“I could not believe I had gone that far,” Borst said.

Borst, a St. Johns, Mich. resident, continued walking with other mid-Michigan residents Saturday at the Stroll East Lansing event of the Walking in Our Community series.

The series is aimed at promoting walking as a form of exercise and getting to know local communities, said Alicia Armstrong, an organizer of the walk and spokeswoman for Playmakers Athletic Footwear.

There were one-, three- and five-mile trails that started at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road, and led participants through East Lansing’s downtown and residential areas, as well as MSU’s campus, Armstrong said.

The series of 10 walks in various mid-Michigan locations is organized by Smart Commute, Playmakers Athletic Footwear and Community Partners in Health.

East Lansing’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Arts selected the walking routes.

“Our goal is just to show people how enjoyable walking is, and that it’s a good form of exercise,” Armstrong said.

This is the series’ second year, and the walks have expanded to offer three trail lengths to give people options for distances and where they walk, she said.

“We wanted people to see the eclectic shops and really know downtown, and we wanted people to be able to see campus,” Armstrong said.

Borst, who has lost 130 pounds, led the one-mile walk through a residential neighborhood.

“Last summer, I had both knees replaced due to osteoarthritis, which was due to the obesity,” she said. “Having both knees replaced has helped me to get out to do walks like this, which is so exciting because I couldn’t before.”

Another change in Borst’s life was the inspiration she said she gathered from watching Ovid, Mich., resident Jon Stanton shed 230 pounds in two years.

Stanton, who also participated in Saturday’s walk, has appeared on the Today Show and at various events to promote healthy living.

“I walked off the pounds because that’s basically all I could do,” he said.

People who lose weight and speak out about their experience can encourage others to do the same and cause a cascading effect of positive health improvement, Stanton said.

“These events have real world impact on these peoples’ lives,” he said. “You don’t have to be a marathon runner.”

It only takes 30 minutes of physical activity five days per week to be healthier and more fit, Armstrong said.

“Walking is really important because it’s one of the most popular forms of exercise, and it’s a form that people can stick to,” she said.