Steps Across America Is Joined By Kristi Yamaguchi To Rally, Motivate And Reward All Americans To Walk For Fitness

NEW YORK, NY — Sportline, America’s #1 brand of pedometers and walking accessories, will kick off the launch of Sportline Steps Across America, an initiative dedicated to spreading the word about the benefits of walking with a pedometer as part of a fit, active lifestyle. For the first time a specially made Sportline Pedometer will be walked across America by a relay team of 12 pre-selected Americans, covering 3,100 miles in 14 weeks.

Kristi Yamaguchi, World Champion Figure Skater and the official spokesperson for Sportline Steps Across America, will be in New York today to send off the Walkers on their trek across the country, which is scheduled to finish in Los Angeles on July 17th, 2006. Yamaguchi, who recently gave birth to her second child, has devoted much of her post-skating career to educating others about the benefits of living a fit, active lifestyle.

“As a wife and mom I continue to live an active lifestyle and I recognize the benefits of keeping a healthy regime including eating right and exercising, even if it’s just taking a 30 minute walk with my kids,” says Yamaguchi. “I encourage Americans to show their support as the Sportline Steps Across America Walkers come to a town near you.”

Yamaguchi will host an “Every Day Well-Being” Expo at Chelsea Piers in New York City on April 18, 2006, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. From there, the team of National Walkers will head out of Manhattan on their 3,100 mile journey. The coast-to-coast walk will traverse through dozens of cities in 11 states and the District of Columbia over the course of 14 weeks.

The twelve National Walkers were specially chosen from over 300 people to participate in the program. They hail from Atlanta, Ga., Myrtle Beach, S.C., Coronado, Calif., Los Angeles, Calif., Dallas, Texas, Miami, Fla., Sacramento, Calif., Herndon, Va., Batesville, Ark., Lakewood, Colo., and Sedona, Ariz. “It is my desire to spread my love of walking and running with children and adults alike as I take ‘Steps Across America,’” said National Walker Illene Stewart of Batesville, Ark. Their inspirational message is important for all Americans: It’s easy to step into a more active lifestyle by walking for health, fitness, and fun! Profiles on all the Walkers can be found at www.StepsAcross.com.

Additionally, the National Walkers will be joined by another work out partner along the route — a dog, sponsored by Iams®. Exercising with a pet can provide further inspiration to make a walking regime part of a healthy everyday lifestyle for all Americans.

The Sportline Steps Across America Walkers will be making stops at Wal-Mart stores across the country and hosting “Every Day Well-Being” Expos where the public can come and learn more about incorporating walking and wellness ideas in their lives. Additionally, in coordination with the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, the Steps Across America President’s Challenge will be issued at every Sportline Steps Across America event to motivate and reward all Americans to walk for exercise.

“The benefits of walking are clear. Research shows that people who wear a pedometer walk nearly 2000 more steps per day than fitness walkers who do not. Sportline Steps Across America is an important initiative; devoted to helping everyday American’s become motivated to achieve an overall healthier lifestyle,” said Brian Anderson, President of Sportline. “With help from Kristi Yamaguchi and our team of Walkers, who embody the spirit of physical fitness, this program can inspire thousands of people to get out and walk as part of their everyday fitness regime.”

Sportline® is the Title Sponsor of Steps Across America and TracFone Prepaid Wireless is Presenting Sponsor in cooperation with Wal-Mart and in association with: 7-Up®, Centrum®, Coppertone®, IAMS®, Image Fitness, Jif® / Smucker’s®, Kodak, Os-Cal®, PayDay PRO, Weight Watcher’s® Smart Ones®, & Wisk®. Other sponsors include: Advil®, Alavert®, Jennie-O Turkey Store®, Carnation® Instant Breakfast® from NESTLE, and Otis Spunkmeyer®. Sportline Steps Across America is an official sponsor of the President’s Council for Physical Fitness and Sports 50th Anniversary.
To keep up with the walking team’s historic step-by-step journey, and to register for the Steps Across America President’s Challenge, please visit www.StepsAcross.com.
Steps Across America is a registered trademark of CoActive Marketing Group, NASDAQ: CMKG.