Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

STAYING FIT CAN BE A KIMBALL THING

If health, exercise or fitness appeared on your New Year's resolution list, then check out the many places in Kimball that will help you keep that resolution. Even when the wind is blowing 65 mph and the temperatures are below zero, there are places out of the weather to get your workout in.

Just ask Marie Janicek and Nancy Turner as they put in their daily 2 miles at Main Street Market. When the weather is good, you can see them walking outside, but for the past seven years, when winter comes and the wind is blowing, the two women have taken to the grocery store to get their workout in every day. They walk for an hour, which is about 2 miles or 20 laps, around the vegetables and frozen foods sections.

When entering the store, they are almost like celebrities as they stop and visit with employees. They both piped in, "We even know the vendors." As they tell everyone, "Good morning and Happy New year," they bring a certain joy to the store.

Marie is a firm believer in the power of exercise. She said, "It gets into your skin. I just feel better."

She also believes it helps her mental state of mind. Adding to the benefits, both women have arthritis, and they feel walking helps manage it.

As the duo remembered, they both were riding stationary bicycles. Nancy said, "That was boring." Marie said it hurt her back. So Marie decided to walk over to the grocery store, and Nancy was there, and that was miles and miles ago.

They like to walk in the morning because there aren't many people there at that time. Their exercise program has outlasted many of the employees at the store; they have seen a vast number of employees come and go.

They did confess that sometimes they do more talking than walking.

Other places to get motivated to exercise are the shelves of fitness, exercise and health books and DVDs at the Kimball Public Library.

In addition, Oliver Lake just west of Kimball is beautiful this time of year when the weather cooperates.

The Kimball Community Trail just south of town is another place to enjoy solitude and exercise.