A community walk brings all levels together for fitness and fun

On the Rail Trail in Chestertown, you may notice a group of walkers with a little extra pep in their step. Some take on three miles or more while others walk at a leisurely pace. These walkers came together in mid-2020, ready to get active in a time when isolation and the unknown presented real challenges to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

“Not only were we struggling with the loss of normalcy, we were all declining mentally and physically,” said walk organizer Amanda Parks. “As soon as we could, I decided we would do a community walk. It was really helpful for people to socialize with one another and just to move.”

Now known as the Community Flock Walk, these community-building outings were the brainchild of Parks, a personal trainer in Chestertown. Parks always had an interest in health and wellness through her education and early career. She began working with clients as a personal trainer through her business, Fit Flock, in 2017 and decided to become a full-timer trainer in early 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to adapt her plans and the way she brought fitness to her community.

“They started allowing things outside,” she said. “I saw that the lack of physical movement, people being scared of the unknown, it was all causing detrimental health issues. The intention of the walks was that it would be a pandemic thing and we’d go back to our normal thing once everything loosened up.”

As more and more people attended the walks, including some becoming weekly regulars, the enthusiasm grew. Restrictions lifted but the spirit and community of the Community Flock Walk remained. So Parks made another big leap and decided to continue the twice weekly meetups. She still worked with clients as a trainer but the walks remained open to anyone in the community. The flock of walkers was thrilled!

“We get started when the clocks spring forward and meet every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30,” said Parks. “We meet at the Stepne Station on the Rail Trail and just walk. We talk about the community, local events, things happening in Chestertown and things that are happening in each others’ lives. It’s fun to see people from different backgrounds get together because they all enjoy the walk.”

Some walkers sport Community Flock Walk fanny packs, purchased with funds received from a grant in 2022, although most just come as they are for fresh air and fitness. The walks are free to the community and don’t require registration. All you have to do is show up and walk.

Parks found that making the walks accessible and welcoming to all levels of fitness served the community that she loved. A Kent County native, she invests her time in numerous other organizations, such as the United Way of Kent County.

“I’m from Kent County so helping this community is one of my top passions. My other top passion is helping people find ways to live their most healthy life. That’s going to be different for each person.”

As a personal trainer, Parks knows that the best fitness trends are the ones that you will stick with. Some people like running, others biking, others strength training. But walking is something that doesn’t require special equipment, training, or years of intense practice. That’s one reason that she organized the community walks.

“Everybody who is able can be walking,” she said. “It’s a functional movement that you need in life. A body in motion stays in motion. The longer you keep walking, the longer you can keep doing it.”

Walkers of all ages come out to enjoy their time together. Some are there twice each week while others only make it once a week or occasionally. Young adults in their 20s and 30s walk alongside retirees and parents pushing babies in strollers or ride-along toys. But all of these residents of Chestertown and nearby areas have one thing in common. They like to walk.

As the weather warms up, attendance at the Community Flock Walk tends to increase. Many walkers opt for the three-mile walk on the trail but some turn around at an earlier fork in the trail, walking for around a mile total. With the same starting and ending point, it is easy for each walker to set their own pace and distance. Many groups often form around pace and people are able to connect with other members of the community.

The Community Flock Walks don’t require any reservations or registration but you can get updates and reminders via Fit Flock on Facebook and @fitflockamanda on Instagram.

By :RyanHelfenbein

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