Fitness, fun and fellowship fuel local man's love of walking

  • By Kyle Valentini
  • January 9, 2012
  • 278
                        
Summary: The cold weather doesn't stop Dr. Keith Van Epps from walking each morning at Crater Stadium at Dover in an effort to stay healthy. As a retired physician, Dr. Van Epps has seen first hand the devastating affects of a sendentary lifestyle in patients he has known throughout his career. Dr. Van Epps stays inspired with the help of a longtime friend who joins him several times a week. On a cold January morning Dr. Keith Van Epps makes his way around the track at Crater Stadiumn at Dover. Each morning during the week he walks eight miles, that’s 32 times around the track. Some days it might be a little less and other days it might be a little more. In 2011 he logged 1,775 miles. He keeps track of his miles on a calendar. Dr. Van Epps has been walking for years. He used to jog but he finds walking to be a gentler form of fitness for his 73 year old body. Dr. Van Epps is not alone most mornings as people of all ages utilize the track for fitness, for fun and for fellowship. “There’s a pretty regular group of people that come out each morning to walk,” said Dr. Van Epps. “We see retired school teachers, business owners, nurses and all sorts of people. I wish we would see more though.” Every other morning Dr. Van Epps is joined by his longtime friend, George Telle. “We talk while we walk,” said Dr. Van Epps. “We solve the world’s problems. Just this morning we were talking about waitresses. We talk about a lot of different things,” said Telle. “You put a group of women together and they never stop talking. It’s no different for us.” Telle is 75 and also lifts weights on the days he does not walk. He does 30 sit-ups every day as a part of his healthy lifestyle. Having spent his career as a physician, Dr. Van Epps has seen what a sedentary lifestyle can lead to. “When I was a med student and resident in the 1960’s it was rare for a person under 50 to have type II diabetes. Now we see this preventable disease in people under the age of 30 and even younger,” said Dr. Van Epps. “Our society has become one where exercise is not a part of our daily lives.” In the last years of his career as a physician Dr. Van Epps spent much of his time seeing patients at nursing homes. “I could see such a difference in the physical health of my active patients and in their mental health as well. Exercise is good for the body but it is also good for the mind. Regular exercise can help prevent stress, depression and even Alzheimer’s disease. The cost of healthcare could be greatly reduced if more people would exercise regularly. Regular exercise can improve the immune system and prevent illness and disease.” said Dr. Van Epps. “Until about 15 years ago you never heard how important exercise was for the mind. We knew it helped manage weight and weight loss but it does so much more,” said Dr. Van Epps. “If you don’t use it, you lose it,” said George Telle. Dr. Van Epps and Telle are certainly using it and it shows. “After the age of 40 you lose 1% of your muscle power each year. In order to retain that muscle you must exercise,” said Dr. Van Epps. “Those new to exercise must remember to start out slowly. They shouldn’t try to walk eight miles at first. 20 minutes of exercise, three times a week is a good place to start,” said Dr. Van Epps. “The most important things you can do to improve health is quit smoking, lose weight and exercise.” Both Dr. Van Epps and Telle mentioned the safety of walking at the track. “There’s a regular gang that comes down here and we are less likely to fall,” said Telle. “If there is too much snow we walk at Quaker Stadium. There is never an excuse not to walk,” said Dr. Van Epps. “When Doc retired he was like a lost puppy,” said Telle. “He had been doctoring all those years and didn’t know what to do with his time. I suggested he do some volunteering. He’s been volunteering at the food pantry and now he is hooked. It makes you feel good to help others and staying busy is good for us old guys.” Dr. Van Epps, Telle and other dedicated walkers can be found most mornings at the track at Crater Stadium before sunrise.


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