On September 16, the National Mobility Challenge, initiated and sponsored by the President of the Republic of Lithuania, will begin, and the KTU community will traditionally join in.
Today, we are talking to two active members of the KTU community – Aistė Radvilavičiūtė, Head of the Sports Teams Unit at the KTU Sports and Wellness Center, and Ernesta Karaškienė, coach of the KTU athletics team.
Although they take steps every day, the opportunity to represent Kaunas University of Technology in the Higher Education Institutions Challenge is another chance to test not only themselves but also to pursue a common goal together with the community.
Do you like walking? What does walking mean to you?
Ernesta: Walking is probably my main means of transportation. The interesting thing about being a coach is that there is practically no time to sit. During training, you are constantly on your feet: you demonstrate exercises and correct the athletes’ movements. We currently train in Ąžuolyno Park and Dainų Valley. These are great places to get your steps in.
Aistė: I love walking, and whenever possible, I always choose walking over driving. Walking lifts my spirits. When I walk, I don’t listen to music or recordings; the sounds of my surroundings and being with my thoughts are enough for me. I don’t walk because I “have to,” because it’s healthy, or to overcome some challenge, but because I enjoy it. I often discover new places, undiscovered city panoramas, or new streets, because I mostly walk in the city. I also like nature trails, but they require more preparation, traveling to special routes or paths, and adapting to weather conditions.
Do you go for a walk every day? If so, how do you find the time, what motivates you?
Ernesta: I start every morning with a walk with my three four-legged friends, and I end every evening the same way. I also move around a lot during the day, so I end up walking quite a few kilometers. My days are active, so I don’t need any extra walks.
Aistė: If I don’t have enough time to walk a longer distance, I at least plan to walk to the store instead of driving. At the same time, I take an extra lap or choose a longer route to increase the distance. I do the same during my lunch break – after lunch, I always try to walk outside for at least a little while. In the evening, when I go out for coffee with my friends, we always try to walk a little extra, because not only do we socialize, but we also see how the seasons and the city are changing.
What advice do you have for walkers (regarding footwear, walking pace, etc.)?
Ernesta: Footwear must be really comfortable. I walk in running shoes, which are suitable for both walking and running, because all movement is directed forward. If you are walking in the mountains, running shoes are not suitable; you need hiking boots for rocky surfaces. If you are planning long hikes, never choose new, untested shoes, because otherwise you may have more trouble than benefit, and worn-out shoes will not give you any pleasure. The walking pace should be chosen depending on the goal. If you want to exercise and engage as many muscles as possible, you need to walk at a fairly fast pace, taking long strides and placing your foot down from the heel. Don’t be afraid to use your arms – a free, wide arm swing will increase your walking speed. You can also use Nordic walking poles when walking.
Aistė: The most important thing is that your shoes are comfortable so that you don’t feel discomfort after walking half the distance, because if your shoes rub, you will not only have to put off walking for a while, but it may also cause negative emotions. Everyone has to adjust their walking pace to suit themselves. I don’t know how to walk slowly and I don’t like it, I like to walk quite fast and I almost never stop to rest. I usually walk in the city, so the only stops I make are at red lights at crossings.
Have you ever counted how many steps you take on average per day?
Ernesta: If I’ve had a very active day, I always check how many steps I’ve taken. I am very competitive and enjoy competition and rivalry, so if I participate in a walking competition, I monitor not only my steps but also those of my competitors. If I see that I am a little short of my goal, I make sure to walk some extra steps. I am a fairly active person, so I accumulate about 20,000 steps a day.
Aistė: On a normal day, when I go for a short walk alone or with friends, I accumulate at least 10,000 steps. However, if the weather is good and I have enough time, I can walk around 20,000 steps a day.
What is the most steps you have walked in a day?
Ernesta: I am a track and field coach, so I am constantly moving at work. And if I also exercise myself that day, I take a lot of steps. According to the Walk15 app, my record is 36,000 steps per day.
Aistė: The most I’ve walked is about 40,000 steps per day during a trip to Italy. The most interesting thing is that I didn’t even feel those steps, but when I saw the number in the Walk15 app in the evening, I was pleasantly surprised. I didn’t feel any fatigue or pain in my legs, just a lot of memories from the places I visited.
Are you participating in the national mobility challenge Walk15?
Ernesta: Yes, I was probably one of the first to register. I don’t think I’ve missed a single walking challenge. It’s great fun to contribute my steps to the KTU team. We’ve been the leaders for two years in a row, and we’ve also been among the prize winners in the past.
Aistė: I signed up for the challenge as soon as it was announced.
What upcoming event would you recommend for people who enjoy walking or want to incorporate more walking into their daily routine?
Ernesta: The Higher Education Challenge starts on September 16 and will last for two months. Currently, the team consists of 427 active walkers. I believe that the KTU community is athletic and enthusiastic, and that more than a hundred people will join this challenge. Not everyone may have time for active sports, but everyone can find time for active walking. Many people have sedentary jobs, and active walking is beneficial because it is not only a great way to improve your well-being and stretch your body after work, but also to clear your head of tension and negative thoughts. And when a person feels relaxed, their productivity at work only increases. Don’t be shy and join the KTU community, even a few thousand steps can bring us closer to victory. Let’s be a team, let’s be united.
Aistė: I invite everyone to join the National Mobility Challenge and not to miss “Come and Conquer 2025,” where you can test your strength in a 5 km walking and running distance.
The National Mobility Challenge is a great opportunity not only to improve your health, but also to contribute to a cleaner environment and a more united community. Each participant can set a personal goal – to walk 400,000 steps in two months and receive a special diploma for doing so. In addition, at the end of the project, the most active teams – the TOP 3, as well as the team that manages to maintain the highest average number of steps – will be honored at the Presidential Palace.
The challenge will start on September 16 and will last for two months – until November 16. Last year, this initiative was a huge success, with more than 160,000 participants joining in and taking a total of 45 billion steps.
So, the KTU community is invited to join in, walk, compete, and prove once again that it is one of the most active universities in Lithuania.
How to join?
Download the #walk15 app.
Select “Challenges” from the menu at the bottom.
Click “Join” for the Higher Education Challenge.
Find Kaunas University of Technology in the list and select it as your team.
For more information about the challenge, click here.