May 27, 2013

To all of the teachers, community members and most of all, the students doing the pedometer challenge:

So how many steps do you take each day? Since May 15th I have averaged about 12,000 steps a day sometimes less and sometimes more, depends on the weather, my work schedule, or my “inclination”. My estimated total is now 110,000 steps. To give you an idea of what one of my “normal” walks might look like, here it is in words, pictures and mapping…

On days when I’m not on the road or in a school but working from homeI usually start in the morning with my empty coffee mug. Except for a time period between 1976 and 1994 I’ve lived in this house since I was 5 years old so I’m very familiar with the neighbourhood. How long have you lived in your neighbourhood and what are your favorite neighbourhood spots?

I take a moment and stand by our garden at the front of our house. I planted this garden three years ago after my son Gabriel passed away. From here I walk east to catch a view of some of the neighbourhood gardens.

This garden is east of my home and its caretakers are part of the Vancouver Street Gardens Program. A few blocks north is one of the special spots along my walk. Here I’ve often stopped and watched people play chess or even sometimes join in. It’s quite early so no one is playing this morning.

I then continue walking until my next stop, Simon Fraser Elementary School where most of my family attended school as children. It used to be an old style brick building “back in the day” but today it has a new skate board park next to it along with a basketball court where I sometimes play street hockey. I don’t skate board, as I’m afraid I’ll hurtmyself!What are some of your favorite outdoor activities?

I like to take a minute to think about my days in school, the good times I had with my family and friends and the teachers I had. I can still remember their names. My favorite subjects were PE and Reading and my favorite times were recess and “special assemblies”.What are your favorite subjects and times in school?

From the school I am now heading west to Cambie, one of the main streets in the neighbourhood, where the Canada Line was built underground. Now it’s time to get my coffee. I used drink the special coffees, with the syrup flavoring (vanilla) and the chocolate whip cream, BUT remember how I need to stay away from sugar, so it’s a plain “tall dark” with cream. (That’s my indulgence.) My cup has an illustration of a hummingbird, do you know the story of Little Hummingbird? If not ask your teacher to share it with the class.

The staff at my local Starbucks provide friendly service and they know my name. But today there’s no time for conversation, except to say hello. With my coffee I’m making my way south and past my local movie theatre “The Park”.

As a child I remember going to Saturday afternoon movies with popcorn and a drink and all for 50 cents! My daughter recently watched The Great Gatsby at the theatre. What movies have you seen lately? Up the street from the theatre is the church I went to Sunday schoolas a child and also attended cub and scout meetings.

Since it is morning and the sun is shining today (May 25) I feel the warmth of the morning sun against my face but squint my eyes so as not to be blinded by the bright light. What direction am I now heading towards home?

When I arrive home I check out the vegetable garden, romaine and arugula lettuce, bok choy, chard, kale and green beans were planted a couple of weeks ago. Those vegetables planted as seeds are now just starting to sprout. The strawberries along the fence look quite plentiful this year.

Do you have a garden at your school or home and what plants do you have growing?

Depending on how fast I walk, my stops along the way, who I might meet… this walk will take 15-30 minutes and is about 3,000 steps. I do this about three times a day to get my 10,000-12,000 steps a day.

To give you another idea about how and where to walk… my daughter walks to school and it is about 3,000 steps.

Just yesterday I met her part way home and put in 2,000 steps in 10 minutes!

Do you walk to school?

Do you have a favorite walking route? Here is a very rude sketch of the map of my walking route.

Pedometer Project – Put together a description of your walk like I did. Describe it in words, pictures and in a map.

Send it to me by or mail it to me at my home address, 207 west 21st Ave, Vancouver BC V5Y 2E4. There are prizes to be earned and we’ll publish some of the walks on the Get Healthy Stay Healthy Webpage.

For teachers, if time permits you might wish to have your students answer the questions in bold. I would be very interested in hearing about their walking experiences.

Best wishes, Eric