Walk combines history and exercise

William J. Martin walks around downtown Richmond all the time. In addition to conducting historical walking tours, he takes his own strolls regularly, noting the significance of the city's historic sites from the sidewalks and alleys.

So it's no surprise that Martin is behind a 10K, history-centered walk set up by Sports Backers that will take place for the first time Saturday. The Anthem Stride Through Time has already drawn more than 1,000 participants.

Martin said he and Jon Lugbill of Sports Backers have been tossing around the idea of a historical walk for some time. It makes sense, Martin said, because history is one of Richmond's biggest draws. And the city is also becoming known for its sporting events, such as the Monument Avenue 10K.

"There are all these little pockets of treasure in downtown Richmond," Martin said recently as we dodged raindrops on a short downtown loop. Martin should know. He's the director of the Valentine Richmond History Center.

One thing Martin pointed out was that the White House of the Confederacy can best be seen from a side street. That's why the Stride Through Time will loop through a Virginia Commonwealth University building so that walkers will exit to face the stately columns on the Confederate White House.

Martin has thought through lots of those kinds of details in planning the route. And he has packed in as much history as possible.

According to Martin, Richmond's historic sites were "made to be seen by pedestrians." There's so much more that can be taken in on foot than by car or bus.

How long will the walk take? "It's an hour and half for me," Martin said. Many participants will probably take longer, particularly if they stop to listen to re-enactors and storytellers along the way. The event is set up to last up to four hours.

"Each of the sites will be responsible for their own storytellers," Martin said. And re-enactors will be sprinkled along the route. For instance, an actor performing Patrick Henry's famous speech will be positioned at St. John's Episcopal Church in Church Hill. Another actor, the likeness of John Marshall, will be in front of the John Marshall House.

A 10K is about 6.2 miles. And this route has some cardiovascular challenges. It starts on Brown's Island. Two big hills -- one climbing to Church Hill and one climbing to the state Capitol area -- should provide a rise in heart rates.

The walk loops through Jackson Ward, where renovation is saving a lot of the historically significant houses, and goes through the Second Street commercial area. It also goes by the Holocaust Museum.

The walk ends back on Brown's Island, where a festival will take place.

Granted, the walking surfaces may not be ideal at times, Martin said. Participants will traverse over brick, asphalt and cement. And the roads will remain open, so they will need to watch for traffic when crossing streets.

But this is not meant to be a race, he said. This is a stride through time.

Maria Howard is a group exercise instructor for the YMCA of Greater Richmond. Her column runs every other week in Sunday Flair.