Walking group makes strides

If you are looking for a way to get regular exercise in an hour, the Auburn Stride Walkers Club may be for you.

The group meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10 a.m. to walk as a group at various Auburn locations.

Melissa Weldon, recreation center director for Auburn Parks and Recreation, leads the group with Dee Watson, manager of the Frank Brown Recreation Center.

The Stride Walkers began in 2008.

"We're starting year four," Weldon said. "What excites me is it's an active, interesting group of people."

Weldon said the group meets at Dean Road Recreation Center, Lake Wilmore Bike Trail, Hickory Dickory Park, Auburn Public Library, Auburn South Technology Park and Kiesel Park, averaging three miles every hour-long walk.

"We have a core group of four or five of us and the numbers get up to 11 or 12," Weldon said. "Our average is seven or eight people each walk."

Participants can come any of the days. The flexibility of the group allows many different people to join the Stride Walkers.

Walkers include men and women from various places, like New Orleans, Ohio, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

"On occasion we get students who drop in with us," Weldon said. "We have folks who have had medical procedures done and are trying to get exercise, and they enjoy walking with people and not by themselves. It's a versatile group."

Joan Grubbf participates in the Stride Walkers. A Warren, Pa., native, she said she enjoys the diversity of the group.

"There's usually a new face once a week," Grubbf said. "Everyone's very welcoming, and we welcome anyone who wants to join us."

Grubbf said the group's flexibility is one of the things she likes best about it.

"I would not walk nearly as often if I didn't have the community we have," she said.

Grubbf said she's been participating since early 2011, when a friend told her about the group.

"People in the group start out as acquaintances and grow into frineds," Weldon said. "If you're 75, don't worry about being left behind."