Walk on

Kevin and Laura Bluml have been walking outside every day since Sept. 28, 1997 – at least, that’s when they started keeping track. Since then, Laura has not missed a day of walking, and Kevin has missed only a few – like that time he had heart surgery – or a couple of days here and there for work travel.

Long-time fixtures in their neighborhood and beyond (at one time, they were walking 8-12 miles a day), they were featured in the Eden Prairie News in July 1999 when, little did they know, they were just getting started.  A lot of things have changed since then, but their dedication to each other and to their walking habit remains steadfast.

The Blumls met when they were both in the Minneapolis Police Reserve and will celebrate their 39th anniversary in June. They first started walking when they were both busy professionals: Laura, a tax accountant, and Kevin, a computer forensics engineer who still does consulting. 

Their evening walks after work “started out as a way to connect, get fresh air, and see people,” recalled Kevin. Today as retirees, it is still their “dedicated time to be together,” said Laura. Even after all the hours of walking together, there are “not too many quiet moments,” said Laura. “We talk about all kinds of things from serious to silly, to planning our next trip or just talking about the things we are seeing as we walk.”

As avid travelers, they extend their walks to vacations where they like to hike the national parks. Their most recent trip was to view the eclipse and then head to the Ozark Mountains for walking and hiking.

When they were still working, they stuck to a fairly consistent routine of about a 4-mile round trip to the Super America and back. Now, with more flexibility, they still start from their home but have branched out to different destinations and sometimes divide their mileage into two walks, typically covering about 6-8 miles.

They might not know where they are headed when they lace up their shoes, but they have usually agreed on a route by the time they reach the end of their driveway. Sometimes, it depends on the weather and wind conditions, and sometimes, it depends on the day of the week or the time of day, so they can run into some of their favorite friends, furry and otherwise.

They have become attached to some special dogs and families throughout the years. “We have gotten to know so many dogs,” said Laura. “And we have known families that we’ve seen their kids go from birth to now adults. It has been so fun.” 

Laura recalled one family they met when the kids were outside playing as they walked by. They ended up sharing pizza with the family on their patio that evening and became fast friends, staying in touch and visiting even after the family moved away. 

Perhaps because of her petite stature, the kids they have met seem especially to connect with Laura. “I think they think I’m just a big kid,” she laughed. She is also very good at remembering the names and details of adults, kids, and dogs. 

Even FedEx drivers know them. “One driver recognized us when we were miles away from our neighborhood and wanted to know what we were doing so far away from home,” said Laura.

The Blumls have also undoubtedly indirectly influenced people on their walking routes. “People stop us a lot and tell us we are an encouragement to them when they see us walking,” said Laura. One neighbor told them that when she saw them walking every day, she decided she could do it too, and subsequently greatly improved her health. 

The Blumls’ accomplishment hasn’t been without its challenges over the last nearly 27 years. In 2020, when Laura had spinal fusion surgery on her neck, she feared her walking streak would come to an end while she recovered. But, after learning about her record, the skeptical doctor was won over and promised to do what he could to help her keep it going. The next day, he showed up at her room and walked alongside her outside.

She also persisted through Lyme disease, a fractured foot and a recent back injury (after some negotiating with her physical therapist). 

Laura and Kevin have also both kept walking through other illnesses and ailments. They agree that movement has usually helped them when they’ve been under the weather. “The times I’ve not felt so good or a little blah, I find that once I get out and get a few blocks along, I usually feel much better. The fresh air and moving just gets the lethargy out,” said Kevin.

Both also agree that their walking habit has, in general, kept them healthy and active. When Kevin had surgery for a known heart condition, “the surgeon couldn’t believe I hadn’t had symptoms earlier based on the condition of my heart valve,” he said. “But the activity had really kept it going.”

He also breezed through the physical therapy that was part of his recovery.  

“I don’t want to stop doing it because I know I can feel the difference it makes, and I know, based on what people have told me with my heart, that it does help,” Kevin said.

The Blumls have also experienced all the extremes that Minnesota weather can offer. “I have a jacket for about every 5- to 7-degree temperature change,” said Laura. She also depends on multiple underlayers on the coldest days. “At least in the winter, I can keep adding layers,” she laughed, noting that the summer is a little more difficult.  

Fellow walkers frequently joke about their differing attire. Laura may be in all her layers, while Kevin wears shorts and sneakers. 

A few of their pro tips: They like to use Yaktrax in the winter to avoid slipping. If they have to walk in the dark, they wear lighted armbands. They walk facing traffic if they are not on a sidewalk or trail.

Jokingly called “Mr. Weather” by Laura, Kevin uses his analytical skills to help them dress appropriately and plan the most comfortable route. He consults a few different weather apps as well as radar in what he laughs is “an involved process.” He added, “Sometimes, we’ve had to make a detour or cut things a little short, but mostly it works out.” 

Even with technological help, they don’t always escape nature’s whims. Once, they got stranded at a park in a downpour and hail. But knowing lots of people on their route helped, and a neighbor spotted them and gave them a ride home. Another time, a woman offered for Laura to wait inside her house when a tornado watch cropped up.

While they love their walks and their time together, their practice also allows them to do all the other things they love, such as traveling and working on their property.

“It keeps us in good shape,” said Laura. “It keeps us going.”