National Walking Day

Embrace the simplicity, ease and accessibility of walking for exercise by participating in National Walking Day!

History of National Walking Day

Walking is an important part of better health and well-being, not only for heart health and physical health, but mental and emotional health as well. National Walking Day got its start in 2007 as a simple way for people to get just a little bit healthier.

The American Heart Association established the day to encourage people to get off the couch, get out there and participate in some easy and accessible physical activity.

Situated in early April, National Walking Day comes after the long, cold winter when many people have found themselves to be less active. But as the spring weather comes and the days get longer, the first Wednesday in April is the perfect time to pick up a new habit of regular walking – or to be encouraged to restart an old one.

How to Celebrate National Walking Day

Enjoy National Walking Day in a wide variety of ways! Get started celebrating with some of these delightful ideas:

Go for a Walk

Obviously, the most important order of business for National Walking Day is to simply get out there and take a walk. For a person who takes a daily five mile walk, perhaps this means adding a half mile or just walking to work in celebration of the day. It might even be fun to get that pedometer app on your smartphone working.

But for a person who is typically sedentary, this could mean parking the car at the back of the parking lot at work and walking up to the door, or walking up the stairs instead of taking the elevator. While the goal from the American Heart Association would be to walk 30 minutes a day, any little walking that can be done is an improvement and a help!

Get Some New Walking Shoes

One of the big barriers between people and healthy walking habits can be their shoes. Celebrate National Walking Day in style by heading over to the shoe store to get a new pair of shoes that are particularly supportive for walking. Try a walking shoe from brands like Brooks, Reebok, Merrell and many others.

Or, for those who have a good pair of shoes that are perhaps a bit older and don’t yet need to be replaced, get some new insoles. Go to the pharmacy or drugstore (or even the podiatrist) and pick out a pair of supportive insoles for those walking shoes to give the support and comfort you need and want.

Find a Walking Buddy

Many habits are much more effective when they factor in the accountability of a friend or family member. Finding a walking buddy for National Walking Day and beyond can significantly increase the chances that a person will stick with their new habit of walking. Invite a friend to walk daily, several times a week, or even once a week. Then see where this new habit leads.