SIMI SENIORS TALK THE TALK, WALK THE WALK; PARK'S WALKING CLUB PROMOTES SOCIALIZING WHILE EXERCISING.

Byline: Douglas Clark Daily News Staff Writer

A morning stroll in the park has taken on new meaning for the seniors who meet every Friday at the Community Medical Center.

Developed early this year by Linette Brammer, health education coordinator, the walking program is a way to keep elderly men and women active - and together.

``The main purpose is to get seniors out. When they spend a lot of time alone they get depressed. The more depressed they get, the more time they stay alone,'' she said.

Though the group started with about six walkers, there are now about 37 seniors who regularly attend the walk in Rancho Tapo Community Park next to the new Boys & Girls Club facility on Lemon Drive.

On Friday at 8 a.m., about 20 seniors gathered in a room adjacent to the back parking lot of the Community Medical Center. Brammer greeted each senior with the kind of enthusiasm and good humor reserved for dear old friends, though many of the walkers joined the group only weeks ago.

George Greenlee, 74, entered and apologized for missing the previous walk. He had been in Chicago.

``What an excuse for missing walking club,'' Brammer responded. To which Greenlee quipped, ``I walked all the way there and back.''

The jokes and friendly jibes continued as the room filled and Brammer made some announcements before leading the group in light stretching exercises.

The big news of the morning was the invitation to host the Gold Coast Olympic walking competition. The senior olympics is a nationwide competition that includes events such as walking, golfing, table tennis and swimming. Winners of the local competitions advance to state and then national finals. The 1,500-meter (about one-mile) walking competition will be held at Rancho Tapo Community Park on Oct. 16.

Though the seniors were pleased to host the event, it wasn't competition that they relished but companionship.

Carlos Ramirez, 65, had already walked for more than an hour Friday morning before strolling to the park with the other seniors. ``This gives me another walk - but with people,'' he said.

Mary Lou Wetter, 60, who joined the club last week, called the group ``congenial.''

``It seems to combine the exercise and the social. It gets you up in the morning and started on the right foot,'' she said.

Allen Smith, 79, can't join the walkers because of an artificial leg, but he enjoys the club nonetheless. ``It's a nice gang here,'' he said.

Smith's wife, Josephine, 80, also enjoys the camaraderie, though she joined the group in January to improve a heart condition.

``I was afraid at first because of my condition. But I feel a lot more confident,'' she said.

Leone Miller, 75, also fought fear before joining the group. ``After my husband died six years ago, I had no ambition to do anything. I had to get up the nerve to do something,'' she said.

Many of the Friday morning walkers said the exercise has improved their health.

Ramirez, who survived a heart attack and bypass surgery in January, said he has lost 20 pounds since starting the walking regime.

Greenlee said he has dropped more than 30 pounds since joining the walking club early this year. ``This sounds funny, but now I can put on my pants standing up. Before I started walking I couldn't stand up long enough to do it,'' he said.

Two laps on the walkway at Rancho Tapo Community Park is about one mile. But Brammer, a lithe 54-year-old, said the walkers set their own goals. Some enjoy one lap around the park, while others like Brook Hubbell, who said she is ``over 60,'' walk three laps at an impressive clip.

``Use it or lose it,'' she said.

Including her walk from home and back, Hubbell covered about three miles Friday. And each mile was completed in 15 minutes or less, she said.

Sam and Jeannette Sax, 74 and 75 respectively, also time their walks. Though the length varies from four to six laps, on average each lap takes them about 10 minutes, they said.

But Sam Sax said the club provides more than exercise and good fun.

``Sometimes listening to other people's troubles make your own seem like less,'' he said.

Which speaks to Brammer's reason for creating the walking program, which is sponsored by the Community Medical Group and Health Net Seniority Plus.

``A lot of people are alone. But everybody can move a little. Everybody does what they can do, but we encourage people to take responsibility for their own health,'' she said.

Greenlee put it another way: ``You keep doing a little bit at a time, and if you can't do it one day, you don't. There's always tomorrow, but don't put off too many tomorrows.''

For more information about the group, call [phone], Ext. 236.

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3 Photos

Photo: (1--color) Ann Kirnig, 69, left, and Margeret June Hein, 73, take a brisk walk Friday around Rancho Tapo Community Park in Simi Valley.

(2--color) George Greenlee, 74, center, and other members of the seniors walking club do some preliminary stretching before they start strolling.

(3--color) The Simi Valley seniors who walk together each day at Rancho Tapo Community Park do so as much to socialize as exercise.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News