As reported on the  Tech On website, Honda Motor Co Ltd has developed a prototype "walking assistance" device, which helps the elderly and other individuals that have difficulty walking. They will present the device at "Barrier Free 2008".

The device is designed to help people with weakened leg muscles that may be a result of aging or other reasons but are still capable of walking on their own. Although the device is a long way from going into production, it is good news for many people who may have problems walking.

In early January, Meredith Emerson and her dog went for a hike on Blood Mountain in Georgia. Blood Mountain is a very popular and beautiful hiking destination in the southeastern part of the US and we all have a right to hike it either alone or with our friends.

Unfortunately for Meredith and her family there was an evil man walking the same trails that day. By kidnapping and killing Meredith he not only took Meredith’s life, he also took away the sense of peace and comfort many women find in walking alone.

I recently started downloading podcasts of Italian lessons to my iPod and it is working very well. I can listen to the podcasts while I am taking a walk or traveling. Of course, people look at me oddly since I am talking to myself while I walk. There are a bunch of free podcasts you can subscribe to at iTunes if you have an iPod.

Many sites other than iTunes also offer free and subscription based podcasts. I subscribe to the free ones and if I like them I either make a donation to that organization or if they have a higher level subscription rate that adds value I will buy that.

Some friends and I are going on a combination hiking and wine tasting trip to Portland, Oregon in April. The dates of our trip to Portland were chosen because of the half marathon that will take place there. The Portland, Oregon Race for the Roses will be held on April 15, 2007.

Only one of my traveling companions runs. She is a dedicated runner trying to run a half-marathon in each state over the next few years. The rest of us had planned to sleep in while she was running the race. But, when we went to the race web-site we saw that in addition to the half marathon there is a 5K walk/run which anyone can participate in. We have now changed our plans and rather than sleep in we will walk the 5K.

The Race for the Roses in Portland, Oregon benefits the Albertina Kerr Centers. Registration for the walk is $25 if done prior to April 2.

Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv was brought to my attention by a reader of Discover Walking. The book received such rave reviews by readers on other web-sites that I had to mention it here.

Richard Louv is the author of seven books that deal with family, nature and the community. Mr. Louv is a columnist with the San Diego Union-Tribune and has written for magazines and newspapers too numerous to mention here.

The following quote from the book says it all: "Healing the broken bond between our young and nature is in our self-interest, not only because aesthetics or justice demand it, but also because our mental, physical, and spiritual health depend upon it."

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin has announced a new marathon to be run through downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The marathon will begin and end on Peachtree Street just north of Underground Atlanta. Atlanta is known for its expansive suburbs and expensive suburban real estate. Fewer know of the quaint and historic neighborhoods that are located in the city.

The new ING Georgia marathon will go through Sweet Auburn, Inman Park, Decatur, Druid Hills, Virginia-Highlands, Midtown and downtown Atlanta.

The exact route has not been published but runners will likely see Martin Luther King's birth home in Sweet Auburn, the eclectic city of Decatur and the funky stores and homes of Virgina-Higlands as well as the revitalized mid-town area.

Organizers are hoping that the Georgia Marathon will attract 15,000 participants for the marathon, half-marathon, wheelchair events and kids fun run.

Discover Walking has made it to print! One of Discover Walking's articles has been reprinted in Walk! Magazine. With the permission of Discover Walking, Cindi Leeman of Walk! Magazine reprinted our blog about the benefits of walking on the beach.

Walk! Magazine is a print publication that is mailed four times a year - Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall. The publishers are hoping to go to six times per year soon.

Walk! Magazine provides information to walkers of all shapes and sizes. Whether you are a competitive walker, racewalker or someone who walks for relaxation and a bit of fresh air after a long day in an office you will find something of interest in this magazine.

So, the fat man walking finally took his last steps on his walk across the country arriving in New York City on May 9, 2006. It took longer than anticipated, giving him time to assess his life and consider his future.

In the end it took Steve Vaught a little over a year to walk the 2,843 miles from San Diego to New York City. He entered New York like many tourists after being lost in New Jersey. What was different from most tourists to New York is that his arrival was met with a media frenzy. The Today Show, Oprah, Inside Edition and media from all over the world covered his arrival.

