mall walkers make every step count pittsburgh post-gazette

March 7, 2013 8:43 amBy Mary Thomas / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

At 7:45 on a weekday morning, you'd expect a mall parking lot to be empty. Not so on the fourthThursday of the month when the Mall Walkers meet at the Westmoreland Mall on Route 30 east ofGreensburg. The event regularly draws as many as 250 participants as rows of cars parked near the FoodCourt entrance attest.

Walk inside and the area is abuzz as people greet one another, peruse sponsor tables for goodies andinformation and sit in groups at tables eating and drinking coffee. After a brief presentation by a speaker,the walkers head out, in singles or groups, to traverse the mall before it opens to the general public at 10a.m. A lap around both levels adds up to a mile.

Some of them are more casual strollers while others are competitive and log in serious distance, includingLinda Hauger of New Stanton, who consistently racks up 10,000 steps a day.

Jim Curry of Greensburg and Frank Bassegio of North Huntingdon were recognized in November forwalking 6 million steps each during the previous 10 months.

Exercising in the wide, climate-controlled aisles of suburban shopping malls has gained popularity inrecent decades with individuals and organized groups. Mall Walkers, which began in January 2012, offersa bit more. The free membership, a collaboration between Excela Health and Westmoreland Mall,includes breakfast and coffee provided by McDonald's and other food purveyors, a monthly educationalprogram and blood pressure screenings given by retired nurse volunteers.

What really sets this organization apart are the 270 pedometers that Excela has given walkers, allowingthem to monitor their steps. More than 100 of those participate in a Web-based program fromWalkingSpree, which offers wellness and health "solutions" to companies; it tracks daily and cumulativeprogress.

"This is like a coach in your pocket," said Ms. Hauger." "It motivates me to move."

She joined Mall Walkers when it was formed because she "wants to be healthy," she said. "I had beenwalking, but not as much." Ms. Hauger, 62, retired after working for the now defunct Standard Observernewspaper in Irwin. She cared for her mother for nine years, and when her mother passed, she decided itwas time to do more for herself.

She started alone with Mall Walkers then got friends to join. Now they walk together weekly at the mall.

"We love walking," Ms. Hauger said.

She is also a member of the women's gym Curves and walks additionally at home, averaging about four

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miles a day overall. "Yesterday I walked in the rain."

She's lost 40 pounds since 2008 through diet modification and regular exercise. And she manages to staynear the top of the WalkingSpree participants, registering fourth place recently and having previouslyheld second place.

"All you need is a good pair of shoes and water. It's cheap. Just get your feet moving."

The 10,000 steps a day that Ms. Hauger achieves is a goal recommended by the American HeartAssociation, said Jennifer Miele, Excela vice president of marketing and communications.

Mr. Curry and Mr. Bassegio were virtual competitors for almost a year before they met during theceremony that recognized their 6 million-step achievements with $100 gift certificates from Dick'sSporting Goods.

Mr. Bassegio, 65, joined the Mall Walkers in February 2012 with his wife's encouragement. "She mayregret that now," he said with a smile. "It's become an addiction."

In the past year he walked more than 970,000 steps or 4,800 miles. "The computer asked, 'Do you realizethat you've walked the distance from the Empire State Building to the Golden Gate Bridge?' Now, I'm onmy way back," he said.

Mr. Bassegio also walks in the hilly housing plan where he lives. "There are 12 streets and I walk onevery one. It doesn't matter -- rain, snow ... if the snow's too deep for tennies, I wear boots."

In addition to walking about 16 miles a day, Mr. Bassegio works out in the gym to develop upper bodystrength. The health benefits include having lost 35 pounds. "You feel better," he said.

Both men update their Web accounts nightly.

"I download at 10 p.m.," said Mr. Curry, 64. "I'm still working [on my steps] sometimes at 9:45. I'll checkhis numbers and he'll check mine. We're never out of first or second place, one or the other."

Mr. Curry, a retired maintenance technician, has always played sports, including football, basketball,volleyball and baseball. He does a lot of walking at home, sometimes barefoot on the carpet. He alsostarts every morning with yoga stretches. "It helps my back. Then I'm great. I'm good for the day."

Both men report occasional knee problems, a signal to pull back and rest. Mr. Curry had quadruplebypass surgery in 2004; now his cardiologist calls him his "star patient."

He listens to music while he walks and aims for 18,000-20,000 steps by lunch. "Then I can coast to30,000."

Mr. Curry and his wife watch the fat content and calories of their food, don't add sugar or salt when theycook, and avoid caffeine and fried food. "I do eat," he said, "and I like desserts. I walk them off. Anytime I eat, I walk." He's lost 18 pounds, "just from walking."

Michael Egan, mall general manager, said the program "has been doing very well, with excellentattendance every month." People had been walking informally at the mall, but now things are "moreorganized and much nicer."

The speaker for the February gathering was Asghar Fakhri, a cardiologist, who gave heart-healthy tips.One was the importance of being a member of a community that shares similar beliefs and cultural


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values. "Research has shown that the effect of belonging to a strong community is similar to taking anaspirin a day," he said.

The Mall Walkers appear to have an inside track.

Mary Thomas: [email protected] or 412-263-1925.

First Published March 7, 2013 12:00 am


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mall walkers make every step count pittsburgh post-gazette

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