The next Walk North Dakota Challenge, a program of the NDSU Extension Service, begins Sept. 13 and continues through Nov. 7. The program challenges participants to work up to walking 10,000 steps a day.

Taking 10,000 steps is the equivalent of walking five miles a day, five days a week or 200 miles during the eight-week program. On average, people take 2,000 to 4,000 steps a day. Participants can walk on a treadmill or walking path, at a community walking facility, around town, on a country road or just around your home or where you work.

To register online, go to www.walknd.com. Sign up as an individual or group. If a group has not participated in Walk North Dakota, e-mail Linda Hauge at linda.hauge@ndsu.edu to set up the group before registering.

To register by mail, send a check payable to the NDSU Extension Service to Walk ND, Attn: Linda Hauge, NDSU Dept. 7280, Box 6050, Fargo, ND 58108-6050. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for youth age 18 and younger. 4-H club members and leaders can participate free of charge.

Participants should report their steps every two weeks at www.walknd.com or on a mail-in card. If you don't have a pedometer, count one mile or 2,000 steps for every 20 minutes you walk. Participants who report their steps as required will receive prizes.

Since Walk North Dakota began in May 2004, participants have walked more than 1.4 billion steps, or 717,842 miles.