"Kidderminster Stride and Stroll" is probably the largest walking organization in the Midlands with an average weekly attendance of 90-100 participants. It is a friendly welcoming get together, where members can walk in comfort and safety alongside like minded people of similar ability.

"Kidderminster Stride and Stroll" meet every Saturday morning at one of thirty different venues, and also every Thursday morning for a short walk to aid those on the road to recovery. 

 "Kidderminster Stride and Stroll" is probably the largest walking organization in the Midlands with an average weekly attendance of 90-100 participants. It is a friendly welcoming get together, where members can walk in comfort and safety alongside like minded people of similar ability.

"Kidderminster Stride and Stroll" meet every Saturday morning at one of thirty different venues, and also every Thursday morning for a short walk to aid those on the road to recovery. 

1. All walks are graded into groups to meet the needs of participants
2. Routes are pre-walked mid week to check for risks, obstructions, and weather damage.
3. Number and type of styles on each route are assessed to ensure that they can be negotiated by the group.
4. Walk Guides are equipped with radios and mobile phones for contact within and between groups. 

HEALTH/FITNESS

1. Walks of sufficient length to burn calories.
2. Walks of sufficient intensity to improve the cardiovascular system.
3. Walking is a low impact activity which can improve joint strength.
4. Walking can help maintain bone density.  

COMFORT

1. There is always a Walk Guide at the back of all groups to allow participants to walk within their optimum level for good training adaptation.

WALKING GUIDES

1. All Walk Guides are trained in first aid and resuscitation, and attend regular refresher courses.

ADMINISTRATION

1. Health questionaires required from all participants so that a passport can be issued detailing vital information and persons to contact.
2. On the day walkers are registered against the group they walk in, and the registers saved for future reference. 
3. All Walk Guides carry maps with their walk indicated and the OS grid references shown to indentify the map position of the group at any time.
4. Regular meetings of Walk Guides to co-ordinate and improve the infrastructure to the highest standards possible. 

   d

1. All walks are graded into groups to meet the needs of participants
2. Routes are pre-walked mid week to check for risks, obstructions, and weather damage.
3. Number and type of styles on each route are assessed to ensure that they can be negotiated by the group.
4. Walk Guides are equipped with radios and mobile phones for contact within and between groups. 

HEALTH/FITNESS

1. Walks of sufficient length to burn calories.
2. Walks of sufficient intensity to improve the cardiovascular system.
3. Walking is a low impact activity which can improve joint strength.
4. Walking can help maintain bone density.  

COMFORT

1. There is always a Walk Guide at the back of all groups to allow participants to walk within their optimum level for good training adaptation.

WALKING GUIDES

1. All Walk Guides are trained in first aid and resuscitation, and attend regular refresher courses.

ADMINISTRATION

1. Health questionaires required from all participants so that a passport can be issued detailing vital information and persons to contact.
2. On the day walkers are registered against the group they walk in, and the registers saved for future reference. 
3. All Walk Guides carry maps with their walk indicated and the OS grid references shown to indentify the map position of the group at any time.
4. Regular meetings of Walk Guides to co-ordinate and improve the infrastructure to the highest standards possible. 

   d

 The Technical Bit 

As we evolved over the centuries our main mode of conveyance was walking, and hence the body became designed to walk.
We humans are very efficient walking machines, using the simplest of body systems to supply energy to the muscles. If that energy runs low, energy stored in the liver and muscles is utilised. As long as we drink water to remain hydrated, long periods of sustained walking can be achieved without being super fit.
We also evolved to quickly recover from the effort of walking; so that the adaptation to training due to walking is the most efficient of all exercises.
Nearly all of us could build up to achieve five miles a day, which is only dependant on health issues.
The human body, like all animals is designed to store fat, to be used when food is less available. With our modern method where food is available all year around it is easier to get fat than stay slim.
Walking does not burn stored fat; it utilizes energy from food currently in the system so that very little is then left to turn into fat. To lose fat you would need to diet as well as walk.

Walking is a low intensity, low impact, and long duration exercise, it is termed aerobic (it requires a slight increase in oxygen uptake to achieve).

