PORT ANGELES — You can run away from heart disease, hypertension and senility.
For that matter, you can walk away.
Regular exercise, like running or walking, can decrease the chances you’ll suffer any of these illnesses, say the Olympic Medical Center personnel who literally walk their talk.
“I build fitness into my day all day long,” says registered nurse Judy Tordini, director of cardiac services at the hospital.
Tordini walks the Waterfront Trail on her lunch hour each workday. It helps her control stress and staves off the urge to nibble on some fatty, sugary or salty snack food.
She even strives to conduct meetings on the go.
“I say, ‘Meet me on the Waterfront Trail. We’ll walk and talk,’ ” she says.
“If you’ve got five people who have to spend an hour in a meeting, you can get a lot of walking done.”
Patricia McCollum, cardiac rehabilitation coordinator, says, “Once you get it into your day, it becomes natural.”
And registered nurse Candi Schaefermeyer, diabetes program coordinator, encourages her patients to walk in place while they do dishes or talk on the telephone.
“Get up during TV commercials and walk around the house,” she advises them.
Other easy exercises including doing arm curls using a soup can while working at a computer or doing leg lifts while watching TV.
“The body was made to move. If you deny yourself movement, you’re missing out on a big part of life,” Schaefermeyer says.
Saturday run, walk, dash
The three women will lead a red-shirted band of graduates of their post-cardiac and diabetes exercise programs in the Olympic Medical Center 10k/5k Run and Walk and Kids’ Dash. It starts at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at City Pier.
What: Olympic Medical Center 5k/10k Run and Walk and Kids’ Dash
When: Kids Dash starts at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Runs and walks start at 10 a.m.
Where: All events start and end at City Pier.
How much: $10 for the Kids’ Dash, $25 for the 5k and 10k events, $15 for hospital employees. Registration will remain open until start times. Revenues benefit health programs of the Medical Center.
What you’ll get: Kids’ Dash participants will receive T-shirts, flying discs and medals. Adults will get T-shirts and chances at first-, second-, and third-place awards in various age groups.
More information: 360-417-7000.