GH introduces its own Labor Day bridge walk

Sat, Aug 30, 2008    to del.icio.us

Grand Haven area residents won't have to drive 263 miles to join Gov. Jennifer Granholm at the Mackinac Bridge to participate in a bridge walk this Labor Day.

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In conjunction with similar community bridge walks across the state, Grand Haven is hosting its first-ever Third Street Bridge Walk at 9 a.m. Monday.

"We're welcoming everybody," Mayor Roger Bergman said. "Just come as you are and enjoy the walk with your neighbors and friends."

Bergman — who awakens at 5 most mornings to walk 2.5 miles with his wife, Karen — hopes walkers and runners of all ability levels come downtown for Monday's walk.

"It's one of those things that's not hard to do and gives us an opportunity to get out in the
community," he said of his daily walks. "It's a good way to start our day together as husband and wife."

The 3.5-mile Labor Day walk begins at the Mulligan's Hollow Recreational Area and follows the riverside boardwalk to Third Street, where walkers will head over the bridge to Harbor Island. Water and bathrooms will be available on the island, Bergman said.

Walkers may then opt to take a Harbor Transit bus back to the start, or they can join Bergman on the second leg. The second leg of the walk will take Third Street to Sherman Avenue, and Sherman back to Mulligan's Hollow.

Bergman said he will start out in the lead, but doesn't expect to be the pacemaker for the entire group.

"There may be people that want to run it," he said.

Granholm has set the goal of getting 1 million Michigan residents off the couch and into regular exercise routines. She has even made public her goal of running the Detroit Marathon, although not everyone has to make such a major commitment, the governor said.

"Running a marathon doesn't have to be your goal," Granholm said. "You could certainly walk a mile, run a 5K or set a goal of being physically active most days of the week."

An estimated 57,000 people ran or walked across the Mackinac Bridge with Granholm on Labor Day 2007, and she hopes adding venues in other cities will help make community bridge walks even more popular.

This year, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Hart and Whitehall-Montague are hosting walks.

Walking regularly is a great way to improve cardiovascular health, relieve stress and keep your bones strong, according to Tri-Cities Family YMCA Executive Director Dean Buntley.

"That's the great thing about walking," he said. "You don't need a membership. You don't need to have anything. You can just do it."

The YMCA is part of a national campaign called Activate America to encourage active living. In order to make exercise more accessible, Buntley said all YMCA fitness classes will be free from Sept. 22-26.

On the Net:

www.michigan.gov/oneinamillion

http://grandhaven.org/calendar/121/9-Third-Street-Bridge-Walk