Walking Fast Facts

• Walking lowers the risk for Heart Attack, Diabetes, Stroke, Osteoporosis, Breast and Colon Cancer.
• Walking Reduces Weight, Cholesterol levels, Hypertension, Depression & Constipation.
• Walking is one of the simplest and safest aerobic exercises you can do.
• Walking an extra 20 minutes each day will burn off 7 pounds of body fat per year, as long as food consumption doesn’t increase.
• On the average, every minute of walking can extend your life
  by 1.5 to 2 minutes.

CALLING ALL COMPETITIVE AND RECREATIONAL WALKERS TO REGISTER FOR 2005 WILLAMETTE VALLEY WALKING RELAY
Lace Up and Treat Your Body and Mind to the Northwest’s Best Walking Event

PORTLAND, Ore. – February 21, 2005 – Early registration for the 2005 Willamette Valley Relay, the Northwest’s premiere long-distance walking event, is now open to all walkers. Set for July 15th and 16th, the annual walk-only event will take walkers of all levels on a fun and challenging 135-mile journey through Oregon’s pastoral Willamette Valley. In addition to promoting the health benefits of a regular walking program, a portion of the event proceeds will benefit the Legacy Comprehensive Stroke Program.

“No other relay event in the Northwest is designed exclusively for walkers of all levels by walkers,” said organizer Judy Heller, a Personal Fitness Trainer, one of the region’s foremost experts on walking and founder of Wonders of Walking, LLC. “Whether you’re a first-timer, an accomplished relay walker, or avid racewalker, the Willamette Valley Relay is a great way to commit to training to go the distance while having fun.”

Walking teams of eight to 12 can download registration applications at www.wondersofwalking.com. Information, including course maps, costs, discounted lodging and more, can be found on the site, as well. The deadline for registering is May, 15, 2005, to avoid a late fee. Teams registering after May 15th will pay a $100 penalty.

Individual walkers who want to participate in the relay but do not have a team, or teams who are in need of additional walkers, can be matched through Willamette Valley Relay’s matching service. Visit the web site for details.

Come for the Challenge, the Exercise, the Fun, and Oregon’s Scenic Beauty
The Willamette Valley Relay will travel through the most scenic portions of Oregon’s Willamette Valley, from Champoeg State Park to Alton-Baker Park in Eugene, utilizing scenic and lightly traveled roads.

The relay features a postcard-perfect, 135-mile route, highlighting the region’s history, beauty and agriculture. Walkers will stride through four parks, five counties (Marion, Polk, Linn, Benton and Lane), one wildlife refuge and eight Oregon towns, including, Gervais, Turner, Independence, Monmouth, Albany, Harrisburg, Junction City and Eugene, in two summer days.

Event sponsors include, Pace Setter Athletic, Wilsonville, New Balance, NW Foot and Ankle Clinic, idea advocates law group, LLC, EroFit and Associates, LLC and The Step Beyond Walking and Running.

About Wonders of Walking, LLC
Willamette Valley Relay was founded in 2004 by Wonders of Walking, LLC, a Portland-based organization that advocates walking for well-being and pleasure. Wonders of Walking president Judy Heller is a well-known walking advocate, trainer and organizer of major regional walking events. Heller was honored by the Oregon Road Runners for the 2003 Dedicated Walker award, which is bestowed on an individual who has given their time and talents for the good of the walking community. Wonders of Walking manages a series of walking events currently all set in Oregon, including: Willamette Valley Relay, July 15-16, Sisters Stride in Sisters, Ore., September 25, 2005 and The Pumpkin Caper in Beaverton, Ore., October 23, 2005. For more information and details, log onto www.wondersofwalking.com.

Media contact: Amy Brown, 503.341.3795 or amyb@seed-pr.com