Between heaving cross-fit types lumbering around city blocks like they just looted a medicine ball factory and pelotons of cyclists who, amazingly, all seem to have landed corporate sponsorship judging from their logo-laden kits, it’s not a stretch to see why one might feel intimidated by the prospect of getting fit in a city seemingly full of fit people.
But there’s nothing wrong with regular old walking to get the heart healthy, the blood moving, and to brush away mental cobwebs. So Metro Vancouver physicians got together Saturday morning to promote the idea of doing just that with Walk with Your Doc.
Doctors were easy to single out in the crowd at Kits Beach Park as they wore white T-shirts with the word “Doctor” printed in baby blue lettering on the back (as family physician, Courier columnist and event emcee Dr. Davidicus Wong pointed out, you would have been well-attended to if a turned-ankle or chest pain had occurred that morning).
Dr. Bill Cavers, president of Doctors of B.C., the organization that started the walk six years ago, wore a T-shirt that read “This Doc needs walking” as a personal reminder of the 10 pounds he’s gained since taking on the role of president a year ago, and all the extra meetings that come along with it.
“We want to lead by example,” said the gregarious Victoria-based doctor. “It’s one thing for me to be sitting inside my office, telling people to exercise more. This is my summer of getting back into shape.”
Cavers said he likes cycling and therein lies the key of fitness — doing something enjoyable and turning it into part of your lifestyle. This is why walking is both a perfect transition exercise for those who are starting at zero, as well as for those who want to maintain fitness with a low-impact activity.
“Victoria and Vancouver have many similarities. There’s wonderful scenery, wonderful climate, and the cities have done an incredibly good job of building the necessary infrastructure,” said Cavers. “I visit other cities and I look at the roads — there’s no sidewalks and narrow shoulders and it tends to funnel people into driving places. Here in Vancouver, there are bicycle paths, bicycle lanes, walking paths... It’s superb.”
Doctors have long prescribed walking as medicine (most famous, of course, was Hippocrates thousands of years ago). Health benefits can include improving cardiovascular strength, better brain functionality, reducing the effects of anxiety and stress, losing weight, lowering blood sugar and maintaining bone density. As an added bonus, walking is absolutely free.
“You don’t have to be a triathlete to go out and walk, and you don’t have to walk at a pace that makes you feel ill,” said Dr. Cavers. “You just need to get out and walk. Enjoy it, get out and get fresh air, get away from the computer screen and get away from being indoors.”
Vancouver’s Walk with your Doc is the third time this city kicked off the week-long walk-focused events that are scheduled for different days in different cities across the province.
In addition to walking beside your family doctor (and hopefully carrying on a pleasant conversation with him or her, rather than one of dull hypochondriac tones), all walkers received a complimentary pedometer.
Like anything else, walking needs to happen with regularity.
“I’ve got to quote my grandmother — she’s Gaelic — ‘Many a mickle makes a muckle’,” said Cavers. “Every little bit contributes. Even walking up the stairs instead of taking the elevator. Even parking your car two blocks away and walking from there. Or, if it’s raining, running.”
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