Jogging is a medium intensity, medium impact, long duration exercise, it is termed aerobic, (it requires a raised oxygen uptake to achieve)

Running is a high intensity, high impact, medium duration exercise it is termed aerobic, (it requires a significant oxygen uptake to achieve)

Sprinting is a very high intensity, high impact, short duration exercise, it is termed anaerobic, (the build up of lactic acid and the supply of energy to the muscles cannot be maintained by oxygen uptake) you quickly run out of steam.

An analogy to walking, jogging and running is driving a car for 100 miles at 50mph (walking), 70mph (jogging), and 100mph (running).
The most efficient is 50mph say 40mpg, then 70mph say 32mpg, and 100mph say 25mpg, which is a typical scenario for fuel consumption at those speeds.
At 100mph the rate the fuel is being supplied to the engine is twice that of 50mph times the ratio of 40/25 which equals 3.2
That is you need to supply fuel to the engine 3.2 times faster at 100mph than at 50mph.

The human body is exactly the same you need to supply energy faster for running compared to walking with similar efficiencies in a similar way.
Animals are far more sophisticated than cars; they use four different systems of energy supply, as you increase the rate of energy required you move to the next level.
At the third level (the Krebs cycle) you start to burn fats, it requires oxygen (you breathe heavy) and it starts approximately 10 minutes into the run. (Second wind)
At this point you will also start to perspire
1st level Glycolysis or ketosis if dieting 
2nd level Pyruvate oxidation
3rd level Tricarbolic acid cycle (Krebs cycle)
4th level Respiratory chain


The belief that walking 5 miles uses the same amount of energy as a 5 mile run is untrue because running is less efficient than walking. Running uses more energy, plus the heat energy expended in perspiration.
The amount of work achieved is the same because mass * distance is work done and in each case they are exactly the same.

There are a number of elements of fitness, 9 of which are important to every day life.
1 strength
2 power
3 agility
4 balance
5 local muscle endurance
6 strength endurance
7 co-ordination
8 cardiovascular endurance
9 flexibility
1 – 7 are improved in the lower half of the body by walking
8 improved by walking.
9 requires specific exercises.

The bottom line is walking uses the simplest and most common form of energy supply (glycolysis) which is the system you use for 90% of every day activities.
Walking will improve and extend your duration to cope with normal activities common to every day life styles. The technical name for walking distances is endurance training, by callisthenic exercise. Being low impact, joints are strengthened rather than damaged with the surrounding muscle tissue improved to support and reduce joint load during walking.
You will be more efficient, less stressed, more bubbly, more popular, etc.

Most other exercises are not normal to every day life they are specific and require specific training programmes to elevate performances.

             Walking is normal to everyday life. 

Have you ever wondered why you should walk

•  It's fun
• It's free
• It's a way of meeting new people and making friends
• It can be done at anywhere anytime
• It doesn't need any expensive equipment
• It is a form of gentle exercise suitable for almost everyone
• It can be done by people recoverong from illness

Regular walking can also improve your

• Confidence
• Stamina
• Energy
• Weight control
• Life expectancy

And walking can reduce the risk of

• Coronary heart disease
• Strokes
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Bowel cancer
• Alzheimer's disease
• Osteoporosis
• Arthritis
• Anxiety
• Stress

Why not join us and get all these benefits

 The Technical Bit 

As we evolved over the centuries our main mode of conveyance was walking, and hence the body became designed to walk.
We humans are very efficient walking machines, using the simplest of body systems to supply energy to the muscles. If that energy runs low, energy stored in the liver and muscles is utilised. As long as we drink water to remain hydrated, long periods of sustained walking can be achieved without being super fit.
We also evolved to quickly recover from the effort of walking; so that the adaptation to training due to walking is the most efficient of all exercises.
Nearly all of us could build up to achieve five miles a day, which is only dependant on health issues.
The human body, like all animals is designed to store fat, to be used when food is less available. With our modern method where food is available all year around it is easier to get fat than stay slim.
Walking does not burn stored fat; it utilizes energy from food currently in the system so that very little is then left to turn into fat. To lose fat you would need to diet as well as walk.

