Saratoga News
Cover Story
Photograph by George Sakkestad
Walkers (from left) Joanne O'Rourke, Anne Cummings and Helen Abruzzini begin their walk in the darkness of early morning.
Morning Wake-Up
A group of Saratoga women continues the tradition it started nearly 20 years ago
By Shannon Burkey
Most mornings they can be found at the Blue Rock Shoot waiting for their morning walk, then again after their walk for their morning coffee and a little girl-talk. Sometimes there may be only one or two walkers--other times, the whole group of nine makes it.
It began as a way to get together and bring a little physical fitness into their lives, but nearly 20 years later, a group of Saratoga women has found more than just exercise partners. Members have also found friends to last a lifetime.
Some of the women are newcomers--only walking with the group for five to 10 years--while others have been with the group for 15 to 20 years. But regardless of the time, the women have formed bonds through their daily exercise routine that have seen them through many of life's ups and downs.
"Over the years we have shared our lives together on almost a daily basis," says Gay Crawford, who has walked with the group for the past seven years. "We have followed each other through many of life's major passages, both happy and sad, and we know that we are there through it all, any and every day, for each other."
Their days start at 7 a.m. during the week, when they meet at the Blue Rock Shoot for a brisk morning walk that takes them to Saratoga High School. After circling the track twice and doing a couple of sets of walking the bleacher stairs, they head back to the Village.
Weather doesn't usually stop them--unless there is pouring rain--and they say they look forward to their mornings together very much. Most days the walk is the same, but they never know where their discussions will take them.
The walkers don't have to make plans; they just know someone will be there, and that is enough to get them up and out of bed in the morning.
Anne Cummings, a comparative newcomer, has been walking with the group for five years and says it is the presence of other people that gets her to the Blue Rock Shoot every morning.
"Originally we were supposed to call and give a reason why we weren't coming the next morning. Eventually the excuses ran out, and we just decided that whoever showed up showed up. You always know someone will be there," Cummings said.
Exercise was the primary focus when they first began walking, and though their group has evolved into so much more, they say exercise is still the key element today that it was years ago.
"The exercise is just as important as the friendship," says Joanne O'Rourke, who is an original member and has been walking for 18 years. "I don't think I've lost a pound in 15 years, but it is still great to get up every morning and exercise."
Cummings agrees the exercise is as important as the intangibles she gets from the group.
"We all like the sociability, but we all recognize the need for overall fitness," she says. "Walking provides a consistent area to make sure we get our fitness in."
In 1998, the women--wanting to set a challenge for themselves--decided to train for the New York Marathon at the urging of member Suzanne Christianson.
"Suzanne sets goals and often inspires us," Crawford says.
Although only three members of the group ran the marathon, the rest of the group provided support both in training and at the marathon itself.
Christianson, along with Tina Pidwell, who has been with the group for 13 years, and Kay Walker, who is an original member, trained for four months to prepare for the 26.2-mile marathon that spans the five boroughs of New York City and is the largest marathon in the world.
"The training and the camaraderie were great," Pidwell says. "It was such an overwhelming experience, but we just went for it. It was truly an adventure."
Four members of the group made it to New York to cheer the three competitors on. And after the race, which the three completed in 51/2 hours--half an hour ahead of the goal they set for themselves--they all celebrated at the Plaza Hotel with champagne.
The physical aspect plays a large role in the walking group, but the women say they are also like a focus group for each other and can turn to each other for just about anything.
Pidwell says her daughter even teases her about taking things to the group.
"Sometimes when she talks to me about something she will say, 'Mom, you're not going to go talk to the walking group about this, are you?' " Pidwell says. "Other times she will ask me to talk to the group about something we talk about and get their advice. If you have questions about anything, this is the place to ask it."
Marsha Hall, another of the three original members, agrees the group is a place you can go to for all kinds of advice.
"You might get seven different opinions, but it's good to have all those different viewpoints," Hall says.
Each morning over coffee and after their walk, the walkers discuss everything from politics to personal problems, and they enjoy the continuity it provides them.
"When it is time to vote, we bring our ballots and discuss every issue," says Helen Abruzzini, who has walked with the group for six years. "We may not always agree, but we have good discussions about it."
Having such a diverse group of women to come to each day has given them a chance to grow and learn from each other, Crawford says. She believes each woman brings something special and unique to the group that helps to inspire them all.
"We respect each other's contributions to the group, the skills, the knowledge and community participation, and we freely share in our support of one another," Crawford says.
Throughout the years, the women say they have seen each other through sickness, death of a spouse, their children's marriages, each other's birthdays and the birth of grandchildren. Kay Walker and Marsha Hall even saw their two children marry each other. Today the two women share a grandson--coincidentally named Walker.
"We are not all soulmates, just good friends and an supportive group," Cummings says. "There is no obligation; we are just held together by the bonds of friendship."
They share another special bond--their love for helping the community.
Through the walking group, the women come into contact with Saratogans every day and are very aware of their city and what its needs are.
Among the group are volunteers for the Butter Paddle, the American Cancer Society, Rotary Club and Junior League.
"We are all very strong community volunteers," Cummings says. "That is another important part of who we are."
The spirit of the group now embraces the friendships that have been formed and the community involvement that is taking place, but at its core, fitness is what brings them together, and walking is something they plan to continue as long as they can.
"I can't imagine not walking," Pidwell says.
Abruzzini agrees. "We'll walk until we can't walk anymore," she says.
"It's maybe what some people will never have in a lifetime, and I, for one, am grateful to have this special group of women by my side to start my day," Crawford says.
