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First there was Walkin Lawton. That legend was born in 1970, when Lawton Chiles, then a little known Florida state senator, walked from Pensacola to Key West — 1,003 miles. The jaunt gave Chiles significant name recognition, which helped him win campaigns for the U.S. Senate and later, governor of Florida.
Now Tampa-based lobbyist Ron Pierce plans to follow in Chiles’ footsteps — at least in some of the walking, if not in running for office. Call him Rambling Ron.
Pierce, CEO of RSA Consulting and a plugged-in Tallahassee mover-and-shaker, has embarked on what he and his staff have dubbed the Steps for Session Challenge. The goal: walk the distance from Tampa to Tallahassee and back during Florida’s 60-day legislative session, some 556 miles. Pierce is making the trek in support of Southeastern Guide Dogs, a nonprofit that provides service dogs for visually-impaired individuals, veterans and children who suffered a loss of a parent in the military at no cost. Pierce aims to raise at least $5,000 for the organization.
Session usually lasts 60 days. That means Pierce needs to walk, on average, a little more than nine miles a day, including weekends. Pierce, 48, says he’s in pretty good shape, usually walking three to four miles a day and working out as well. But now he needs to go from around 9,000 steps a day to more like 19,000 steps a day. “It’s a little bit more than I’m used to, but I’m up for the challenge,” Pierce tells Coffee Talk.
Pierce challenged himself to walk at least 10,000 steps a day during session in 2020, which planted the idea for the 2021 challenge. He chose to support Southeastern Guide Dogs, with a facility in north Manatee County, to help the organization get some notoriety — and funds. Pierce also recently adopted a puppy, Sammi, who joins the RSA team in the office, goes with Pierce on many walks and even boasts her own twitter account @RSAPup.
This being 2021, getting in steps presents another challenge, given the Capitol building is mostly closed for COVID-19 protocols. So Pierce has to find other ways to get in his steps. He’s getting a treadmill for the office, and he’s been walking around his condo complex, a lot. Pierce listens to music while he walks, everything from rock to Top 40, in addition to audio books. A current book is “Lincoln on the Verge: Thirteen Days to Washington,” by Edward Widmer.
To follow along Pierce’s Steps for Session Challenge, go to the firm’s twitter account, @RSAConsulting. To donate to Pierce’s fundraiser, visit here.
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