On Wednesday, Dr. Dawn Mattern, after offering a few words of encouragement and some sound fitness advice, began the 11th annual Doc Walk, in Minot’s Oak Park.

Mattern, a Sports Medicine physician with Trinity Health, led about 35 people on a walk around the popular park – at whatever pace participants chose.

It was a good first outing of the year for old and new members of the Minot Area Team Wellness/Walk Minot.

The walk also celebrated May as Exercise is Medicine Month, which promotes regular physical activity as a key ingredient in preventing and treating disease.

Mattern used the occasion to remind walkers of the considerable evidence that exercise improves health, and that most people do not achieve the recommended minimum dose of 150 minutes per week for adults and one hour per day for children.

Walk Minot is another way for people interested in bettering their health to do so while socializing. On Wednesday’s jaunt through the park it appeared people had a lot of catching up to do. Most were chatting it up along the asphalt path. Some had brought pets along on leashes, which added to the festive mood.

People interested in getting involved should be aware that the Wednesday evening walks are held at different locations throughout the summer. Other paths on this season’s schedule include, for example, Scandinavian Heritage Park, Woodland Trail, the YMCA fitness path and Minot State University.

All of the walks last about 45 minutes, and as already mentioned, get people out in the community to places they might not usually go.

Each walk has a different leader, such as the director of the Minot Park District, and birding expert Charles Taft.

Minot Area Team Wellness/Walk Minot has done a tremendous service to the people of Minot by making it so easy and enjoyable to take in nature, make new friends and meet up with old friends, or to just get out of the house regularly for some needed exercise.

Good job team. We hope many more folks will join you this spring and summer to explore Minot, one healthy step at a time.