Tag Archives: walking

“Where’s Woody?” Michigan man to walk 2,000+ miles for mental health awareness

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By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


#WOODYWALKS in Murg, Switzerland (Courtesy, Ellis)

One man, 2 feet, 2+ years, 2,000+ miles – and a cause.

Woody Ellis begins his trek across the United States with the Mackinac Bridge Walk on Sept. 2 in an effort to combat stigma surrounding mental illness.

With a family history of dementia and schizophrenia, losing family and close friends to suicide and struggling against depression himself, Ellis often feels overwhelmed by the prevalence of mental illness.

“I’m seeing a lot of these types of things,” said Ellis. “The older you get, the more stuff you see, and more stuff happens to your loved ones. It’s starting to be a lot.”

And when Ellis feels overwhelmed, he travels.

“It takes my mind off things,” said Ellis. “I just need a reset.”

Though that “reset” is an act of mental self-preservation, Ellis battles guilt when he travels and leaves loved ones behind. That feeling of selfishness prompted Ellis to found #WOODYWALKS.

“How can I explore but also help some of the causes that are affecting so many people I know?” said Ellis. “I figured a way to do both things was to do something extreme that would draw attention and raise money for some really good organizations related to these causes.”

#WOODYWALKS was born.

Ellis is expecting the #WOODYWALKS journey to take anywhere from 2 to 3 years. Though he plans to hike an average of 10-15 miles per day, they may not be consecutive miles.

“A big part of it for me is enjoying the experiences I have along the way,” said Ellis. “So I’m going to be open to saying ‘yes’ to things along the way because part of it is interacting with strangers and spreading joy, smiles, laughter, hugs and all that kind of stuff.

“I also may stray away from the trail at times, and then pick back up where I leave off.”


#WOODYWALKS in Guatape, Columbia (Courtesy, Ellis)

Daring to be different

Forty-three-year-old Ellis has never been one to follow the beaten path.

“I’ve always been a unique individual. I really fly by the seat of my pants,” said Ellis, adding that he was not made for the 9 to 5 way of life.

“As soon as they started telling me that’s the only way to do it, I started exploring other ways. That was my initial inspiration to be different.”

In 2016, Ellis took a 60-hour train ride from Chicago to Vancouver, where he lived on a floating wharf on an uninhabited island. He has been solo traveling around the world ever since.

The upcoming #WOODYWALKS adventure will, in large part, also be traveled solo.

“It’s never been a problem to be by myself…that’s the type of person I am,” said Ellis.


#WOODYWALKS in Toubkal (Courtesy, Ellis)

Where’s Woody?

Ellis decided to begin his cross-country adventure with the annual Bridge Walk.

“I looked at the date and it fit my timing,” said Ellis. “Because I’ve lived in Michigan my whole life, I felt like that was a really good way to send me off.”

Ellis will then travel west through the Upper Peninsula and Wisconsin. From there, he will head south, then west again to take advantage of better weather.


#WOODYWALKS in Zambujeira, Portugal (Courtesy, Ellis)

Walking trailers and…a hammock?

“For the most part I’m going to be hammock camping and exchanging services, or cooking dinner, for strangers if they can provide a couple of trees for me to hang my hammock.”

Not only will Ellis be toting a hammock, he will also be hauling a variety of hiking supplies.

Those supplies include a sleeping bag, camping pillow, Jetboil cooking system, one pot, utensils, a headlamp, an extra blanket, clothes, a water filter, a water pouch, hiking boots and camera equipment.

Ellis realized carrying that much weight on his back would not allow him to travel far and began searching for solutions.

He found HipStar.

Specializing in walking trailers, HipStar designed a hands-free trailer with a belt that fastens around the traveler’s waist.

“It takes all the weight off your back and puts it on your lower half,” said Ellis. “This trailer is definitely a game changer.”


#WOODYWALKS in Hawaii (Courtesy, Ellis)

Smile for the camera!

Throughout his journey, Ellis plans to capture the experience with his iPhone camera and share pictures and short videos.

“I’ll be doing diary videos where I’m talking about my experiences,” said Ellis.

He plans to include footage of setting up camp, making dinner (“I always have to get creative with meals”), getting water from a river with a water filter, interactions with people, campfire  interviews related to mental health…and, of course, walking.

“Pretty much a little bit of everything so people can vicariously come along,” said Ellis.

#WOODYWALKS footage will be posted to Ellis’ social media channels and in the #WOODYWALKS newsletter. Social media and newsletter links can be found on the #WOODYWALKS website home page.


