If you’re looking for motivation to rack up more miles, the AVA program may be just what the doctor ordered. Any walk that’s registered with the AVA (American Volkssport Association) is assigned a walk stamp. The stamp has the year on it, the country (the group is international) and a unique number. Completing a walk and stamping your log book with that walk’s stamp is akin to getting a T-shirt or medal at a race. It’s downright addictive.
When you've filled up a logbook you turn it in to get a patch, pin and certificate for your level of achievement. All registered walks are at least 6 miles (10K), though many now offer a 5K option too.
Footsore Fiends supports this program by registering all our walks so that you can get a stamp if you wish. When we attend walks put on by other clubs, they usually have walk stamps, too.
Participation is of course optional for our walkers. I'm hooked on it because I've walked many more miles than I ever would have without it. It's easy to set goals and to look back and see the walks I did in the past. I’m at 7000 kilometers in my AVA book – and counting.
To check out the 2000+ registered walks in the US visit www.ava.org. Footsore Fiends can get you started with your first log books – just ask about it at a group walk or use the info on our contact page.
Footsore Fiends has its own incentive program for 2009. We have 16 featured walks. They include routes in La Jolla, San Diego’s Mission Bay Park, Daley Ranch, Lake Hodges and Torrey Pines State Reserve among others. Walk at least 13 of these in 2009 and we’ll give you a free “Walking Fiend 2009” patch.