April 28 is National Walk@Lunch Day. I could have sworn it was today.

I had the lunch shift down at the rickshaw plant and I knew right off I was in trouble. All along downtown Raleigh’s Fayetteville Street, along key side streets, and on up to the state government complex all I could see was a sea of white — white walking shoes, that is.

In my day job as a fitness blogger I love seeing office workers who’ve laced up a pair of Reeboks for a half hour walk at lunch. In my side gig as a rickshaw driver, it’s a sign of a long, slow shift. Funny, but not many fitness walkers take me up on my offer for a ride.

Walking is the nation’s most popular form of exercise. According to the National Sporting Goods Association, 96.6 million Americans walked for exercise in 2008 (swimming was a distant second, at 63.5 million, followed by exercising with equipment.) How many of those 96.6 million walkers walk at lunch is hard to say, but I’m guessing the number is high, for a couple reasons. One, that window at noon may be the most convenient time of their day: For many, waking up presents enough of a challenge in the mornings; after work, we’re either too tired or have other commitments. Noon is also good because 30 minutes still seems to be the recommended minimum investment for aerobic benefit. (The Surgeon General is sticking with it.) Spring is an especially good time to walk at noon; the temperature has yet to reach the point where a vigorous half-hour walk can result in undesired lingering effects back at the desk.

If you’re walking at lunch, great. If you’re curious about walking at lunch, you can score some tips and direction at the National Walk@Lunch Day Web site.  (Disclosure: National Walk@Lunch Day is sponsored by the BlueCross BlueShield Assocation; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina sponsors this blog.)

As for my rickshaw persona, I’m working the night shift from now on. Bar hoppers have no qualms about taking a ride.