Was his journey an inspiration or a successful attempt to get media recognition? On the one hand, walking across the country to bring attention to obesity was an admirable goal and I believe Steve Vaught embraced his fat man persona. We may not all be fat, but we all have challenges in our lives. On the other hand there is no question that he has been enjoying his time in the spotlight and is savvy enough to take advantage of the opportunities that come with the attention.

Steve Vaught, also known as the fat man walking has become an international figure. Media from Europe, South America and Asia have all taken an interest in Steve's walk.

The BBC has referred to Steve as a "counter-culture American icon." People from all over Europe and as far away as Australia are following Steve Vaught's journey. Even an on-line newspaper from Africa is covering the fat man's walk.

Steve is now in rural New Jersey, yes there are parts of New Jersey that are still considered to be "country". As of today, May 5 (2006), he still has about 65 miles to go and will have to push hard to make it into the city on time.

Simon Deng and his Freedom Walkers completed their 300 mile walk on Wednesday, April 5, 2006. They were greeted in Washington D.C. by senators and human rights activists. The walk took 21 days.

"I walked to be the voice of those who have no voice" Deng said at a rally, speaking for the hundreds of thousands suffering in modern day slavery and human rights abuses in Sudan.

On April 5, 2006, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act. The act authorizes sanctions against those responsible for the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan.

According to Isaac Rowlett, president of STAND at New York University, "The walk went incredibly well. We had swelling numbers of people come out to provide us with places to stay, good food, and with warmth and love. It's been a definite success."

The most appealing aspect of Steve Vaught's (aka The Fat Man Walking) walk across America is that he is completing his walk as many of us would. He did not set off on the first day and walk uninterrupted from California to New York. As with most of us life got in the way preventing a direct route. There have been physical ailments, personal issues and a change in goals that prevented Steve Vaught from reaching New York City by April, 2006.

The Fat Man Walking restarted his walk and is now in West Virginia. He has completed approximately 2409 miles and has about 406 to go before he reaches New York City. Steve Vaught estimates that it will take about 4 more weeks to complete his walk.

When Steve began his walk he weighed 410 pounds and is now down to 282 pounds. Along the way he has gained a sense of humor saying that with all the stopping and starting and visiting with the new friends he is making on the way he will get to New York City when he is 52. He is 39 now.

Human rights activist Simon Deng is walking 300 miles (482 km) from New York to Washington, DC. The "Freedom Walk" will end in Washington on April 5, 2006. Joining Simon Deng on his walk is ex-NBA basketball star Manute Bol.

The walk is a call to action to end the crisis in Darfur and to bring an end to slavery in the Sudan.  Mr. Deng and Mr. Bol are both from the southern Sudan and are calling on the United States to take action.

Simon Deng was taken from his home in southern Sudan as a child by an Arab family from the north. He escaped several years later and was granted political asylum in the US in 1980.

Steve Vaught, also known as the Fat Man Walking made it as far as Englewood, Ohio before deciding it was time to head to the gym. A message on his web-site says that Steve will be off the road for 21 days while he goes to the gym to work on upper body development, portion control and better physical conditioning under the direction of a trainer.

What is the reason for the break? Despite all his walking the fat man walking is, well, still fat, especially around the middle. Steve recognizes that physical fitness is a result of more than just cardio and has taken time off to focus on total fitness and diet. Many of us have found that you need to include different activities in your fitness plans to continue to see the benefits.

The fat man walking has developed a loyal following with the media tracking his every move. He has appeared on numerous national TV shows, been the topic of articles in newspapers and now has a deal to write a book.

Steve Vaught, better know as the fat man walking has passed both the 2,000 mile mark and Terre Haute, Indiana. Steve has 800 miles to go before he reaches New York City on his journey from San Diego.

The fat man walking has continued to walk 6 or 7 hours per day, though there are many days when he walks longer. In an interview on NBC’s Today show Steve said that he had met more nice people than not. Although this point was lost on a hotel manager who called the police because she thought Steve looked like a bum. To his credit Steve took all this calmly.

Steve also noted that until yesterday the weather had been nice for the most part. He felt like a “warm front was following him.”

If you want to lose weight grab the leash and head out your door with your best friend. Walking with your dog is healthy for both you and your dog.

