Regardless of the weather, Steve Erikson, 69, of Northampton rarely misses his daily walk.
It was drizzly and foggy on a recent Thursday morning, but he was stepping through the puddles at 7:30 a.m., heading from his house on Park Street to Look Park in Florence.
Cloaked in a raincoat and holding an umbrella, he also had his cellphone on hand where a health app was recording his every step.
His daily routine usually includes three hours of walking a day.
“I walk. I never take a day off,” he said. “I just do it for me.”
Erikson, a retired teacher, is among those who have found that walking is the best exercise for them and are determined to make it a year-round activity.
Barry Bouthilette, 64 of Florence, a retired probation officer, serves as a walking coach, encouraging those like Erikson to keep at it. He runs a free walking club at Look Park every Tuesday and Thursday morning, starting at 8 a.m., where people came come and go whenever they want and walk at their own pace.
Walking, Bouthilette says, keeps him energetic and feeling good. Health professionals say it helps improve cardiovascular health, lowers blood pressure and keeps weight in balance.
And, says Bouthilette, it’s accessible and cheap — no expensive equipment or club memberships are needed. He walks six days a week himself.
“Going to the gym is not enjoyable for a lot of people,” he said.
Still, when attempting to walk in winter weather, it’s necessary to take precautions. That could mean getting a pair of sharp-end poles to stabilize your balance, Bouthilette says, or buying cleats to strap onto your shoes. He advises taking smaller steps on slippery surfaces: “That is real important, especially going down even on a slight incline.”
Bouthilette says it is also important to maintain good posture, looking down with just your eyes without bending your neck or torso.
Finding an area with safe surfaces to walk on is worth the effort, Bouthilette adds.
“I hate the thought of having to drive to walk but it’s better to do that than not to walk.”
Erikson follows Bouthilette’s advice.
He isn’t a speed walker. He goes slow so as not to slip, logging about 7,000 steps per hour.
He watches where he steps and seeks out salted sidewalks and paths.
He also makes sure he will be comfortable while walking.
When it’s cold, he dons an extra layer of clothing and uses battery-powered heated gloves to fend off frostbite. He found running shoes that are extra comfortable to prevent his feet from aching.
While Pamela Proulx, a physical therapist at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, agrees that walking is great exercise, she urges that people think hard about the risks of walking outdoors in ice and snow. In her work, she says, she sees many people who have suffered serious injuries after slipping and falling on ice. Finding a way to walk indoors may be a better alternative, she says. Some people enjoy walking inside shopping malls.
Still, she says, getting outside during the winter months is beneficial if done with caution. If possible, she says, walk on the snow or on the grass to avoid icy walkways.
Bouthilette just wants to help everyone find a way to enjoy the exercise he loves.
“Walking is perhaps the best activity,” he said. “While you are in the process of walking — you feel better.”
Lisa Spear can be reached at lspear@gazettenet.com.