The concept of Walking Wednesdays originated after three retirees took an after-breakfast, 4.13-mile walk, on the Vollmer Grove Trail in Matteson, IL. After feeling energized from their walk, the three retirees thought about the healthier lifestyle that other retirees could benefit from simply by joining them. So the following month on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, the first Walking Wednesdays took place at Morgan Park High School’s outdoor track, in Chicago, IL. Several other retirees joined them. When the season changed to colder temperatures a couple of months later, the weekly walks shifted to the Dr. Conrad Worrill Track & Field Center’s, state-of-the-art indoor track, in Chicago, IL. These weekly fitness walks have gone on consistently since that initial date, and have included 30-plus walkers, joggers, and runners. Over time, the weekly fitness walks have evolved to include stretching and various exercises like burpees, suicide sprints, sideswipes, squats, and TRX suspension training, just to name a few. On occasion, several walkers would also frequent the Swallow Cliff Stairs in Palos Park, IL, for a more challenging and rigorous workout.