Preface

When I mentioned to my friend Diana that I was writing a book on walking, she expressed reservation about the viability of the topic. "How much can you say about walking"? was her skeptical e-mail query. When I did my research, I found out that a lot of people have been writing about walking since the 1970s, when the jogging craze was at its height. There is even a magazine called "Walking" that was started in 1985. As can be expected, even the Internet is filled with websites touting the pleasures and benefits of walking. Exercise physiologists and personal trainers are increasingly recommending walking instead of jogging, in the wake of reports attributing serious physical injuries to jogging. Doctors urge patients, notably those with heart problems, to walk as a way to guard against strokes and heart attacks.

The idea for this book came from Dr. Romeo Echauz, president of Filipinas Retirement Paradise. I would like to thank him for his confidence in entrusting this project to me, and for sharing with me his books on walking. Dra. Lourdes Echauz, Tootsy Echauz and Enrique Echauz generously furnished me with the information and photos I needed to write the section on "Who is Toots?" Tess Hasmin and Dominador del Rosario, staff members of Filipinas Retirement Paradise, as well as the other members of the Del Rosario family (Domar, J.R., Delmar and Rosemarie) were always helpful whenever I needed them. I thank them deeply.

I would like to dedicate this book to my husband Collis H. Davis for his forbearance while I was focused on this project, and to my son, Eric Bayani, who has always believed in me. They have always encouraged me in my various projects and have unfailingly taken pride in my accomplishments. I would like to extend this dedication to friends who like me, are at the stage in life when we have to pay more attention to our health, and are on the lookout for the appropriate type of exercise. I hope this book will demolish their last excuse and finally encourage them to take the first step out that front door. The arithmetic notwithstanding!

To friends like Ces and Cres who have taken up walking, I say, "Keep it up!" To other friends who have chosen jogging and running as their main source of exercise, I invite you to look into walking as a safer and injury-free alternative.

If the visitor wishes to purchase a copy of this book, please contact Violeta Hughes-Davis at: vhughes@eastern.com.ph

© 2005-2006 Violeta P. Hughes-Davis
All rights reserved.