Airports get into fitness craze for stressed-out travelers

 

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Minneapolis-St. Paul's airport started its walking path as part of the American Heart Association's Start Walking program. The infrastructure was already there past security. All it had to do was delineate the path on overhead signs and on the terminal directory.

"The travelers benefit from having a set, measured exercise route, and the Airports Commission benefits from getting travelers to see more of the airport, including many of the shops and restaurants available that they might later decide to visit," says Patrick Hogan, a spokesman for the airport.

Says Beth Blair, a writer and flight attendant who often uses the path: "It's inspiring to watch passengers change shoes and hit the path during their layovers."

Walking it off

Some active Road Warriors say they don't need a gym or a walking path to fit in some exercise. They just walk through the terminals, avoiding the moving walkways, elevators and escalators. Some use their carry-on bags as weights.

Terry Buchen, a golf course agronomist in Williamsburg, Va., spends a lot of time at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. He doesn't take the train between terminals and walks instead, pulling a rolling bag and large briefcase for more exercise.

"I am always concerned about blood clots from sitting too long in airplanes," he says. "That is an added incentive for walking as much as possible in airports, which I feel makes the flights much easier."