The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Clouds abound, but walkers persist
Paved trail at Mercy waits for more amblers
Lorain’s chief executive and local hospital staff said 30 minutes of motion does good for them and could do good for city residents.
Mayor Chase Ritenauer on Sept. 29 concluded his weekly Thursday strolls around the campus of Mercy Regional Medical Center, 3700 Kolbe Road in Lorain.
Clouds overhead threatened rain at noon, but the mayor and more than a dozen Mercy staffers stayed dry as they hiked over the hospital campus’ paved fitness trail.
“It was a nice little walk,” Ritenauer said.
Ritenauer was one of multiple city leaders across the country who joined in the “Move with the Mayor” campaign launched in September by the National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention.
“Thirty minutes of walking a day can do a tremendous world of good,” he said. “That’s what we’re trying to get out there.”
Walking is an easy way for people to lower the chances of heart attacks and risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes, according to the forum.
Each week, the crowd was different; one event had city employees, another had the staff of his optometrist, Dr. David DelPrincipe, Ritenauer said.
City staff and office workers may have jobs that involve sitting or remaining in one position for long periods of time through the day, the mayor said. Daily walks, or another exercise for 30 minutes a day, are important when people have jobs that don’t involve vigorous physical movement, he said.
The Thursday walks particularly were a good way to fend off mid-afternoon sluggishness late in the week, Ritenauer said.
Among the Sept. 29 walkers were Sharon Wilson, Mercy manager of clinical education; Tina Allgood, manager of inpatient rehabilitation; Anita Mattingly, director of operations for Mercy Health Physicians; and Catherine Woskobnick, vice president of mission and values integration.
“I love to walk; it’s my favorite exercise,” Mattingly said.
On one stretch of the path, Allgood and Woskobnick joked that dodging goose waste added an obstacle course challenge to the walk. Otherwise, the outdoor break was pleasant, they said.
“It gives you a minute to take your mind off things,” Allgood said.
“Rejuvenate ourselves for the day,” Woskobnick said.
Mercy’s rolling path stretches 1.2 miles on the north end of the hospital campus. It has multiple fitness stations made up of boards, beams and metal bars.
The trail is open during daylight hours to use for free; walkers and runners may use it at their own risk.