(photo – Getty Images)

This article from the April AARP Bulletin lists some prudent suggestions for starting a walking regimen.

“Ready to head out and begin walking or jogging? Take these four basic steps before you start.

“1. Wear good shoes: Jogging and even walking stresses the body — which can be good for your bones and muscles, as long as that stress isn’t too jarring. To stay active for the long term, you need the right shoes. Good shoes help absorb impact and provide support for your entire body. Because we have different feet, bodies and needs, even general advice could be misleading. So get some help from experts at shoe or sporting-goods stores.

“2. Stretch your calves: After a short warm-up, stand in front of a wall or fence, with your feet about 2 feet from the base. Stand upright on one leg and extend the other leg forward so that your heel is on the ground and your toes point up against the wall or fence. Lean slightly forward to increase the stretch in the calf muscle. Hold for 30 seconds. Alternate legs and repeat several times.

“3. Avoid cement sidewalks: Look for safe dirt roads or paths, asphalt walkways, jogging trails and running tracks (such as those at many high schools) — or even find a treadmill indoors.

“4. Set goals: Make it a game to increase your distance or speed from week to week. Map out a 3-mile route — a good daily jaunt — but start with whatever feels right.”The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also lists the benefit of walking as a diabetes control factor. “Millions of Americans are faced with the daily challenges of living with diabetes. A serious and lifelong condition, diabetes can cause an array of devastating and life-threatening complications, such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. For people with diabetes, physical activity has been shown to improve insulin effectiveness, lower blood sugar, and reduce the risk of heart disease. A new study by the (CDC) found that brisk walking on a regular basis can also lengthen the lives of people who have diabetes.”

We think that Columbia and Marietta are two of the areas “most walkable communities.”