CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- They've walked at least 3,120 miles together. Through storms, wind, heat and 20 years of life.

Every Tuesday, without fail, the walkers meet in the parking lot at Patrick Street near Weight Watchers. They started 20 years ago, on Nov. 1, 1989, when they all were attending Weight Watchers classes. Now, they just walk and visit the Shape Shop for low-calorie soup and ice cream following their walk.

Recently, Colleen Anderson, Roger Foreman and Arla Ralston talked about one memorable storm the group braved as they walked.

"A pizza box came flying across the parking lot and smacked Arla in the face," Anderson said, to Foreman's laughter. The group walks across the parking lots of various Patrick Street businesses, eventually ending up on the lower walkway along Kanawha Boulevard.

"We take the riverbank route to Magic Island," Anderson said. Some of the more energetic members make the loop around Magic Island, while others just go as far at the "Julie Tree."

"There was a tree there that Julie Adams said we had to touch," Anderson said. "The tree is long gone, but we still touch the spot where the tree was."

Sallie Daugherty, who joined because of her sister, Nancy, said the group has inspired her to walk, talk, eat and have fun. "We celebrate birthdays together and have many other social occasions," Daugherty said. She walks with her dog, Johnny, who's her second dog to join the walking group.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- They've walked at least 3,120 miles together. Through storms, wind, heat and 20 years of life.

Every Tuesday, without fail, the walkers meet in the parking lot at Patrick Street near Weight Watchers. They started 20 years ago, on Nov. 1, 1989, when they all were attending Weight Watchers classes. Now, they just walk and visit the Shape Shop for low-calorie soup and ice cream following their walk.

Recently, Colleen Anderson, Roger Foreman and Arla Ralston talked about one memorable storm the group braved as they walked.

"A pizza box came flying across the parking lot and smacked Arla in the face," Anderson said, to Foreman's laughter. The group walks across the parking lots of various Patrick Street businesses, eventually ending up on the lower walkway along Kanawha Boulevard.

"We take the riverbank route to Magic Island," Anderson said. Some of the more energetic members make the loop around Magic Island, while others just go as far at the "Julie Tree."

"There was a tree there that Julie Adams said we had to touch," Anderson said. "The tree is long gone, but we still touch the spot where the tree was."

Sallie Daugherty, who joined because of her sister, Nancy, said the group has inspired her to walk, talk, eat and have fun. "We celebrate birthdays together and have many other social occasions," Daugherty said. She walks with her dog, Johnny, who's her second dog to join the walking group.

Anderson said conditions are more walker-friendly in recent years. "It was dark along that walkway. The lighting has much improved."

Bob Miller is glad the lighting has improved. He once fell and broke his finger while on one of the group outings. "I broke the little finger on my right hand. I did have to wear a cast on that hand and arm for about two weeks," Miller explained.

The camaraderie is important. Roger Forman said, "We walk and we talk. You have to talk!" When asked if the group members work up a sweat while on the weekly outing, one member from the group called out, "Depends on if Colleen's leading!"

Members who don't want to carry anything as they walk will sometimes leave belongings behind the counter at the Shape Shop.

"We have to pay a tribute to Millie Snyder at Weight Watchers," Forman said. "We were all here on Tuesdays and hungry after our walk and she expanded the Tuesday hours of the Shape Shop to accommodate us."

The group is flexible about the upcoming repairs to the Boulevard walkways.

"Arla, Roger and I just talked about this," Anderson said. "We discussed various possibilities, and agreed that, at least for the time being, we'll walk along Kanawha Boulevard on the sidewalk opposite the riverbank. At least, we'll try that and see how everyone likes it. It's possible that the venue could change entirely, but we will keep walking!"

Reach Sara Busse at sara.bu...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1249.