116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Local Volkswalkers looking to head out on Amana trek at unique time Saturday
Volkswalkers across the country will step into motion at precisely 10:11 a.m. on Saturday Dec. 13, 2014 for the American Volksport Association's (AVA) national event 'Time to Walk.”
Together, 70 clubs across 39 states will attempt to break a record for the most people walking during a rare date and time pattern that won't occur for another 53 years: 10:11 12/13/14.
For those interested in participating in Eastern Iowa, the Hawkeye Hikers have extended a public invitation to join them in Amana, where they will meet at 9:30 a.m. at Colony Inn Restaurant before beginning their march around the Kolonieweg - a 3.1-mile trail which winds arounde Lily Lake abd the town's historic features.
Volksport originated in Germany in 1968 - making Amana a logical choice for the event, considering it's German Heritage.
Today the organization spans across 28 countries worldwide. Their mission is to promote physical fitness, fun and friendship for people of all ages and abilities through non-competitive exercise including walking - aka 'volksmarching” - bike riding, swimming and in some regions, cross country skiing and snowshoeing.
With thousands of mountain hikes and city trails spread throughout the world, the association's 400,000 members often find themselves exploring 'off the beaten path.”
According to the AVA, approximately 84% of volksmarchers regularly travel out of state to participate in events.
Beverly Prem, the Hawkeye Hikers 80-year-old president has walked in all 50 states and still regularly walks 10k events with the group. She said she's lost count of the places she's been able to see that she wouldn't have experienced had she not joined the Hikers.
The Hiker's 65-year-old secretary Nancy Pugh has traveled all the way to Europe in the 15 years she's walked with the organization - visiting trails in Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.
In addition to the unique travel opportunities and lifelong friends made through the organization, Pugh says the health benefits of regular exercise are undeniable.
'The whole nation needs to be more active,” said Pugh. 'This is one way to make walking more fun.”
Cows can be seen from the Amana Colonie's Kolonieweg—a 3.1 mile trail in the Amana Colonies on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014. The Hawkeye Hikers of Eastern Iowa will be walking the Kolonieweg during the American Volksport Association's 'Time to Walk' event on Saturday Dec. 13, 2014 at 10:11 a.m. in which 70 volkssport clubs across the nation will join in a walk during a rare time and date pattern (10-11-12-13-14) that won't occur for another 53 years. (Liz Zabel/The Gazette, KCRG-TV-9)
A map at the entrance of the Kolenieweg Recreational Trail in Amana. The Hawkeye Hikers of Eastern Iowa will be walking the Kolonieweg during the American Volksport Association's 'Time to Walk' event on Saturday Dec. 13, 2014 at 10:11 a.m. in which 70 volkssport clubs across the nation will join in a walk during a rare time and date pattern (10-11-12-13-14) that won't occur for another 53 years. (Liz Zabel/The Gazette, KCRG-TV-9)
The Colony Inn Restaurant where the Hawkeye Hikers will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday Dec. 13, 2014 in preparation for the American Volksport Association's 'Time to Walk' event on Saturday Dec. 13, 2014 at 10:11 a.m. in which 70 volkssport clubs across the nation will join in a walk during a rare time and date pattern (10-11-12-13-14) that won't occur for another 53 years. The Hikers will begin their walk at 10:11 a.m. and invite the public to join in the effort to break a record for the most people walking at one time. (Liz Zabel/The Gazette, KCRG-TV-9)
The Colony Inn Restaurant where the Hawkeye Hikers will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday Dec. 13, 2014 in preparation for the American Volksport Association's 'Time to Walk' event on Saturday Dec. 13, 2014 at 10:11 a.m. in which 70 volkssport clubs across the nation will join in a walk during a rare time and date pattern (10-11-12-13-14) that won't occur for another 53 years. The Hikers will begin their walk at 10:11 a.m. and invite the public to join in the effort to break a record for the most people walking at one time. (Liz Zabel/The Gazette, KCRG-TV-9)
The Kolonieweg in Amana, where the Hawkeye Hikers of Eastern Iowa will be walking during the American Volksport Association's 'Time to Walk' event on Saturday Dec. 13, 2014 at 10:11 a.m. in which 70 volkssport clubs across the nation will join in a walk during a rare time and date pattern (10-11-12-13-14) that won't occur for another 53 years. he Hikers will begin their walk at 10:11 a.m. and invite the public to join in the effort to break a record for the most people walking at one time. (Liz Zabel/The Gazette, KCRG-TV-9)
The Kolonieweg in Amana, where the Hawkeye Hikers of Eastern Iowa will be walking during the American Volksport Association's 'Time to Walk' event on Saturday Dec. 13, 2014 at 10:11 a.m. in which 70 volkssport clubs across the nation will join in a walk during a rare time and date pattern (10-11-12-13-14) that won't occur for another 53 years. he Hikers will begin their walk at 10:11 a.m. and invite the public to join in the effort to break a record for the most people walking at one time. (Liz Zabel/The Gazette, KCRG-TV-9)
Daily Newsletters