Photo courtesy of Angie Ojeda-Kreiman
Though a highly popular fitness activity, running can cause a litany of injuries: runner’s knee, shin splints, muscle strains, stress fractures, etc.
Walking may be a lower-impact option for those sidelined by running injuries. Others choose walking less out of necessity and more for the relationships it can build.
New Albany resident Angie Ojeda-Kreiman has participated in the New Albany Walking Classic for the past eight years, only missing one. Having moved multiple times in her life, she says, walking has helped her meet new people.
She will compete in the half-marathon this year in the competitive division, which allows her to be in the front of the pack. She says the main perk of this is to avoid some of the crowdedness of the race.
To train for the race, Ojeda-Kreiman meets with the weekly New Albany Walking Club throughout the year. The Walking Classic will also prepare her for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day walk for breast cancer awareness this fall in San Diego.
For Ojeda-Kreiman, walking is a great alternative to running.
“I don’t really like running, but I do enjoy walking,” she says. “There’s a lot of camaraderie in the Walking Club. … You get to know all different types of people.”
Hannah Herner is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
