By Laura Hipshire
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

The day was hazy—not too cool and not too hot— perfect for an outdoor stroll. And that’s just what more than 85 residents and staff members from Fox Run set out to do recently as part of a state-wide effort to encourage the fitness value of walking.

The city of Novi is participating in the Walk Michigan program and sponsoring various walks throughout the community, one of which was held at Fox Run. The second annual Fox Run Fitness Walk was a great success this year, as walkers wearing matching neon-green tee-shirts (provided free to all participants) trekked down a one-mile route commencing at Meadowbrook Lane, in Novi.

“We had a good turnout,” says Arlon Quigley. He lives at Fox Run with his wife Peg, who also joined the walk.

“They had the road blocked off so there was a lot of room for everyone,” he says. “It was safe for everybody to go out there and participate.”

Walkers of all ages
Also joining them along the route were 30 fourth- and fifth-grade students from nearby Meadowbrook Elementary School.

“[Fox Run] wants to get people active and walking,” Mr. Quigley says. “I’m also involved in the walking club here [at Fox Run] … some walk inside; some walk outside.”

Participants in the walk also filled out cards to enter in a drawing for a 2008  Labor Day Bridge Walk Trip, including a four-day, three-night stay for two at a resort in Mackinac, Mich.

Couple plans to walk the ‘Mighty Mac’
Whether the Quigleys win the drawing or not, they’ve decided to plan a trip to the annual Mackinac Labor Day Walk this September.

Each Labor Day, walkers are traditionally led across the Mackinac Bridge, aka “The Mighty Mac,” by the governor of Michigan, (currently Jennifer M. Granholm). Typically 50,000 to 65,000 people participate in the five-mile walk. The Labor Day bridge walk is the sole exception to the rule prohibiting  pedestrians on the bridge.