Beach Cities Step into 1st Place in Walking Challenge

More than 9,500 locals helped the Beach Cities community walk its way to victory in the annual nationwide .

The weeklong competition kicked off in April, encouraging residents and students to participate by walking more. By the end of the challenge, participants in Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, and Manhattan Beach walked a total of 340,694,677 steps.

The community took 1st Place for the third year in a row in the national competition, the announced Monday.

"It’s shocking how many—or how few—steps we take each day," said Lisa Santora, chief medical officer at the health district, in a statement. "Wearing a pedometer opens your eyes to how much daily activity we’re getting and challenging yourself to walk the recommended 70,000 steps in a week can also prove that it’s not that difficult. There’s no replacing the role of physical activity in creating a healthy beach community."

The walking competition is held annually by the Medical Fitness Association. Participants are encouraged to walk at least the 10,000 steps a day recommended by the U.S. Surgeon General.

Last year that 315,151,149 steps total were walked during the competition.

This year funding from Skechers and the Vitality City initiative helped the Beach Cities Health District to provide pedometers to more than 8,300 elementary and middle school students in the three Beach Cities.

Hermosa Beach student participation in the walking challenge rose by 49 percent, according to the health district.

"It is vital that students and families become aware of the important health benefits one can gain from daily exercise," just days before the walking contest began in April. "Walking to school not only allows families to do something good for their body and participate in a healthy lifestyle, but it also provides parents with quality time with their children."

This year's Steppin' Out challenge coincided with the launch of Walking Moais in the local area.

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