A study conducted by the University of Missouri-Columbia shows that dogs help their owners lose weight. Rebecca Johnson, an associate professor of nursing and the director of the College of Veterinary Medicine's Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction says "our goal was to look for ways to increase the average exercise regimen, and we found being responsible for a pet, such as committing to walk a loaner dog, encouraged people who did not own dogs to walk more often and for longer periods of time."

By now most people have heard of Steve Vaught a "portly" man who has embarked on a walk across the US. Steve is known as "The Fat Man Walking" and has captured the imagination of the public and the attention of the media.

Who is the "fat man walking"? Steve Vaught is 39 years old and married with two children. When he started his walk on April 10, 2005, he weighed upwards of 400 pounds. He has since lost somewhere around 50 pounds on his walk from San Diego to New York City. Steve is about halfway there: he has completed 1409 miles and still has 1407 miles to go. He is now in Oklahoma.

Scientists have long known that walking and other light exercise is good for your heart, now they are finding out that it may be good for your brain as well.

A number of studies have come out in the past year that show a link between a lack of exercise and the onset of dementia.  Dementia may occur as the result of Alzheimer's disease as well as other diseases.

In a study of over 2,200 retired men between 71 and 93 years of age it was shown that those who walked less than a quarter of a mile per day were more likely to develop dementia than men who walked more than two miles per day.

Oregon Research Institute studied 108 people who were over 60 years of age for the health benefits of walking on cobblestones.  They came up with this wild idea after watching children and adults walking, exercising and dancing on cobblestone paths in China.

The Chinese believe that walking on cobblestones activates acupoints on the feet.  Acupressure and acupuncture specialists say that points on the feet, hands, ears and other areas of body relate to specific organs, flow of energy and functions of the body.  A trained practioner activates these points to improve the health of their patients.

For 16 weeks, the researchers studied this Chinese theory that cobblestone walking was good for health by having ½ of their subjects walk on cobblestones for exercise. These subjects wore socks or were barefoot on a specially designed cobblestone like surface for exercise. The control group walked on traditional walking paths.

Oregon Research Institute studied 108 people who were over 60 years of age for the health benefits of walking on cobblestones.  They came up with this wild idea after watching children and adults walking, exercising and dancing on cobblestone paths in China.

The Chinese believe that walking on cobblestones activates acupoints on the feet.  Acupressure and acupuncture specialists say that points on the feet, hands, ears and other areas of body relate to specific organs, flow of energy and functions of the body.  A trained practioner activates these points to improve the health of their patients.

For 16 weeks, the researchers studied this Chinese theory that cobblestone walking was good for health by having ½ of their subjects walk on cobblestones for exercise. These subjects wore socks or were barefoot on a specially designed cobblestone like surface for exercise. The control group walked on traditional walking paths.

Many fitness plans include aerobic exercise for overall health benefits.  Often walkers like to spend at least some of their walking time breaking a sweat.

Building up to a speed that will get the old heart pumping is a more difficult affair for obese walkers.  In fact, those overweight often cite the impossibility of walking at any real speed as their reason to put off beginning an exercise program.

Now there is good news for those who are overweight.  A new study, performed by  Ray Browning a doctoral student at the University of Colorado, indicates that obese walkers can actually gain greater benefits from walking at slower speeds!

According to a recent study at the University of Tennessee, Amish have the ultimate fitness plan with real results.  Amish statistics from this study are difficult to refute.  Only four percent in the Amish community suffers from obesity, compared to a third of the American mainstream population.

The Amish fitness plan is as old as the land on which they live.  Unlike modern diets and fitness plans, which seem to offer up a new fad every other week, the Amish plan relies on the simple truth that should be the foundation of any diet that is going to be successful.  The Amish plan is a lifestyle that expends more calories in their daily activities than they consume.

Belgian scientists recently studied the amazing Sherpas. Sherpas are Himalayan porters who are famed for carrying heavy loads slowly up steep mountainous inclines. Male and female Sherpas carry loads above and beyond their body weights from before dawn to after dusk.

The Belgian study included children as young as eleven and mature Sherpas as old as sixty-eight. The scientists witnessed that the Sherpa's walk for 15 seconds and rest for 45 seconds.

The scientists believe that the integration of the Sherpa's head into their carrying system has raised their centre of gravity. Somehow this allows them to carry heavier loads more easily.