1.6 million steps — to the finish line

Walking over a million steps is a lot of work, but it can be done. Just ask Jocelyn Kawa.

The Stewart Elementary second-grade teacher walked around 1.6 million steps March 5-30 to be named one of the winners in the statewide Walk the Walk campaign, sponsored by Educators Mutual. This is the second year in a row Kawa participated.

"It was easier, in a way, for me this year because I knew what worked so I started from the first day," she said. "I did the treadmill a lot more and knew things to do with the kids at school."

Kawa's walking regime included an hour and a half walk on the treadmill in the morning and evening, walking for half an hour on the school's walking track before and after school, walking during all three recesses and going to P.E. with the second grades four times a week.

"I lost weight and my feet started hurting," she said. "For probably the first two weeks my thighs were sore, and the kids' legs were sore. I told them it will get better and it did."

For taking her 1.6 million steps, Kawa received a one-night stay at the Zermatt Spa and Resort in Midway with two spa treatments, massages and dinner. She also gets $500 for healthy activities for her class, which she used to take all the second-graders swimming at the South Davis Recreation Center. The remainder of the money was used to buy prizes for a second-grade 5K Walk/Run.

Kawa said it was interesting to see how excited the students got about participating with her in the campaign.

"I think they came to find out just moving can be fun," she said. "It's been fun to work together toward a goal. The kids are excited. They'd ask if we were still in first place, and we'd put up the number of steps."

Stewart Elementary is a Gold Medal Mile Initiative School so students are already encouraged to walk a lap each recess on the school's quarter-mile track. Walking with Kawa gave them even more incentive. Some students were even running 12-13 laps by the time the campaign was over.

"As we'd walk around, they would run or get ahead," Kawa said. "They always wanted to stay in front of me. ... It was fun to talk and get to know them while we were together."

Kawa feels it's important for schools to focus on students' physical as well as academic health, which is what the campaign promotes.

"So often we look at the academic part of the child, but we really do need to look at the physical aspect, especially with childhood obesity," she said. "It's something that's important too. It's been a good experience, and it helps motivate me."

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E-mail: twalquist@desnews.com