Walking is a low intensity, low impact, and long duration exercise, it is termed aerobic (it requires a slight increase in oxygen uptake to achieve).

Jogging is a medium intensity, medium impact, long duration exercise, it is termed aerobic, (it requires a raised oxygen uptake to achieve)

Running is a high intensity, high impact, medium duration exercise it is termed aerobic, (it requires a significant oxygen uptake to achieve)

Sprinting is a very high intensity, high impact, short duration exercise, it is termed anaerobic, (the build up of lactic acid and the supply of energy to the muscles cannot be maintained by oxygen uptake) you quickly run out of steam.

An analogy to walking, jogging and running is driving a car for 100 miles at 50mph (walking), 70mph (jogging), and 100mph (running).
The most efficient is 50mph say 40mpg, then 70mph say 32mpg, and 100mph say 25mpg, which is a typical scenario for fuel consumption at those speeds.
At 100mph the rate the fuel is being supplied to the engine is twice that of 50mph times the ratio of 40/25 which equals 3.2
That is you need to supply fuel to the engine 3.2 times faster at 100mph than at 50mph.

The human body is exactly the same you need to supply energy faster for running compared to walking with similar efficiencies in a similar way.
Animals are far more sophisticated than cars; they use four different systems of energy supply, as you increase the rate of energy required you move to the next level.
At the third level (the Krebs cycle) you start to burn fats, it requires oxygen (you breathe heavy) and it starts approximately 10 minutes into the run. (Second wind)
At this point you will also start to perspire
1st level Glycolysis or ketosis if dieting 
2nd level Pyruvate oxidation
3rd level Tricarbolic acid cycle (Krebs cycle)
4th level Respiratory chain


The belief that walking 5 miles uses the same amount of energy as a 5 mile run is untrue because running is less efficient than walking. Running uses more energy, plus the heat energy expended in perspiration.
The amount of work achieved is the same because mass * distance is work done and in each case they are exactly the same.

There are a number of elements of fitness, 9 of which are important to every day life.
1 strength
2 power
3 agility
4 balance
5 local muscle endurance
6 strength endurance
7 co-ordination
8 cardiovascular endurance
9 flexibility
1 – 7 are improved in the lower half of the body by walking
8 improved by walking.
9 requires specific exercises.

The bottom line is walking uses the simplest and most common form of energy supply (glycolysis) which is the system you use for 90% of every day activities.
Walking will improve and extend your duration to cope with normal activities common to every day life styles. The technical name for walking distances is endurance training, by callisthenic exercise. Being low impact, joints are strengthened rather than damaged with the surrounding muscle tissue improved to support and reduce joint load during walking.
You will be more efficient, less stressed, more bubbly, more popular, etc.

Most other exercises are not normal to every day life they are specific and require specific training programmes to elevate performances.

             Walking is normal to everyday life. 

Have you ever wondered why you should walk

•  It's fun
• It's free
• It's a way of meeting new people and making friends
• It can be done at anywhere anytime
• It doesn't need any expensive equipment
• It is a form of gentle exercise suitable for almost everyone
• It can be done by people recoverong from illness

Regular walking can also improve your

• Confidence
• Stamina
• Energy
• Weight control
• Life expectancy

And walking can reduce the risk of

• Coronary heart disease
• Strokes
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Bowel cancer
• Alzheimer's disease
• Osteoporosis
• Arthritis
• Anxiety
• Stress

Why not join us and get all these benefits

How

It’s simple to join Stride and Stroll.

Just turn up at the venue 30 minutes before the walk is due to begin wearing suitable clothes and footwear for the weather.

Register with one of the Walk Leaders who will be wearing a High visibility jacket and then……..

ENJOY THE WALK

And

THE COMPANY

How

It’s simple to join Stride and Stroll.

Just turn up at the venue 30 minutes before the walk is due to begin wearing suitable clothes and footwear for the weather.

Register with one of the Walk Leaders who will be wearing a High visibility jacket and then……..

ENJOY THE WALK

And

THE COMPANY