Eastside seniors get in step with healthier way of life

BELLEVUE

A lot of miles have been put on the soles of a lot of shoes at Bellevue Square - and not just by the folks who shopped till they dropped.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning for 13 years, Eastside seniors have been walking laps around the upper level in the hour and a half before the mall officially opens at 9:30 a.m.

Art Belcher, 78, is probably the star of the mall's Walk for Life program, having logged more than 11,300 miles since the program began in November 1986.

But many others have logged thousands of miles as participants in the free program, which is sponsored by Overlake Hospital Medical Center and the city of Bellevue. During the rainy season, between 75 and 150 seniors turn out on any given morning. Some speed along, putting in multiple one-mile laps; others move more slowly, including one who uses a walker and a couple who use canes.

So what's the appeal of walking in a mall?

"It's inside, it's dry, it's level, it's warm, it has bathrooms at each end," says Gib Andress, 75, who's been walking with his wife Lois, 72, for eight years.

For Bob Brown, 76, one of the best things about the program is it's there - it takes place at a specific time and place.

"When we don't come here," he says, "we'll say we're going to go for a walk today, but then there are things we need to do and pretty soon, by gosh, it's dark already and we haven't walked."

Adds his wife, Grace, 74: "It's safe, and it's dry - and it's Karen," referring to coordinator Karen Legg, who brings warmth and enthusiasm to her job of greeting people, helping them log in their miles and checking blood pressures for those who ask.

Grace Brown also likes the camaraderie. Indeed, many walkers cite getting together for coffee at the end of their walk as a key reason they participate - that and doctor's orders.

The Bellevue Square Walk for Life program is the Eastside's largest mall-walking program for seniors, but there are others.

The Bellevue Senior Center staffs programs at Crossroads Shopping Center and Factoria Mall, both of which are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

All of the programs are year-round.

Come summer, some people prefer to walk around their neighborhood or in a park, but others stick with the mall. The sun may be shining outside, but inside the mall there's no traffic, there's the warmth of fellow walkers - and there are still bathrooms at both ends. Barbara Brachtl's phone message number is 425-453-2130. Her e-mail address is bjbrachtl@cs.com

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Mall walking programs

Bellevue Square: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 8 to 9:30 a.m. Enter from south end of main garage on second level.

Crossroads Shopping Center: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Mall opens for breakfast and for unofficial walking at 7 a.m. seven days a week.

Factoria Mall: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Mall doors open at 7 a.m.