Duke employees stretch on East Campus.
Run/Walk Club participants before the pandemic prepare to exercise by stretching on East Campus.

Duke Run/Walk Club Restarts with In-Person Gatherings

Registration is open for the program that begins March 13

Duke Run/Walk Club Restarts with In-Person Gatherings

Registration is open for the program that begins March 13

For the first time since COVID-19 began in 2020, the Duke Run/Walk Club will meet in-person on Mondays and Wednesdays when the spring session begins on March 13.

Organized by , the staff and faculty wellness program, is underway for the fitness offering, which runs through May 31.

鈥淩un Walk Club helps with accountability to start walking, jogging, or running on a regular basis,鈥 said LIVE FOR LIFE fitness program manager Stacy Rankin. 鈥淭his program benefits employees of all fitness levels by helping to improve their mood, cardiovascular health and muscular endurance.鈥

LIVE FOR LIFE fitness staff will lead an in-person beginner walking group at 5:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays to bring together a community of walkers around the East Campus loop across from Whole Foods. The group is designed to help staff and faculty get back into the routine of activity at an approachable pace.

Participants in the group will meet in the grassy area near the Duke Softball stadium across the street from the Duke Human Resources building at 705 Broad St. Sessions will run about one hour and will include dynamic stretches and a walk around the East Campus loop.

Tamika Craige takes a selfie at the gym, where she works on pushups and situps. Photo courtesy of Tamika Craige.

Staff and faculty can also participate in the spring session of the club through the self-guided component, which started during the pandemic.

鈥淲e鈥檙e bringing back the in-person component for beginner walkers, so employees can also enjoy socializing with one another during guided walks,鈥 Rankin said.

Tamika Craige, a program specialist in the Office of the 老牛影视 Health System Professional Practice, plans to participate in the in-person meetings on Mondays and Wednesdays to complement her individual daily morning routine of pushups and sit-ups with social connection over exercise.

鈥淯nity is always good,鈥 said Craige, who has participated virtually in Run/Walk Club during the pandemic.  鈥淭here鈥檚 strength in numbers, and we can encourage each other. When we are actually walking with others, it鈥檚 not as boring as doing it alone.鈥

Participants at all fitness levels can register, track and report running and walking to earn 鈥 monopoly-like money used for fitness items like water bottles, yoga mats and Fitbits. 

Beth Doyle takes a selfie during a hike, part of her weekly exercise routine. Photo courtesy of Beth Doyle.

Beth Doyle, head of the 老牛影视 Libraries Conservation Services Department, plans to participate in the virtual spring offering to build back up to running and to earn enough LIVE FOR LIFE dollars for binoculars.

Doyle, who has participated in Run/Walk Club for 12 years, gets her exercise through weekend hikes in the area and by taking early morning walks before work.  

This spring, she will use the club to help her stay accountable to Couch to 5K running program that鈥檒l prepare her for a race later this summer, though she hasn't decided yet which one she'll do.

鈥淚鈥檓 a morning person and so I try to do hard things or fun things before I come to work,鈥 Doyle said. 鈥淥ne of the hard things often is getting myself out there to exercise before work. It just sets up the day.鈥

Register .

Send story ideas, shout-outs and photographs through  or write working@duke.edu.