If you've ever arrived at the shopping mall when the doors open you couldn't help but notice the dozens of walkers strolling along the corridors.  Most of our area malls have encouraged this activity.  Some have their own clubs and offer "Mall Walkers" incentives for coming out on a regular basis.

For retirees and women, the mall provides a safe, temperature-controlled and traffic free environment for staying in shape throughout the year.  Usually the malls have lockers, access to bathrooms, water fountains, telephones and food after exercising. Regulars find this a great place to meet others to share in the activity.

This past week I arrived at Laurel Park Place Mall at 7 am and already a steady stream of walkers were either starting or just completing their daily walk.  At this location, more than 500 people are registered with the mall's club.  Laurel Park has teamed up with St. Mary's hospital to provide monthly blood pressure analysis for its walkers.  According to marketing director, Alyssa Duvall, the mall offers a number of programs to keep people motivated.  Registrants get a free T-shirt, log form and health information.  One program: "Follow the Light House", provides information on Michigan's light houses and walkers travel so many log miles to reach each one.  Laurel Park also has an annual recognition breakfast with raffle prizes from its stores.

Jack Tian first began walking at Novi Mall in 1986 after a quadruple bi-pass. He and friend Violet Gavoor started walking together at Laurel Park when it opened 11 years ago.  They seemed to know most of the faster walkers streaming past the storefront windows. I witnessed Jo Brandt and Fred Marinucci holding hands as they walked.  Jo, who turns 75 soon, met Fred during their walks several years ago and they've been dating ever since.

Pamela Tafelski, marketing director at the Somerset collection also coordinates a 7 day a week program that includes T-shirts, distance cards, plus coffee and bagels on certain days of the month. They have measured distances for the North, South and skywalk areas.  She has found that many walkers use the facility while going through some form of medical rehabilitation because they like the controlled environment during both the cold winter and hot summer.

Coordinator Pat Hayes at Twelve Oaks Mall has a "Fitness over Fifty" program that includes low impact aerobics and monthly guest speakers from Providence Hospital. At the Westland Mall walkers are required to wear an ID badge that they receive from Garden City Hospital. They also get distance cards and a sweatshirt. The group, of more than hundred members, is often found congregating at one of the coffee shops after their walk.

Pat and Tom Kelly both in their 60's come from Dearborn Heights to walk at Laurel Park Mall.  Pat works nearby at Northwest Airlines and Tom a retired Ford engineer joins her five days a week. Usually they walk for 45 minutes around the half-mile long circuit. The average age of these walkers is about 55 years old. But young mothers can often be seen strolling with the children as well.  Some marriage councilors have found that walking together can significantly improve the way couples relate to one another.  They refer to the phenomenon as sweat bonding.  

This weekend: Riverview Winterfest four miler, Feb. 9^th at 10:00 am. Call Total Runner at 734 282-1101 for more information.