A three-part wellness series, “Talk and Walk with A Doc,” launches Saturday, May 20, at the Marconi Station Site in Wellfleet, sponsored by Cape Cod Healthcare. The rain date is Sunday, May 21.
Cape Cod Healthcare cardiologist Dr. Elissa Thompson, a Cape Cod National Seashore ranger and Nordic walking experts will team up for short talks and a walk. The event will begin with casual, informative talks from Daniel Blankenship of the National Seashore and Sue Moynihan and Carla Fogaren of the Cape Cod Nordic Walking Club. Participants will then walk the trail or path of their choosing. Following the ranger-guided walk, participants are invited to listen to Dr. Thompson’s talk, “Stepping into a Healthier Lifestyle: The Cardiac Benefits of Walking,” followed by a Q&A session.
Bring a chair or blanket for the talk portion of the program. There will be three walking options: Cedar Swamp Trail (about 1.3 miles); an accessible trail to the beach overlook platform (1.25 miles); or a walk to Marconi headquarters station site and back (1.5 miles—ideal for those who prefer to be on level ground).
The event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required, but it’s helpful to register in order to receive updates and information in the event of a rain delay or postponement.
“Talk and Walk with a Doc” is an outdoor wellness series at the National Seashore offered as part of the Healthy Parks, Healthy People program, which is entering its ninth season as a partnership between Cape Cod Healthcare and the Cape Cod National Seashore. The program encourages outdoor exercise and exposure to nature through parks and public lands as a way to maintain good health, featuring the local resources of the trails, facilities and staff of the National Park Service. The series will cover a variety of topics, from nutrition and exercise to mindfulness and sleep.
“Studies have shown that outdoor exercise provides many physical and mental health benefits, including lower rates of heart disease, stroke, obesity, stress and depression,” says Michael Lauf, President and CEO of Cape Cod Healthcare. “Our long-term partnership with the Cape Cod National Seashore demonstrates our commitment to encouraging residents and visitors to enjoy the benefits of nature right here on Cape Cod as a way to help improve their well-being.”
“Talk and Walk with a Doc” events will run in May, August and September 2023 as part of the overall Healthy Parks, Healthy People season-long program, which includes access to NPS- hosted programs, the park “prescription” for good health and self-guided trail walks at the park.
For more information and to register, visit www.capecodhealth.org/healthyparks
