Volksmarching to Zion

 

Volksmarching began in Germany in 1968 and is now an ongoing activity in 40 countries.  (More here)  Basically, it’s a guided walk of either 5 or 10 km (that’s 3.1 or 6.2 miles for the metrically challenged—in other words, for you Americans). 

There are two types of walks: traditional events and year-round-events.  Traditional events occur on a certain date at certain hours and have water and hard candy available and the route is usually marked with chalk arrows.  Year-round-events (YRE’s) are set up by Volksmarch clubs as self-service walks, therefore you bring your own water and follow a sheet of instructions.  

 

Sometimes this turns into a walk of faith, because the sheet of instructions isn’t always as up-to-date as it needs to be and might not take into account things like road name changes and construction sites. 

 The YRE we chose for today began at the College Park Airport Operations Center

skirted by Lake Artemesia

wandered around the University of Maryland campus (my alma mater)

 

then crossed over the Green Line before finishing back at the airport.

 

Our goal? FUN and FITNESS!  We are marching to Zion….Really!  We have a Trip-of-a-Lifetime (according to RoadScholar) scheduled, and DH [dear husband] and I both want to be feeling strong and physically fit for lots of walking in the Holy Lands.  And what a great motivation for fitness—looking forward to walking where JESUS walked!

So today was SERIOUS EXERCISE and not so much bird-stalking.

 

(But of course, there are always a few critters to enjoy along the way.)

We’re marching to Zion
Beautiful, beautiful Zion,
We’re marching upward to Zion,
The beautiful city of God.

MAY YOU WALK WITH HEADS HELD HIGH AND LOOK AT THE BIRDS.
(LEVITICUS 26:13 AND MATTHEW 6:26)

 

Interested in finding a Volksmarch and giving it a try?  Many walks are completely strollerable if you have small children, and you can always do a 5K.  Click here.