Just a tiny hint of fall met a group of people at Grand Prairie Park in Albany on an early September morning as they set out on one of their bi-weekly walks for their health – and for a cause.
The group, called the Waverly Walkers and started by Dr. Jenny Olsen, a family medicine physician at The Corvallis Clinic at Waverly Drive in Albany, built endurance over the summer and then participated in the Soroptimist International of Albany’s 5K Walk for the Cause on Oct. 4.
For about three months, they gathered at various sites throughout Albany every Tuesday and Thursday, and they were also asked to exercise on their own on Saturdays. The group started with a 10-minute walk and increased the duration five minutes every two weeks. They peaked at 50 minutes the week of Sept. 28, primed for the 3.1 mile event.
“ The idea was to start slowly and build up to a goal,” Dr. Olsen said. She said she sought an event to do at the end of the training, and Walk for the Cause, suggested by one of the walkers, fit perfectly. “It is a great fund-raiser that bene fits women’s health screening,” she said. “I have a number of patients who have benefitted from access to free cervical and breast-cancer screening funded through the Soroptimists of Albany. It was fantastic way to wrap up our season.”
Dr. Olsen said that with some of her patients, starting an exercise program can be di fficult. “I can imagine it could be intimidating to go to a gym,” she said. “So, I wanted to create a safe place to start an exercise routine.”
Olsen and her fellow physicians at Waverly Drive sent out letters to patients they felt could benefi t from an exercise program, and they also advertised in the office. About 10 to 15 people showed up for each session.
One of those people is Patty Gerig, who was already involved in a challenge at her gym of exercising 100 out of 180 days. “My body does better if I exercise every day,” said the 50-year-old who teaches voice at Linn Benton Community College. “So, I decided to do 100 days straight.”
In addition to the group aspect the bi-weekly walks offered, Gerig said it also let her increase her daily physical activity. “At the start of the summer, I was exercising about 120 minutes a week,” she said. “Now I regularly go over 425 minutes.” She said she also can now do multiple activities in a day. “Before, it was either I did a workout or I worked in the yard. Now, I can walk in the morning, go the gym, and do yard work. I now have the capacity to do all that.”
With her goal as a family practitioner of “helping folks to be healthy,” Dr. Olsen said at every visit she encourages her patients to eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly.
She said walking increases cardiovascular fitness, which lowers high blood pressure, improves blood sugar control, and decreases the risk for heart attacks and dementia. She also said walking aids the musculoskeletal system by strengthening muscles and improving balance.
One of her patients in the group, Ken Samard, took advantage of all of these benefits.
Samard was diagnosed with coronary artery disease about six years ago. The 56-year-old owner of Calapooia Contracting Service then had stents put in. As part of his rehabilitation, he began to run, working up to 12 miles a week. That all stopped when he fell of f a roof, shattering his heel.
“ They say the heel is one of the worst things to break,” he said. “I’m inclined to agree with them.” A fter the injury he said he stopped going to the gym and was just lying on the couch. “ This was a start to get me going back into the gym,” he said, “to get me back into the swing of things.”
Dr. Olsen, who became an avid runner six years ago, said she enjoyed learning about people’s lives and interests during the walks – in addition to being outdoors and exercising.
“ The neat thing that happened with our group is not only did we increase our endurance,” she said, “but we made friends.” The group was also planning to continue to walk together at the Heritage Mall once the rain started.
Samard, a military veteran, is working toward something a bit more grueling.
“I would like to run the Tough Mudder,” he said of the 10-12 mile endurance event that involves a battery of unique obstacles designed by British Special Forces. “But I gotta walk first, then run. I’ll worry about obstacle courses later.”
