During that time, Kiemele walked 1,292 kilometres. 

That’s almost three times the distance between Calgary and Edmonton.

Converted into steps on  her pedometer, 1,292 kilometres is equal to 1,704,905 steps.

“It’s a healthy addiction,” said Kiemele.

Serious knee surgery left Kiemele with a knee that would not bend for about six years. Eventually, Kiemele found a doctor to “take the challenge on” and get her ailing knee to bend again.  Kiemele always enjoyed walking and continued to do that during the Jamaican Island Trek event.

Kiemele walks to and from school each day. She walks during school breaks with students and staff and takes walks in the evenings as well.

“You get to see a lot of Strathmore when you walk. There are so many nice walk and bike paths,” she said.

There were  99  registered walkers of whom 77 completed the virtual 683 kilometre circumference of the island of Jamaica, said Alberta Primary Care Network/Jamaican Island Trek organizer Lisa Sader. Included in the registration was Strathmore Mayor Steve Grajczyk,  who walked “an enjoyable” 512 kilometres.

Previous Trek events have included a walk from Strathmore to Vancouver for the 2010 Olympics and one from Strathmore to Edmonton for the Grey Cup. This is the second Jamaica trek.

“The challenge is a way of using tracking and pedometers to improve fitness and activity levels,” said Sader.

Kiemele was the lucky winner of an iPod Touch in a random draw of those who finished the Jamaican Island Trek.

“You see on the website what other people are doing and you want to do more. It’s my competitive side,” said Kiemele.

The wear and tear on the walking shoes?

“I switch them around,” said Kiemele.

See http://www.healourfuture.com/heal for more information.