GoWalk!: Beginner Urban Walking Series

​​Participants must be a Mountaineers member with a current waiver on file to register for the course.  

Course Overview

Urban Walking, an urban version of hiking, is both calming and energizing. It’s a way to connect with nature plus the built environment, and build community with new people. 

In the GoWalk! Beginning Urban Walking Series, we start with basics:  Preparation, safety, general fitness tips and knowledge to make urban walking less daunting with a main goal in mind: Getting outdoors with others who are starting out (or starting over), at a comfortable, social pace, making the journey together.

We will introduce you to the essentials of urban walking, help you to set personalized goals month by month during the course, and most of all, connect you with a community of fellow urban walkers. All backgrounds, shapes and sizes will find a welcoming home with GoWalk!  So, whether you are brand new to urban walks or have been away for a while, this course will meet you where you are, help you find your path to success, and have fun doing it.

What are urban walks?

Urban Walks are outings two (2) miles or longer that take place on city or suburban streets, parks or greenbelts [on maintained or unmaintained trails] where there is consistent cellphone service, nearby emergency response access and egress [exit)] points. (Clubwide Standard, 2023)

Who is goWalk! For?  

People who want to get out on an urban walk and would like a community and support to make it happen, starting from where they are.

• Beginner urban walkers – or people who haven’t been out for a while – and looking for an easy, gradual start
• People who are looking for a social, mutually supportive atmosphere
• We welcome participants all backgrounds, shapes, and sizes

Course Schedule

• GoWalk! Student Orientation – Mandatory online virtual classroom session October 1, 2024 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Register for the GoWalk! Orientation when you register for the course.
• Pacing Urban Walks - One pacing urban walk is required, to help you determine where you are and what level of urban walks and pace you want to work toward – October.  Registration for pacing urban walks will open on September 12th.
  
• Must complete “Low Impact Recreation” training - October
• Must complete 1 Pacing Urban Walk and 5 or more course urban walks (listed as field trips), at least one a month – November to March
• Check-ins: Optional virtual online zoom sessions - Monthly, October - March TBD
  
• Graduation: April TBD

Course Components

Course Orientation

October 1, 2024, 6:30 to 8:30 pm. This mandatory 2.0-hour evening online virtual classroom session will introduce you to the essentials of urban walking starting with the basics: preparation, safety, conditioning and fitness tips and knowledge to make urban walking less daunting. We'll talk about GoWalk!, conditioning and urban walks, about setting goals, how you can make them happen with our support and more. Register for the GoWalk! Orientation when you register for the course. 

Pacing Urban walks

One pacing urban walk required. Pacing urban walks will be offered in October. These are easy, low-stress urban walks to help you determine where you are in terms of gear, the pace and distance you can complete comfortably, and what your season goals for conditioning and urban walking are, so that you can determine what  level of urban walks and pace would be the best fit for you to sign up for   - no pressure, no judgment.

Registration for pacing urban walks will open on September 12. Space is limited so please sign up for only one.  Pacing urban walks will help you determine where you are, what level of urban walks and pace you want to work toward and help you assess your gear and clothing.

The Urban Walk Series

This is a beginning urban walking course. To be prepared for the course participants should be able to complete one, at least 2-mile fairly flat pacing urban walk in under 1.5 hours, including rest stops, by October.

You should be available and committed to go on one pacing urban walk in October and at least five urban walks, one a month, November - March. Over the course of the seasons you should be prepared to increase mileage, and elevation gain gradually, with your March urban walk being your most challenging of the series. Walkers are not required to walk at a higher level each month.

Participants are encouraged to dedicate time outside of the course for conditioning and building endurance to be prepared for the urban walks. You will walk in small groups of about 6 course participants with one or two leaders.

We will hold monthly virtual online Zoom CHECK IN sessions - November - March. These optional sessions will include topics related to beginning urban walking, such as conditioning, gearing up, nutrition and hydration, walking at night, and most importantly -- checking in to see if you have any questions or suggestions.

Monthly urban walk Progression

Over the course of the seasons you should be prepared to increase mileage, and elevation gain gradually from November - March, with your March urban walk being your most challenging  of the series.  You do not need to move to a higher Level each month.

Urban Walks will be listed each month at a range of levels. Monthly urban walks will open for registration on the first Friday of each month, beginning in October for the November urban walks. On the second Friday of the month course participants may register for a second urban walk, as space is available.

October Pace Urban Walks: 1 walk required,  2 to 4 miles, 0 to 300 feet gain

Level 1        Urban Walk, 2 to 4 miles, up 300 feet gain

Level 2:      Urban Walk, 2 to 5 miles, up to 450 feet gain

Level 3:      Urban Walk,  3 to 6 miles, up to 600 feet gain

Level 4:      Urban Walk, 3 to 7 miles, up to 750 feet gain

Level 5:       Urban Walk, 4 to 8 miles, up to 1000 feet gain

Graduation

We will hold an in-person graduation celebration in April. Location and date to be determined.

Course Requirements

• Mandatory attendance at the virtual online GoWalk! Orientation on October 1, 2024 6:30 to 8:30pm.
• Complete the Low Impact Recreation video series (no fee, no badge).
• Complete Stewardship Badge (or renewal) in the 12 months before graduation;
• Completion of 1 pacing urban walk in October and 5 course urban walks, at least one per month between November - March.
• Extra Credit: Join Mountaineers club urban walks, or plan and complete a personal or family urban walk(s)

Participant commitment and expectations

• Ability to complete a 2-mile fairly flat pacing urban walk in under 1.5 hours including rest stops.
• Commitment to go on one pacing urban walk in October and at least five course urban walks, one a month, November - March. Early urban walks in the series could involve a half day or short fall evening including arriving at the walk start point. As the season progresses the urban walks could include a half or full day on the weekend. Urban walks may be held during the week, in the early evening and on weekends.
  
• Commitment to build and maintain your hiking endurance over the course of the fall and winter to walk a little further and a little higher to get to more and more remarkable places. This means going on walks near your home and/or training at home or in a fitness facility in between course walks  to continue to build your walking endurance and stamina over time.
• Willing to complete the Mountaineers ‘Low Impact Recreation’ video course early in the series so that you will start out as a great ‘trail citizen’!
• Commitment to borrow or buy the minimum gear for your safety and comfort in advance of going on the offered urban walks.  It doesn’t have to be expensive or fancy gear, and we’ll help you figure out what you need and find the best deals!. We will introduce gear recommendations at each level appropriate to the needs of the season and the urban walk locations.