#WOODYWALKS in Dubruvnik (Courtesy, Ellis)

Join Woody’s adventure!

#WOODYWALKS is a community endeavor, with several options for people to support mental health charities and interact with Ellis on his journey.

“There are multiple ways on my website to support,” said Ellis. “I have charities picked out and have pages for each charity. They can donate directly to the charity.”

There is also an option to donate directly to the #WOODYWALKS project to help alleviate trip expenses.

“I’m not going to be working any of my current jobs; this is going to be my full-time job. I’m going to be editing movies and content, which is work on its own.”

People can support the charity of their choice by signing up to walk with Ellis. “If people join me, whether it be for a week or a month at a time, I will focus entirely on the charity of their choice during the time they’re with me.”


#WOODYWALKS in the village of Mousehole in Cornwall, England (Courtesy, Ellis)


Also on the website is an option to host Ellis.

“If people are aware that I’m coming ahead of time, they can tell me where they are along my route and I can stop for a night or two,” said Ellis.

Brand sponsorships are available for businesses, and #WOODYWALKS t-shirts are available for purchase as well, with proceeds supporting the #WOODYWALKS mission.

Ellis will be wearing #WOODYWALKS t-shirts throughout the journey to ignite curiosity and interest.

“I want [people] to ask me what I’m doing and strike up conversations.”

Where will Woody walk next?

Though Ellis has no concrete plans after completing #WOODYWALKS, he will continue to travel – and give back.

“I would like to do other projects similar to this where it involves giving back, and also related to things that I’m passionate about,” said Ellis. “It’ll definitely involve traveling and doing something good for communities.”

World traveler Woody Ellis talks about his upcoming 2,000+ mile hike across the United States with WKTV Managing Editor Deborah Reed

Documentary follows resident’s journey of walking the Lake Michigan coastline

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Micah Rynders and Jacob Penning met up during Penning’s walk along the coast of Lake Michigan. (From The Middle Coast)

By Anna Johns

WKTV Intern

The Lake Michigan coastline is one of Michigan’s most treasured places. Every year visitors walk a portion of its shore and take in the beautiful sites. But how many can say they have hiked the 473 miles from the Indiana border to Mackinaw City?

West Michigan native and Grand Rapids Christian graduate Jacob Penning can make that claim. With friend and former WKTV intern Micah Rynders, he produced the documentary “The Middle Coast” to share his story. That documentary, “The Middle Coast,” premieres Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. on WKTV Channel 25 with re-air dates Sept. 9 at 1 a.m. and Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. 

The West Michigan coastline. (From The Middle Coast)

On July 9, 2018, Penning started at the Indiana border and headed north on his hike which spanned four weeks. With no trail, he embarked on a solo hike along the Michigan lakeshore documenting every step of the way. The hike was rough and Penning needed to rely on the help of Michigan residents to complete his journey.

“In the summer of 2017, I hiked the Colorado trail, an 484-mile walk across the width of the state,” Penning wrote in an email to WKTV. He is currently traveling through Montana. “Looking at a map of the coast of Michigan, and measuring the distance from the boarder of Indiana to the bridge, I found it was almost exactly the same distance as my hike in Colorado. Having already walked that far before, and seeing how follow-able the coast was with constant access to water and many cities to resupply food, I knew that it could be done.”

Coming up to Big Red in Holland. (From The Middle Coast)

During his journey, he spent his nights resting at campsites and friends’ homes. Along the way, there was no shortage of familiar faces from catching his old teacher at the beach to finding his former neighbors at a campground.

“There was not an ugly place along the entire coastline,” Penning wrote. “Every part of the coast is uniquely beautiful.”

Penning made sure to take his time hiking the coast so he could stop at some of the state parks and cities along the way. From taking a jeep ride over the Silver Lake Sand Dunes to exploring Traverse City, he had his fair share of adventures.

“Muskegon State Park surprised me with its beautiful dunes and forests,” he said. “Crossing most every river channel was done by hitchhiking boats to get a ride across, this happened without fail every time that I needed it, usually from the first boat that passed by.”

The challenge was the actual hike, Penning said. Hiking 20-plus miles day after day is taxing on the mind and body and requires perseverance and determination when the end seems so far away, he said.

“I don’t think he ever actually felt negatively about the journey, nor do I think he ever really felt alone,” Rynders said. “I think he looks back on the whole journey with awe and excitement so much more than he thinks anything negative about any of it.”



