Having a pedometer is like having a conscience attached to your waist.

Berstler, as many may already know, is the founder of the Cooperstown Walking Example Program. As such, she has already turned many residents on to the benefits of walking, including the staff at the Crier, who last week decided to sign up for the group's virtual community walk to Nova Scotia.

The challenge is to see which community can "walk" to the other in a shorter period of time. Berstler has also planned numerous walking tours of the village in her quest to get the community in step, and for those who haven't caught the fever now is the time, as Cooperstown trails Nova Scotia by close to 100 miles.

There is also a senior walking group that meets at the Clark Sports Center three times a week. Anyone needing any more motivation just need think of Ernie Polley, who walks two miles three times a week with the aid of a prosthesis. Or another senior walker, Linda Carter, who walks 60 laps-over three miles-three times a week.

In a walking example group program handout, Berstler explains that walking has numerous benefits, such as weight control, reduced incidence of major health problems, and elevated mood. Walking is also the cheapest and most accessible exercise and translates into a physically, mentally and physically healthier community, Berstler said.

Berstler and the group suggest accumulating 10,000 steps a day to get the recommended healthy activity for the day, and when you look down at 3 p.m. and see you only have 1,500 steps it's quite a motivator.

Another good idea is to have a challenge with friends or co-workers on who can accumulate the most steps. This is also good motivation, and achieves one of the program's other goals-socialization.

Of course it's tough this time of year to bundle up and go outside for a walk, but there are numerous ways to add steps to your day, such as: pacing while you are on the phone; walk during commercials; or purposely parking further away from where you are going.

Dr. Herbert Marx, cardiologist from Bassett Healthcare, completed 93,000 steps in the first week, and 90,500 in the second week. He stated that almost all of his steps were calculated while he was outdoors.

He also emphasized the importance of making exercise a yearly activity to prevent any future health issues.

The Walking program encourages interaction as much as it does exercise. For example, if you escape to the basement to ride a stationary bike or walk a treadmill, opt take a walk with someone instead.

However you choose to get your steps, Marx summed it up well by saying that the walking challenge, "gives people the nudge to stay active."