Awards
Events Award
AND
Andy Smith Award
The special Andy Smith Award was introduced in 2024 for exceptional achievement for walking. It is named after our former President and lifelong walking advocate. This was the first year it had been presented. Andy’s nieces, Pam Tramoundanas and Linda Smith, presented the award at Parliament to Alistair Hall of Wilderness Magazine for the Walk1200km initiative.
Winner
Walk1200km initiative by Wilderness Magazine.
In brief
Walk1200km is a challenge where participants attempt to walk 1200km in 12 months. The goal is to encourage and foster a daily walking habit.
In the first year, approximately 2500 people joined. In the second it grew to around 4700 and in 2024 there are 6500 registered participants.
Walk1200km is an outstanding project that has got so many people walking in our towns, our cities and all around Aotearoa.
The details
How it started: Walk1200km was started by Wilderness magazine in 2021. Alistair Hall, editor of Wilderness, was looking forward to marking the magazine’s 30th year of publication and rather than simply recount the best stories or milestones from the magazine’s past he wanted to look to the future and do something special with the magazine’s readers. And so he invited people to join him in walking 1200 kilometres in one year.
Only an outdoors magazine editor would have come up with such a party trick. Yet, thousands signed up for the challenge. In 2021, the first year of Walk 1200km, 2500 participants covered 3.5 million kilometres – equal to around four round trips to the moon. At last count, there were 6500 registered participants attempting the challenge in 2024.
Alistair is over the moon about that and proud that Walk1200km is, he believes, the largest walking group in the country. More importantly, he’s delighted that the health benefits of walking, even a gentle daily stroll, are being enjoyed by so many.
Photo: Ellen Blake (Living Streets Aotearoa), Pam Tramoundanas and Linda Smith (Andy Smith’s nieces), Alistair Hall from Wilderness Magazine.
What's involved: To complete the annual individual goal of 1200km, participants need to walk an average of 3.3km every day of the year. Rain, hail or shine.
There are no rules, the walking can all happen at the weekends, or on a daily basis. There is a simple sign up process (wildernessmag.co.nz/walk1200km) and it’s free to join and participate, although there are tools like a progress tracker, badges and medals that participants can purchase. The Facebook Group (facebook.com/groups/walk1200km) is a hive of activity, with participants sharing their daily walks, milestones reached and goals accomplished.
Real-life stories from participants: Each month Wilderness publishes real-life stories from participants that demonstrate the amazing health and wellbeing benefits of going for a walk. There are those who have lost weight, others who have made walking a daily habit, improved their fitness, or used walking to help manage health issues like arthriitis, Parkinsons and persistent migraines.
Participants and readers of Wilderness have learnt of Jade Bell who lost her partner to pancreatic cancer just three days before they were to celebrate their 18th anniversary and how the ensuing loneliness and grief made it difficult for her to sleep and navigate her day.
“Walking provided me with a daily sense of achievement,” Jade said. “The physical activity helped me sleep better at night, improved my general health and, amazingly, I discovered that I never felt lonely while out on a walk, even though it was often the most physically isolated part of my day.”
Another example of the positive impact participants have felt is Rebecca Jago, who started walking after losing a friend to suicide. “I was in a bad place mentally and physically, but the hours of walking and thinking have helped me deal with grief,” she said.
Changing attitudes: Wilderness has also highlighted how Walk1200km has changed people’s attitudes to walking. For example, some participants now walk to work, others do the school run on foot. Participant Lynne Walker told Wilderness: “Walking has changed my mindset. Now I choose to park the car further away from a destination and walk there without grumbling. I love the mix of catching a bus or train and walking between stops and destinations.”
And new mum Gael Price found parenthood and walking go well together. “You don’t have to turn up to a class at a specific time, and it doesn’t matter if you haven’t slept,” she says. Walking with her newborn in the pram improved her mood and supported her recovery from a caesarean section.
Shirley Keen could barely walk 500m a couple of years ago. She realised, with the progression of her arthritis and her weight, “if I didn’t do something, I literally wouldn’t be able to walk”. During her first year of Walk1200km, she lost 25kg and walked every day of the year.
Testimonies from past participants: At the 2024 launch of Walk1200km we heard the following testimony from past participants:
“This challenge allows you to be in control, at your pace, in your own time. No pressure. The reward of just finishing is an epic feeling of achievement. It’s never too late to start!” – Annette Webb
“To lose that ‘tyre’ from around your waist is incredible. You’re walking further in the same time and enjoying it more.” – Steve McCarthy
“It's easy to fall into a rut in everyday life, and not push yourself. Walk1200km makes you accountable and the support from the group is great!” – Donnelle Cheree
“The Walk1200km community restores my faith in the inherent decency and fabulousness of folk. I love witnessing the joy that shines from people’s posts to the Facebook group. I admire the honesty and trust that accompanies the telling of stories of struggle. And I love the support that is extended when folk reach out for it. There are demonstrable physical health benefits, but I reckon the mental health benefits and shared soul space are greater.” – Susan Duncan
“I challenged myself to complete the challenge and (was) surprised to do so well. Walk1200km kept me honest and on target and I’m looking forward to doing it again next year.” – Jackie Blake
“There’s a sense of community – the vulnerability of sharing the ups and downs and seeing beautiful places that provides inspiration for new adventures.” – Kristine Brown
“Walk1200km helps build confidence and a sense of achievement as you set goals. You’re able to track them, see instant results and have success in your own time, at your own pace, wherever you are. There are no cost, age or ability barriers.” – Megan Cleverley
“It’s motivated me to exercise daily and not just when the weather is nice.” – Jenny Marshall
“I’ve gained a feeling of belonging to something bigger and better than me. It’s been a prodder, a pusher and a comforter, as we share our individual journeys in whatever way we have signed up for this challenge.” – Faye Gorman
“I’ve gained a sense of achievement and the confidence that I can now do even better than before. The best bonus is the health factor!” – Colette O'Connor
Walk1200km is a unique way to promote walking as a healthy and viable alternative to other modes of transport and at the same time provide amazing health and wellbeing benefits to participants. It is a community-building challenge in which everyone can succeed.