Health: FIT FOR LIFE: Walking the Way to Fitness

The Bailey family have taken up the Get Active challenge with the Evening Mail, BRMB and Birmingham City Council to improve their fitness this year.

THE Bailey family are putting their best feet forward and walking their way to fitness. Jay, Claudette, Rose, Gloria, Janet and Janet’s son Martin are joining the Walk 2000 challenge.

Devised by Birmingham City Council, Walk 2000 features more than 20 marked walking routes across the city centre and local communities, each no more than 2km in length.

Fitness fans can join a group with a qualified walk leader or step out on their own, following markers to ensure they stay on the right path.

And who better for the Bailey family to lead their walk than their fitness guru, Martin O’Grady, senior fitness instructor at the Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr.

The family, who all live in North Birmingham, are hoping the weather stays fine next weekend as they are hoping to join forces for a stroll through Perry Hall Playing Fields.

‘It has been a long time since we all went walking together,’ says internal communications officer Jay, aged 36. ‘We used to go a lot to places like the Lickey Hills but it is just something we got out of the habit of doing.

‘We all tend to use our cars for our jobs and we know we should be doing more walking.’ Jay, of Handsworth Wood, says she already makes an effort to include walking in her daily routine but knows that every extra step helps.

‘I make sure that I get out of the office and walk round at lunchtime,’ she says. ‘But it will be good to try walking as a family.’

And Jay and her sisters have found another unexpected enthusiasm – Saturday’s boxercise class at the Alexander Stadium.

‘It is really good fun and we are trying to make an effort to all do it,’ says Jay. ‘It is hard work but we are enjoying it. Next week we are also hoping to go swimming at The Beeches baths. We are enjoying spending time together because we are normally all so busy.’

Follow the Bailey’s example and find your nearest Birmingham Council leisure facilities by logging on to www.leisure.birmingham.gov.uk or calling 0121 303 1111. For more information on Walk 2000 see www.birmingham.gov.uk/ walk 2000

Dave Roberts is manager of L A Fitness in Temple Row, Birmingham city centre