Time for a walkout

11 May 2012

During May the Great British Walking Challenge is encouraging people to take to the streets and travel by foot.

Why walk?

Well, it's...

...good for your health and wellbeing,

• reduces cholesterol
• lowers blood pressure
• alleviates stress and improves concentration (so it could help with your exam performance and workplace productivity!)

...free & easy,

• no expensive equipment necessary
• fits into your day (walk to places you need to get to, park the car further away, get off the bus a stop earlier...)

...good for the environment,

• zero-emission transport, saving the planet one step at a time!

...fun!

• an opportunity to socialise
• enjoy the great outdoors
• see the sights you miss by car

Using a clever online tool at Living Streets, you can log your walking miles to work out how many steps you have taken, promoting a bit of healthy banter and competitiveness between colleagues, by seeing who has walked the most (or the least).  You can also walk for the team and contribute to an overall University score by identifying University of Bristol as your 'workplace'.

The week beginning 14th May is Walk to Work Week so it's a great time to fit a stroll into your day.  The best thing about walking is that you can do it at any point during the day. You could stretch your legs on your lunch break, volunteer to take the post or you could physically go outside and walk to get a coffee.

Later in May we are organising some special lunchtime walking tours so you don't have to walk alone, and can learn a bit about the local surroundings not enjoyed by car....

So for the benefit of your health and mental well being, put shanks' pony to good use!

Further information available online