Walking is one of the easiest ways to improve your health — and it’s more fun when you do it with others. That’s why San Diego State University Graduate School of Public Health has teamed up with Live Well San Diego to participate in the American Public Health Associations’ 1 Billion Steps Challenge. The goal is to collectively walk 1 billion steps between January 9, 2017 and the end of National Public Health Week on April 9, 2017.

Regular physical activity like walking can greatly reduce the risk of conditions such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease and cancer. Walking can be relaxing, spiritual or when done together, can be just plain fun. 

You can create your own team to compete as a group of friends or an organization or join a team already in place like TEAM: GSPH and LWSD.

When you join you’ll be able to track how many steps you take, see total steps for your team and the collective progress of all teams toward the goal of 1 Billion steps. You can synch your step counting device or enter steps manually if you don’t have a device.

Take family walks, schedule walking meetings at the office, walk your children to school – the more people who join, the quicker we’ll reach 1 billion steps. Plus, it will encourage healthy habits among family, friends and co-workers.

So register today, and let’s get walking!