Without being able to drive, I’ve always thought that blind people who use guide dogs — especially those of us who live in big cities — must walk more than the average person does. Now I have a chance to prove it.
Some of you blog readers know I have a part-time job at Easter Seals Headquarters here in Chicago — last week they started a six-week “Walk For U, Go The Extra Mile” challenge as part of their wellness program. Every employee received a free pedometer to keep track of progress for six weeks, and those of us who meet the daily goal of 7,000 steps per day — a distance of 3.5 miles — throughout the entire six weeks will be entered into a drawing to win a six-month fitness club membership.
The human resources department here realized I wouldn’t be able to read the number of steps I’d taken each day on my own, so they ordered a special talking pedometer for me — it says my results out loud. And so, I’m on my way to prove my theory.
The list of requirements for people applying to train with a Seeing Eye dog says candidates need to be able to walk one or two miles a day:
Applicant must be between the ages of 16 and 75, motivated and emotionally stable, capable of walking one to two miles a day, and able to receive and implement instruction.
In a post I published on the Easter Seals blog about all this, I explained that when you live in a city you can’t simply open a sliding glass patio door to let your guide dog out. I take Whitney down the street, around the corner and to her favorite tree at least four times a day. That’s 1,000 steps per trip. My talking pedometer counted out 12,157 steps the day I walked to Walgreens to pick up prescriptions, and that included a safety shortcut I take each way to cross State Street. Whitney and I walk down the subway stairs on one side, pad along under State Street and then ascend the stairs on the other side…safe & sound.
Whit and I often use Subway stops to cross under busy streets.
Not sure what Whitney and I will do with the free six-month fitness club membership when we win the “Walk For U, Go The Extra Mile” challenge at Easter Seals. Seems to me we already have a free pass to the gym: running errands in our neighborhood is like using a treadmill, and every El station is a StairMaster!
Maybe the gym membership will include the services of a masseuse for you and Whitney. Y’all will need it after all that walking. BTW, when the temps soar, does Whit have trouble on the hot pavement?
The Seeing Eye supplies grads with booties for our dogs – we can use them on winter days to prevent salt from getting in their paws, and on blistering summer days when hot pavement might burn canine feet.
It was 100º in Chicago Thursday. Mike was working from home that day, and I got a ride to the memoir-writing class I teachin Lincoln Park. Whitney stayed at home with Mike in air conditioning while I taught, and he took her out to “empty” while I was away. That night I’d been invited to attend a Senior Business Women’s Forum in downtown Chicago, Whitney and I took a cab. We survived the hot weather that day, but alas, only racked up 3,971 steps.
Awww, I bet Whit is cute in her tiny tennis shoes. Thanks for answering my question.
It makes me grin from ear to ear thinking about you and Whitney on your many outings. Hugs and blessings
Oh, yes, and let’s hope one of our “many outings” in the next few weeks includes a lunch with you, Carolyn and Ida — I’ll emal you privately to see if we can plan something. Miss you gals!
That was great, if all of us did half of what you do we would be in great shape! Your winning’s might be a great present for one of your inactive friends!
Penn
Good idea, Penn. Unless the prized health club has a steam sauna or a pool — then I’m signing up for sure!
Last week, in Columbus, I met a disabled woman who is the receptionist at the Easter Seals Day Camp that my grandson attends. She mentioned that she was hoping the Open House she was having that weekend would yield a bid, so that she could move. I asked her where she was planning to move and she said “to High Street,” so that she wouldn’t have to take a taxi to the bus to get to work. It made me think that disabled people are so much more “in the world” when they live in places—cities—that offer fine public transit. New York is the perfect place for people who don’t or can’t drive.
Is this on topic??
Good Luck in this walking event!! And pardon my ravings.
Love your ravings, and agree about NYC. Certain neighborhoods of other big cities are ideal, too — when I talk with kids at elementary schools I am often asked how I drive — I tell them I don’t have a car and live in a neighborhood where a lot of people who can see don’t have cars, either. it gives me an opportunity to describe what it’s like to live in a place with buses, subways, cabs and your own legs as transportation.
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