Keeping walkers on track

After Clayton, Indiana, resident Melissa Phillips had back surgery several years ago, her doctor suggested walking to maintain her health. Phillips signed up for Get WalkIN,’ a Purdue Extension program that provides free informational — and motivational — emails.

The program has been a source of support for Phillips, who walks between 15 and 75 minutes daily year round. “Walking keeps the muscles in my back stronger, and I also feel so much better when I walk,” she says. “The emails encouraged me to keep going.”

Get WalkIN’ participants receive 16 emails — two per week the first month and one weekly for the next eight weeks. The content is based on the research of Elizabeth (Libby) Richards, Associate Professor of Nursing, and tailored for Extension audiences.

“Get WalkIN’ is a great example of putting faculty research into practice to improve individuals’ health and wellbeing,” says Stephanie Woodcox, Assistant Program Leader for Purdue Extension in the College of Health and Human Sciences.

Denise Current walks in her town of Veedersburg on busy days, or she may tackle a longer trail in nearby Covington when time allows. “My goal was to be active and to have a workout schedule that was consistent,” she says.

As she walks in the early mornings, Current sometimes thinks about the content of her Get WalkIN’ emails, from increasing her workouts to celebrating milestones.

Extension educators in counties across Indiana have offered Get WalkIN’ since 2016, but the program proved especially valuable this year as walkers sought structure and inspiration when gyms and parks closed due to COVID-19.

Get WalkIN’ was presented 26 times during the 2019–2020 programming year, reaching 682 individuals.

See how Extension served your Indiana community in the 2020 Purdue Extension Impact Report: extension.purdue.edu/annualreport/.

Featured Stories

A Black Swallowtail has landed on the top of a zinnia flower.

5 things to avoid this fall when putting your garden to bed

As tree leaves flourish into bright fall colors, home gardens are fading into collections of...

Amazing Sunflowers

As you travel in rural Indiana this time of year, you may happen upon a field of sunflowers....

2025 Fall Digital Ready Businesses Webinar Series

Purdue Extension can help your business become more digitally savvy.

Process Drives Impact: Our Approach to Community Partnership

To accomplish our mission, we must effectively collaborate with our partners at all levels to...

Midwest Hair Sheep Sale

The Washington County Sheep Association is hosting the 19th Annual Midwest Hair Sheep Sale in...

Fresh green beans, grocery store shelves displaying “Indiana favorites” and local products, cheese aging on a shelf

Evansville MarketReady producer training will share tips, tricks for thriving in today’s marketplace

Purdue Extension is hosting a MarketReady training session from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CT Nov. 20 in...