The entire production was filmed predominately on a GoPro with close up shots done on a Sony mirror-less camera, as well as drone footage shot by Rynders. When all was done, they had hours of footage. The goal was to submit the film to the Banff Mountain Film Festival, the world’s largest mountain film festival, and to do that they needed to cut the footage down to 20 minutes. This took an excessive amount of time, however, in the end they believe the finished product exceeded their expectations, Rynders said. They will know in October if the film made it as a finalist.


In a few weeks, Penning said he will be moving to Ethiopia to produce music and spread the gospel in the capital of Addis Ababa for the next year. Penning and Rynders also are “dreaming” about their next project, so “more adventures are on the horizon,” according to Penning.

The end of the line: Jacob Penning touches the Mackinac Bridge to signal the end of his 473-mile journey along Lake Michigan’s coastline. (From The Middle Coast)

How to start exercising when you’re out of shape

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The easiest way to get started is with walking because it’s low-impact and low-risk, and all you need is a pair of supportive walking or running shoes. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Len Canter, HealthDay

 

Though you may face challenges if you’re carrying excess weight or haven’t been active in a long time, you can still get fit and gain all the benefits that exercise has to offer.

 

The easiest way to get started is with walking because it’s low-impact and low-risk, and all you need is a pair of supportive walking or running shoes.

 

Begin by scheduling one dedicated walk each day, and then find opportunities to take additional steps, like going window-shopping at lunch or walking in place instead of sitting while watching TV. You might like the impetus of a home treadmill, which you can set at a slow speed to start.

Our Take

The most important thing is to set up “accountability measures” like telling loved ones of your goals and scheduling exercise time into your calendar each day, said Phillip Adler, a certified athletic trainer with the Spectrum Health Medical Group Sports Medicine Program.

 

“We all have cell phones: Write it into your schedule and set reminders. That’s the first step,” Adler said.

 

In addition, telling people of your goals creates “that second layer of accountability” because now there are people who expect you to workout and will encourage you to stay on your plan.

Another simple way to exercise at home is to get more dynamic with everyday activities. For example, pick up the pace as you do household chores, and work in sessions that are at least 10 minutes long.

 

You can also dive into exercise by working out in water, whether you swim or take a water fitness class. Water makes you feel lighter and more agile, so many people find it easier to move in a pool than on dry land.

 

Riding a stationary bike is also less strenuous on your body than weight-bearing exercises, even walking. Try a recumbent bike; its seat is lower to the ground and your legs will be extended, which may feel more comfortable to you.

 

Just don’t let enthusiasm put you at risk of burnout by doing too much too soon. Increase the length and the intensity of your workouts at a slow, steady pace as you progress.

 

Learn more about programs, classes and services offered by Spectrum Health Medical Group Sports Medicine and Spectrum Health Healthier Communities.

 

Published with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

Metro Health Village: Go the extra mile for better health

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metro-health-a-great-place-to-walkBy Metro Health-University of Michigan Health

 

Walking is as simple as it gets for a gentle, low-impact exercise that just about anyone can enjoy. In fact, walking can help prevent and improve many common health issues like heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis and depression, to name a few. All you need is a good, supportive pair of walking shoes and a safe place to walk, like Metro Health Village, 5900 Byron Center Avenue in Wyoming.

 

Metro Health Village has a number of walking routes and even a bike trail — all perfect for an afternoon stroll with the kids or a quick, weeknight workout. Download a Walking/Bike Route map here.

 

Need a little push to get started? Check out the Couch to 5K Training Program. Even if you’re not looking to set any world records, this program will have you up and active in no time!

 

Motivation is key when starting a new physical activity. Here are some ideas to help you stay focused and interested every day:

  • Wear a pedometer. Increase your steps a little every day until you reach the recommended 10,000 steps a day.
  • Get a walking partner – a friend, spouse, child, even the dog!
  • Sign up for a race or charity walk like the Metro Way 5K & Family Fun Run or the American Heart Association Heart Walk. An upcoming event gives you a goal to reach.
  • Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
  • Park farther from the door when running errands.
  • Plan a walking meeting at work.

Walking Safety Tips

Above all, it’s important to stay safe, no matter where or when you walk.

  • Walk with a buddy whenever possible.
  • Carry your name, address and a friend or relative’s phone number in your shoe or pocket.
  • Wear a medical bracelet if you have diabetes, an allergy or other condition.
  • Carry a cell phone, and let someone know you’re walking routes.
  • Avoid deserted or unlit streets, especially after dark.
  • Do not use headsets that prevent you from hearing traffic.
  • Always walk on the sidewalk; if there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
  • Stand clear of buses, hedges, parked cars or other obstacles before crossing so drivers can see you.
  • Cross streets at marked crosswalks or intersections, if possible.