Life is what happens
By Lisa Zaslow Segelman
You may have seen us walking the Ventnor Boardwalk 365 days a year in the early, and some very early morning. Our formation? A couple of packs of two to six or seven ladies, all of whom take care not to drift too far into the board walkers coming the other way. There’s generally two groups – faster walkers and medium speed walkers. Can’t keep up? Drift back to the moderate group for some R&R.
Residents who make their way to the boards every morning are used to seeing us go by in everything from shorts and T-shirts to winter coats and face masks. They often call out hellos. This is no coffee klatch, however. We walkers may smile and wave, but other than that we keep going, and going, and going. At least someone from the group is walking every day all year, rain or shine, heatwave or snow. With work and other obligations, people come and go, but usually wish they were walking, even if life has them running off somewhere else. Inquiries abound later in the day: who walked today?
The group’s Facebook page (Walking Women in Ventnor) shares that, “walking together promotes healthy habits and connections to each other and our community. It’s safe and easy-to-stick-with, at a relatively low cost. Our message is, come walk with us!”
Walking Women in Ventnor NJ, or WWVCNJ, was started by Ventnor Heights resident, Jan Carfagno, during the pandemic in June of 2021 because she desperately needed to find like-minded women with whom she could share a safe, 6-foot distance, favorite fitness activity. For Jan, that was walking.
The Carfagnos closed on their shore home in Ventnor Heights just two weeks before the mid-March pandemic shutdown of 2020. Jan felt fortunate to have a second place to be during the crisis, especially in the better weather. Her husband was an essential worker, so he stayed back in Media, Pa., during the week, while she and her cats lived at the shore.
“As a yoga and Barre class instructor, the classes I taught went online of course, so by the second year of the pandemic I was feeling so isolated and needing connection,” said Jan. “Work, socializing – so much was taken away from me and from everyone. I’m all about introducing friends to friends and I knew I had to do something.”
For Carfagno, it was about being with people and that’s how Walking Women in Ventnor was born.
Many members continually express how the nature of the long walks, the conversation and the camaraderie have helped walkers both walk and talk things out. There are some ground rules however: no politics and respectful interaction is expected. Walkers agree to accept these simple requests when they sign up online.
“It’s been almost two years since I joined the walking group as a way to connect with other women at a difficult time in the world and in my own world,” said Nicole Deodato of Ventnor. “I lost the two women closest to me in one year: my mom and my best friend. I have a great husband, but women need close girlfriends.”
When founder Jan’s life changed with the blessing of a grandchild and a commitment to help watch him in 2022, she passed the leadership reins to Janine Peck of Ventnor, wishing her luck in leading the group and keeping connection and health a priority.
“Please walk together often,” Jan told members in her last Facebook post as the leader of the group. “It’s good for your heart and soul.”
Janine’s intention when taking on the group was to offer additional options besides walking, so women could meet like-minded people and make lasting friendships.
“She’s done a great job with that,” added Deodato. “Our group’s activities have expanded to include a vibrant Walking Women in Ventnor Book Club, self-defense classes, holiday outings, restaurant visits, bowling and volunteering for the Food Bank of NJ. And this past summer, beach yoga was added and Carfagno was able to lead the classes.
“I was so happy to teach in person instead of online,” said Carfagno.
Contribute-what-you-wish donations were collected for the yoga classes, which went entirely to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine. “I felt so good about that,” said Jan.
Many walkers that are new to the area or finally moved “down the shore” permanently are attracted to the group as a way to meet new people. When you spend an hour a day with people even a few times a month with no other distractions except the roar of the ocean, you get to know each other very well.
The walkers meet at Stratford Street and the Boardwalk in Ventnor at 9 a.m. in the good weather, and 10 a.m. off-season. There is also a 6:15 a.m. group that meets at the Ventnor Library because parking is free until 8 a.m. This time is great for those who have jobs or school to attend later in the morning.
Even though there are set meeting points, there’s no need to meet there. Like ice skaters or Rockettes joining the line, walkers can join up anywhere along the route and it’s the same every day: north to the sign welcoming folks to Atlantic City, and then a turn around and back south to the end of the Boardwalk in Ventnor.
After a toe tap on the bench at the end of the line, the group makes a turn and heads back to Stratford and the Boardwalk for a few minutes of chat and goodbyes until the next time. The length of the walk is approximately 3 miles, but you can “hop on and hop off” any time.
Interested walkers don’t need to live in Ventnor City to walk with the group. WWVCNJ is open to all women who have the ability to walk, talk and stay healthy regardless of where you live. Interested walkers can join the Facebook group: Walking Women in Ventnor. It’s listed as a private group with 519 members.
Walking Women in Ventnor was born out of crisis but continues to thrive out of the very human need to connect, in person, in all kinds of weather, in all kinds of walking gear, with all kinds of people.
