By Julia Langlois
The city may have malls but we have ADHS. Two months into the school year ‘Get W.I.T.H It’ is well underway. With music playing throughout the halls at ADHS, it is a not only a fun but a different way to get your exercise.
Twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, the school is open to the community to get their exercise by walking through the halls. With the darker evenings already here some may want to make the transfer of exercising outdoors to indoors. Mentioning the benefits of attending Get W.I.T.H It, participant Marlene Cochran said “It’s a better climate, and you get to see people”. Another walker, Lynn Guthrie, said mentioned that she “can walk where it is flat.” The school is accommodating to whatever your fitness style is. The stairs to the tower of the school can offer a more strenuous workout, and the halls allow you to walk at whatever pace you desire.
The program offers pedometers to borrow for the evening, as well as free daily activity logs which you can take home. There are also free t-shirts provided if desired. Each attendee is required to sign in when they arrive, solely for the purpose of tracking the number of participants and ensuring no one is lost at the end of the night. It is a unique atmosphere in which to achieve your fitness goals throughout the winter months.
Get W.I.T.H It was started four years ago with community partners such as the Almonte and District Hospital, the Recreation Association and Community Living. The Heart and Stroke foundation was also involved. The youngest walker the program has had was a one month old baby (carried by the mom) and the oldest participant to go to Get W.I.T.H It was an 87 year-old lady. It’s a program for any age. The program is also held at CPHS on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.
