The suspension bridge over Sugar Creek at Turkey Run State Park leads to a great trail system and the feature known as “140 Steps.”
There are almost as many overweight people in Indiana as normal-weight people.
That means far too many of our friends and family members suffer with health problems related to obesity such as diabetes, stroke and heart attack.
Nationally, the cost in public health dollars is astronomical. More than $78.5 billion in Medicaid and Medicare spending is directly attributable to obesity.
The good news is that simply taking a good walk produces positive health benefits for those who are able to walk, run, hike or even step on a treadmill.
Gov. Joe Kernan and Lt. Gov. Kathy Davis have committed to walking 10,000 steps a day and they have challenged their state agency directors to do the same. I have accepted the challenge and I know lots of DNR employees will join us in the effort.
Ten thousand steps equal about five miles a day for an average person’s stride. Unfortunately, many of us don’t even make the halfway mark, even when we consider ourselves moderately active.
If you think about what you already do in your home, factory, school, office or daycare center, you may be surprised that you may walk a few thousand steps each day. Just add some more steps with a regularly scheduled walk.
When you have the chance, reward yourself with a more scenic weekend walk. Travel with your family and friends to take those 10,000 steps on a DNR trail. As if you need an excuse to visit a state park, forest, nature preserve, reservoir, historic site or a local park.
There are a lot of fine trails where I like to hike and look at birds and enjoy the scenery. It just seems natural to get outside, walk a trail or even wade in a stream angling for smallmouth bass.
For instance, at Patoka Lake, the wonderful state reservoir south of French Lick. I bet you could get in 2,000 steps (about a mile) by walking from the Visitor Center up the hill through the old wagon road (also known as “the narrows”), around the parking lot and through the visitor center heirloom garden.
Don’t forget that Trail 5 at Turkey Run State Park leads to a place called “140 Steps.” Give yourself a pat on the back for going down and up that trail! And give yourself a chance to walk along Sugar Creek to the Lusk Home or from the Inn to the Lieber Memorial.
And you can stretch your legs for miles on trails at Chain of Lakes State Park in Noble County, where 11 kettle lakes formed by a glacier are connected by narrow channels. The trails serpentine in, around and over the natural water bodies.
For more ideas on trails, check out our trail inventory at www.IN.gov/dnr/outdoor/trails/index.htm.
DNR customers and employees can adopt healthy lifestyles with just a few steps in the right direction. Just purchase an inexpensive pedometer and put on your walking shoes. I hope to see you out there.
