The Ultimate Community Challenge, pitting Cooperstown's walkers against Windsor, Nova Scotia's in a virtual footrace, has ended with Windsor arriving in Cooperstown first.

After out-walking Cooperstown, VanEssa Roberts, Economic Development Director of Windsor, revealed that our twin community is ranked the fifth fittest community in Canada, according to Statistics Canada 2001. Hmmm ... I suppose all is fair in love and fitness.

Cooperstown walkers will now have to brush up on the lyrics to "O Canada" as dictated in the challenge rules. The songfest is scheduled next month during the Walking Example Group's March event, The March March.

A rematch is assured.

During a winter of winters, with thigh-high snow and frigid temperatures, Cooperstown walkers logged an impressive 6,989,025 steps, roughly 3500 miles. The total is still unofficial as we await more step submissions.

All participants triumphed during the contest, adding or maintaining activity during a challenging winter. Now that the official contest is over, everyone is encouraged to keep up their steps and submit them to the WE GO website www.stridewithpride.org.

The numbers will be posted and the aggregate total plotted on a new map, starting at our last destination, Seattle, Wash. The new virtual route will head south through California, traverse the southern United States and then up the eastern seaboard.

Three weeks of intentionally walking is the start of a good habit. If you prefer the incentive of competition, set up a friendly one with your co-workers. In this sort of contest, everyone wins.

Well done, Team Cooperstown!

Top Ten Challenge Walkers: Darlene Harris, Herb Marx, Pat Thorpe, Lin Quinlan, Nancy Herman, Claudette Burke, Bill Gates, Emery Herman, Bobbie Reed, Brenda Berstler.

Clark Sports Center Walkers (over 10 miles per week): Carol Butts, Laura Carter, Tony Corso, Mel Zimmerman.

Brenda Berstler is founder of The Walking Example Group.