One of the Pacific Northwest’s foremost experts on walking, master racewalker Judy Heller is a wellness/fitness and walking coach who has trained thousands of people and organized some of the region’s best respected recreational and competitive walking events. Judy has been quoted in Prevention;
Weight Watchers; Family Circle; Fitness; Shape; Body, Mind, and Soul; and Woman’s Day magazines.
Health and Wellness Manager, Leader and Trainer
Judy offers personal coaching and training, and consulting with a focus on health, fitness and lifestyle training. She has designed and managed numerous programs, groups and classes focused on achieving peak performance to improve fitness, adapt to physical changes, and prevent injury. Clients include:
- City of Portland
- Mentor Graphics
- Jeld-Wen
- Leathermen
- Legacy Health Systems Stroke Program
- Multnomah County
- The Standard
- Nike and Intel employee groups
- TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) groups
Judy has a bachelor’s degree in medical technology, thirty years of laboratory experience, and a Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University. She has received the Dedicated Walker Award from the Oregon Road Runners Club and the American Racewalk Association’s Coaches of Excellence Award. In 1999, Judy was selected by the American Diabetes Association as the walk coach for the “Team Diabetes” marathon training program and subsequently, and was selected by the National Arthritis Foundation to coach runners and walkers for the organization’s “Joints in Motion” marathon training program. She is an American Council on Exercise-certified personal trainer, Cancer Exercise specialist, Resist-A-Ball instructor, and USA Track & Field coach, official and racewalk judge.
Event Manager
Judy founded Wonders of Walking, LLC, to offer events designed by walkers for walkers, including the WOW Walk Club, which is hosted by REI Portland; subsequent clubs were picked up by REI Clackamas in 2009 and by REI Bend in 2010. She founded and managed the Wilamette Valley Relay, Sisters Stride into Autumn and managed the Portland to Coast Walk Relay (part of the Hood to Coast Run) for nine years, helping the event grow from 25 to 400 teams. She has been the racewalk coordinator for the Portland Marathon for 18 years, managing this event that attracts both casual and competitive walkers from across the United States. In 1995, she co-founded the Annual NW Regional Racewalk Retreat for Olympic-style racewalking, which brings together Olympic athletes, health care professionals and trainers for intensive training.
Author and Speaker
Judy is a columnist for WalkAbout magazine and a public speaker who is passionately dedicated to helping people reach their fitness and lifestyle goals. Topics include:
♥ Improve Your Health
♥ Maximize Benefits of Walking
♥ Changing Lifestyle Habits
♥ Nutrition Topics
♥ It Isn’t a Diet, It’s a Lifestyle
♥ Reduce Distress
♥ Create Life Balance
Judy is available for presentations, groups, events, and other opportunities for sharing the wonders of walking. Contact her to discuss your or your business or organization’s needs!
