Video: Participants Find New Routes, Routines on National Start! W...( DALLAS April 7 /- From Los Angele...),Health

DALLAS, April 7 /PRNewswire/ -- From Los Angeles to New York, thousands will set off on a new path to fitness tomorrow.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/americanheartassociation/37624/

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090407/NY95533 )

It's part of the American Heart Association's National Start! Walking Day, when people from all walks of life will trek 30 minutes on paths that cities across the country deem "walker friendly."

The American Heart Association has also collaborated with the American Council on Exercise (ACE), America's leading fitness authority, to develop walking plans for people at various ability levels who want a physical activity routine. The free, downloadable plans and a list of walking paths in various cities are available at startwalkingnow.org

Start! is an American Heart Association program that promotes walking as an activity because it's accessible, free and has the lowest dropout rate of any type of exercise.

"Start! is excellent because of its simple message - walk to improve your health," said Joy Bauer, national spokesperson for Start! and one of the nation's leading fitness and nutrition authorities. "Start! is a realistic way to stay physically active and dramatically lower health risks. I am thrilled to be a part of this movement and encourage everyone to get out there and walk."

A person is 1.5 to 2.4 times more likely to have coronary heart disease if he or she is inactive. But walking vigorously for 30 minutes a day, or at least 2 1/2 hours a week, reduces the risk of coronary heart disease, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol and reduces chances of breast and colon c
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