By Brandy Voirin/ reporter
Day after day, NE students, faculty and staff take countless steps using familiar friends: the sidewalks.
From outside, these gray concrete gateways look unchanged, but adorned on light poles and steps are red and blue arrows pointing the way toward the new mile and half-mile walking trails on campus.
NE kinesiology department chair Kevin Harper said the routes were designed with faculty and staff in mind, allowing easy access to physical activity throughout the day.
“We wanted to make it where faculty and staff could walk outside their doors and enjoy fitness,” he said. “Although there is a one-mile jogging trail by the tennis courts, most people don’t have time to go that far.”
Photos By Katelyn Townsend/The Collegian
Lack of time for fitness activity is a pain students feel as well. Staying in shape is important to NE student Kendra Lewis, but last semester, her fitness schedule got out of hand.
“I took kickboxing five days a week as a means of stress relief,” she said. “But it was more stressful than stress-relieving. I couldn’t keep up with academic classes and fitness classes.”
Lewis said she’s currently searching for a way to stay in shape that does not involve registering for a class because her time is limited. Lewis hadn’t noticed the new one-mile and half-mile walking routes on campus.
“Now that I’m aware of the routes, I just might use them,” she said.
A convenient fitness option is top priority for NE student Joe Clegg, so three times a week he intentionally parks farther away from his classes and walks really fast. He wasn’t aware of the new walking trails but looks forward to adding them to his fitness routine.
“I want to lose 50 pounds and being able to gauge how far I’ve walked helps,“ he said. “I’m here all the time, might as well lose weight while at school if you can.”
Clegg hopes the extra steps add up to helping him achieve his fitness goals while balancing college and work life.
“It’s hard to find the time to be active between work and school,” he said. “I’m older, so my health is more important to me. Waiting for later to get in shape may never come.”
Map courtesy NE kinesiology department
Harper believes people should do 10,000 steps a day, which adds up to 5 miles, to increase their quality of life and lifespan.
“Some people are fortunate enough to have jobs where they move around a lot, but most people don’t,” he said. “I encourage students to try walking study groups or just walk half the loop in between classes as a way to increase their fitness activities.
Harper said fitness doesn’t have to be strenuous activity, just mindful.
“No workout clothes needed, just good shoes and the will to move more,” he said.
The walking trail can start from any point on campus, allowing students to use the sidewalks to explore new fitness options while walking to class.
Rushing to class, NE student Sean Sims had no time to explore them, but he’s excited by the sidewalk upgrades.
“One of my biggest issues has been judging a mile, so these mile markers help,” he said. “Perhaps I might come up here one of my afternoons off to walk or jog a mile. It’s nice to know you don’t have to enroll in a class to workout on campus.”
