From
the Publisher
We knew
we were on to something three years ago when our first issue hit the
streets.
Portland
is the best city in the United States for walking according to the April
2006 issue of Prevention magazine. That comes as no surprise
to fitness enthusiasts who walk, push baby strollers, jog, and bicycle
over miles of well-maintained trails within our city limits.
From the
East Bank Esplanade to Forest Park, walkers have their choice of terrain
and stunning scenery that makes every excursion a pleasure. And a two-hour
drive takes the intrepid hiker over hill and dale to snow-capped mountains,
high desert, or coastal climes where further adventure awaits.
We asked
several of Portland’s walking experts why they believe the city
is a top spot for walkers.
Our Portland
Marathon is lauded as one of the best-managed marathons in the nation;
participants claim it is one of the most walker-friendly events. The
marathon is what sets our city apart from others claims event planner
Les Smith. “At a time when marathons were only open to runners,
[we] broke with tradition and invited walkers to participate.”
“Portland
is home to many volkssport walking clubs that host walks open to everyone.
The combination of great walking paths, decent walking weather, and
other people to walk with has made Portland a great walking city,”
claims Wendy Bumgardner, host of www.walking.about.com.
“Walking
is accepted as a form of exercise in Portland. People enjoy being active
and participating in walks both competitive and not. We have a variety
of locations from where to walk — river, trails, hills, city streets.
Our weather is temperate. Our vistas are magnificent. How can anyone
not marvel at seeing Mt. Hood on a clear morning’s walk as a silhouette
against a golden background?” states Judy Heller, walking advocate
and founder of Portland-based Wonders
of Walking, LLC.
On getting
non-walkers on their feet: “Having people within their scope of
vision walking and clearly loving it or benefiting from it. We can do
the most by inviting someone to go on a walk, and then by walking at
their pace. If people observe others having a good time walking, they’ll
think about it, and that’s the precursor to getting involved,”
says Ellie Hoder, founder of Women
Walk the Marathon.
Whether
you are a casual, fitness, volks-walker, Nordic, dog walker, or even
a racewalker you will be able to find someone to walk with somewhere
in Portland.
Happy
Trails
Pam Granata |
