Sonia McGee said she loves to walk at Southside Park in Newton where she takes to the track four times a week.  During the past year, she has logged more than 1,745 miles as a participant in Walk Catawba Valley. Those miles, accumulated on days when she’s not working as a psychiatric technician at CVMC, earned her first place for the most miles walked in her age group 40-59.

“I don’t get tired, I just keep walking,” she said.

On Saturday, McGee will be recognized at the Health First Center in Catawba Valley Mall from 10 a.m. to noon during the Walk Catawba Valley award ceremony and kick-off celebration.

When she signed her family up for Walk Catawba Valley a year ago, it was about getting herself in shape along with her husband Sam, who is a Type 2 diabetic.  McGee also wanted to teach their 13-year-old daughter Stephanie the importance of exercise.

“I told my daughter, ‘You better start exercising while you’re young,’” she said.

Her daughter and husband walk about two miles together a few times a week.

Sam and Stephanie McGee have done well, also.  Her daughter will be recognized for walking the most miles in her age group of 10 to 13.  Meanwhile Sam McGee has lost 40 pounds and lowered his cholesterol level.

McGee has also lost 7 pounds toward her 10-pound goal.

“I’m very satisfied,” she said.

McGee walks four miles at Southside Park most days.  On the weekend, she walks anywhere from six to 10 miles a day, she said.

“I feel better when I exercise,” she said.  “I feed good.”

McGee took her exercise regimen to work, too.  She works at a psych tech at Catawba Valley Medical Center.  Before work, she’ll come in and walk a few laps around the walking path at the hospital.  McGee said sometimes her co-workers will give her funny looks. She said there was one time when she worked from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. she made a point of walking four miles on the track before she went home.

“What are you doing?” a coworker asked her.  “You should go home and go to sleep.”

And if it’s cloudy or rainy outside, McGee hops on the treadmill for 15-30 minutes for a few laps.

With another year of Walk Catawba Valley kicking off, she’s ready to go.  Her new goal is to do the same or better than last year.

“I’m still doing it,” she said.  “I love exercise!”