海角大神

Walking, talking, and bonding: Why social strolls are on the upswing

The temperature registers a toasty 102 degrees聽Fahrenheit as I step out of my car to meet a group of strangers.

It is just after 7 p.m. on a weekday in Las Vegas. At a sprawling suburban park, women wearing athletic shoes and attire are gathering at the front entrance. Some know each other. Many clutch water bottles.

For the newbies like myself, hats and T-shirts adorned with the 鈥淕irls Walk Vegas鈥� logo confirm we are in the right location.

鈥淲elcome, welcome! Thank you for coming,鈥� says Tera Richardson, one of the group鈥檚 leaders, as she gathers the walkers and offers a quick introduction. 鈥淲e walk about an hour, and we basically just walk and talk.鈥�

Before her warm welcome, regret had bubbled up, not unlike the sweat pouring from me. The ovenlike heat was making me question what drew me here in the first place. The short answer: social steps.

Experts extol the physical and mental health benefits of walking daily. What they sometimes leave out, however, is the missing ingredient of treadmill sessions or solo strolls. Walking, when done in the company of others, provides a prime social outlet, generally unencumbered by financial constraints or digital distractions.

I came across this group on Instagram, fed to me by the Oz-like 鈥済reat and powerful鈥� social media algorithms. In recent years, running clubs have made a splash in cities across the United States. Running and talking? Hard pass for me. But walking and talking? That I could do.

The group鈥檚 founder, Jasna Zejnilagic, wasn鈥檛 thinking about running clubs when she started Girls Walk Vegas last summer. It was another realization that put the idea in motion.

鈥淲e鈥檙e always either spending money, eating, or drinking,鈥� she says.

So Ms. Zejnilagic and two friends chose a park, started walking, and posted about it on social media. Momentum quickly grew, aided by a TikTok video that amassed several hundred thousand views. Suddenly, dozens of women were showing up. One walk reached close to 90 participants. Since then, Girls Walk Vegas has organized stationary meetups 鈥� an outing to a minor league baseball game, for instance 鈥� in addition to collaborations with like-minded groups geared toward hikers and runners.

It鈥檚 a shoestring effort, so to speak, to strengthen the social fabric among southern Nevada residents.

鈥淚 quickly learned that everybody wanted to do the same thing,鈥� Ms. Zejnilagic says. 鈥淭hey wanted community, they wanted to make new friends, and they wanted to be active.鈥�

On this summer evening, about 25 women of various ages and backgrounds set off on the paved trail. We meander through shady areas and sun-soaked patches, gradually breaking into small groups and multiple conversations as our step count increases.

鈥淗ow has it been for you adjusting to Las Vegas?鈥� Lorrea Corotan asks her walking buddy, Jess Conway.

Ms. Conway moved to Las Vegas from Seattle two weeks prior, lured by the city鈥檚 hundreds of sunny days each year. The 27-year-old says she left behind a large group of friends in the Pacific Northwest, so she immediately scoured 鈥� yes, you guessed it 鈥� social media looking for opportunities to meet people. As a remote worker, she knows meeting new friends won鈥檛 happen organically in an office setting. But the self-described extrovert has no qualms about inserting herself into unfamiliar settings if it can lead to friendships and fun.

鈥淥ne of my intentions coming out here was making sure I could build an equal or even better community of people,鈥� she says.

As we circle the park, occasionally dodging children on bicycles, the beauty of the walk emerges. No one needed the same reason to join. And no one needed to prove anything. One mother shares that it鈥檚 her opportunity for fresh air and adult conversations. A recent college graduate wants to branch out after losing her dormitory community. Several other women work from home and crave more physical activity.

Chelsea Haywood simply thought, 鈥淭his could be fun.鈥�

鈥淗onestly, it was hard the first time,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut I got motivated to keep coming back because everybody was just chilling and talkative.鈥�

Participants generally log 3 miles during the weekly meetup, but it鈥檚 a go-at-your-own-pace environment. Mary Miserda uses a rollator, a type of walker, when she participates. Overcome by gratitude for the group鈥檚 support, she recently hosted a get-together at her house. She wanted to thank her new friends for their encouragement and for 鈥渢aking care of me when my days are slow.鈥�

As her experience illustrates, the fringe benefits extend beyond exercise. Unexpected heart-to-hearts have uplifted participants enduring tough times. And connections have led to new experiences. Ms. Zejnilagic walked away one evening with an invitation to go kayaking.

It鈥檚 a lesson for all.

鈥淭he more you get together, the more people you meet,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he more people you meet, the happier you are.鈥�

I left with nearly 10,000 steps, buoyed spirits, and an urge to share the experience with others. My friends鈥� reactions confirm what the organizers already know.

鈥淥hhh I would love that,鈥� one texted back immediately.

鈥淚 want in,鈥� the other replied a second later.

I鈥檒l be back, likely with friends in tow, ready to make more friends. One step at a time.