Staying active is the key to good health, and walking is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to get moving. Walking in a group offers countless benefits, including the fact that good company helps you keep pace and stay motivated. Want to start a walking group but don’t know how? Finding walking groups is a great way to exercise and build stronger relationships with family, neighbors, or coworkers.
The Benefits of Walking Groups
Simply walking 20-30 minutes a day can have a big impact on your health. Frequent, brisk walks can boost both physical and mental endurance, increase productivity, and reduce a wide range of health risks.
Doing it in a group offers multiple benefits: walking with others is not only more fun than walking alone, but it creates a collective habit that’s harder to break. So, finding walking groups could increase your consistency. By planning walks and encouraging each other, a walking group can have a huge impact on everyone involved.
But how do you gather interested people, whether family members, neighbors, friends or coworkers?
Key Steps
If starting a walking group doesn’t seem like a service to others, think again. You can start small by asking a friend or neighbor to walk with you regularly. Even this simple act of care can make a world of difference. So don’t wait—start walking!
It may take a few days or more to recruit members and agree on a schedule, but once all the details are set and everyone is on board, all it takes is 30 minutes a couple of times a week.
Walking is one of the safest forms of exercise. However, if any group member has concerns, they should consult their doctor before starting.
Contact Local Groups
Local walking clubs, CAI (Italian Alpine Club), and trekking associations are all community organizations you can find in your area and contact to see if they’re interested in starting walking groups or if they already have a group you can join. These groups are already doing great work in your community and may have additional ideas and resources for you.
Online Groups
You can also find groups and people to walk with online.
Facebook groups are a good resource if you want to find others passionate about walking: you can join a general or more specific local group, meet new people through group chats, and then participate in activities and hikes organized by group members.
Then there are groups like Meeters, which aim to organize experiences, nature hikes, guided tours, and walks with the goal of meeting new people while exploring the area together. A perfect way to find walking groups! Get fit, have fun, and make friends!
Starting Your Own Group
Want to start your own group?
Promote the idea among family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. Try posting flyers at the local library, senior center, wellness center, or place of worship. A good group can provide support and help keep everyone on track. An initial meeting is a great way to bring the group together so everyone can meet. You can hold the meeting at your home or a public place like a local park or café.
Decide when and where your group will meet, how many days a week and for how long you’ll walk, then pick a start date! You should also set up a way to contact each other, like a WhatsApp group or email list, so you can all stay informed and connected.
Decide when and where your group will meet, how many days a week and for how long you will walk, then choose a start date! You should also set up a way to contact each other, like a WhatsApp group or an email list, so you can all stay informed and connected.
When creating walking groups, whether on your own or through organizations, it’s good to have goals to stay consistent.
Setting simple goals is a great way to keep the walking group motivated and on track. Taking time to think is beneficial: encourage yourself and other group members to consider short- and long-term goals, taking into account time availability and health issues.
Encourage members to set goals for themselves and the team. You might suggest increasing the amount of time walked each week or changing routes to include more challenging terrain.
Encourage members to set goals for themselves and for the team. Maybe suggest increasing the amount of time you walk each week or changing routes to include more challenging terrain.
It’s that simple. But be sure to remind group members by phone or email the night before the first walk. Also remind people to dress for the weather, wear good walking shoes, and bring water.
It's that simple. But be sure to remind group members by phone or email the evening before the first walk. You can also remind people to dress for the weather, wear good walking shoes, and bring water.
Walking together means being a team. When the team reaches its goals, celebrate by doing something special.
This can be as simple as grabbing a coffee after a
morning walk or something bigger like organizing a dinner. Be sure to thank your team members for participating and encourage them to bring a friend next time. Groups like Meeters organize a “Third Half” after each hike, a social moment to let walkers get to know each other better and celebrate the time spent exploring together.
Final Helpful Tips
Set some simple guidelines for your walk so everyone is on the same page. Ask team members: Will you walk if it rains or snows?
Understand the group’s intentions, whether they want to walk indoors and outdoors, ban cell phones and headphones during walks, have regular meetings, etc.
Will members call each other if someone can’t come, or will the group walk with whoever shows up?
Will members call each other if someone can’t make it, or will the group walk with whoever shows up?