"Keep off your foot for a couple of weeks," the doctor instructed me.

What? Keep off my foot? Oh, you must mean cut back a few thousand steps a day.

"No, I mean keep off your foot for a couple of weeks."

The good doctor obviously didn't know who he was addressing. The founder of The Walking Example Group cannot pull up lame.

How about circuit training? I can still run in place, right?

At this point the doctor adopted a tone usually reserved for a stubborn four-year-old.

"No, keep off your foot. Get a stack of books, watch some TV. Keep the pressure off until it heals. "

Who, me? A little over a year ago, when I was well on my way to middle-aged slugdom and a couch potato of the first order, I started walking. As I reaped its many physical and social health benefits, I added circuit training, weightlifting, roller-skating, contra dancing, and kayaking. Brad Feik, the director of the Clark Sports Center is right; activity is pleasantly addictive. For over a year I've enjoyed getting off the sedentary dime. Now I have to slow down?

I walk. It's what I do, it's what I encourage everyone to do. I'm convinced that a return to routine walking, preserving and creating walkable communities and establishing a network of multi-use trails connecting them will improve fitness, help prevent diabetes and heart disease, clean our air and water, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and ultimately save the world. Well, at least make our corner of it a little better, anyway.

The inflamed fascia on the bottom of my left foot is obviously out of the loop.

During my crash course in Foot Health 101, I learned that the plantar fascia is the big supportive band that runs from the heel to the toes. It maintains the arch of the foot. If it gets pulled away from the heel bone it gets inflamed and causes pain. Some days it caused a lot of pain. At first it was just annoying, but I'm no wimp; I could ignore it or rise above it. I did, too, for about four months until the pain was excruciating and the thought of taking a single step, let alone 10,000, made me wince.

Sometimes fortitude is folly.

Here's a health hint: If you have pain in your foot, do not wait four months before seeing a doctor. They're good at this and they can prescribe a whole list of therapies to get you back in step. And take heart; fasciitis is common among active people and sports participants, so you're in fine company. Concentrate on what you can do In the meantime: cycling, swimming, weights, canoeing or kayaking.

And, in spite of your stubborn four year-old child within, do what the doctor tells you.

Brenda Berstler is the founder of the Walking Example Group (WE-GO) a non-profit organization encouraging walking and walkable communities. Visit their website at www.we-go.org.