You can take a virtual walk across Illinois

Gov. Pat Quinn has a fitness challenge for Illinois: Add a half-mile of walking to each day.

The governor on Friday announced the “Walk Across Illinois Challenge” and encouraged people to walk at least 167 miles during 2012.

That’s the equivalent of walking from Rock Island on the Mississippi River to Chicago on Lake Michigan. Walkers can register on an interactive website, log their miles and track their progress.

Quinn walked across Illinois 10 years ago to advocate for health care.

Quinn also announced he’s set up the Governor’s Council on Health and Fitness to develop and spread practical healthy lifestyle ideas.

Illinois was the 23rd-most obese state in the nation in a recent report from the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

For more, visit walkacrossillinois.org.