How to exercise when it feels like 103 degrees? Store managers in Metairie have found it.

On a hot Tuesday morning in July, before the stores opened their doors, many people flocked to Lakeside Mall and started walking.

A few used sticks or transports, others pushed the cities. Some moved forward with focus and energy, while many walkers took their time and talked in groups.

They made their way across the mall’s exterior in a brisk circle to the sound of gossip, pop music and the occasional clatter of shoes. The sweet aroma from the food court wafted through the air.

While running clubs have recently become popular as a youth entertainment venue, running groups have been meeting for decades at indoor malls, including Lakeside in Metairie.

Many are retirees, seeking comfort in a climate-controlled environment, which is especially important during the hot summer months. After a few moments, some sit down to drink at Cafe du Monde and chat in the food court.

Carol Wedig and Mary Beth Gerosa, both of Metairie, said they started shopping about 25 years ago after dropping their children off at school.

«We started out as moms of preschoolers, and now they’re grown and we’re on the go,» Wedig said, noting that it’s helped her stay healthy and sleep. .

Climate controlled exercise

The mall officially opens to pedestrians at 9 a.m., but staff are allowing people waiting outside the PF Changs entrance at 8:45 a.m., said Erin Graham, a spokeswoman for Lakeside Mall. Before the outbreak, the mall opened at 6 a.m. for walk-ins, but reduced its hours because of the cost, he said.

Ali Phillips, a spokeswoman for the Oakwood Center in Gretna, said the stores have about 25 to 30 regular customers, a number that usually grows in the colder months.

As the temperature rose Tuesday morning, several hikers flocked to Lakeside for their morning exercise, including Darryl Schmitt, 70, who regularly walks his 2-year-old grandson Jaxon. Some passers-by know Jaxon by name and have recently caused an uproar by cutting his hair, Schmitt said.

«I don’t know if everybody knows everybody, but you see the same teams and you say hello to them,» he said. «Everyone is really friendly, and you’re out in the weather.»

Dr. Rachael Kermis, director of medical management for Ochsner 65 Plus, said 30 minutes of cardio is recommended three to five times a week. Walking is easy on the joints and can improve heart and bone health, as well as mental, emotional and cognitive health, Dr. Kermis said.

«Walking can actually help with a lot of things, from cardiovascular benefits to mood to the GI system,» he said.

Especially for adults, the malls provide a climate-controlled environment with constant ventilation on days with a lot of pollen or dust from the Sahara. That’s an important point all the time when the temperature is so hot. Last summer, New Orleans experienced extreme heat. Weather forecasters are predicting another above-average summer. By Tuesday evening, the heat index had dropped to just 99 degrees by midnight.

For people who have difficulty walking, there are many chairs for resting.

Studies have shown exercise, including walking, releases endorphins and can be as effective as antidepressants. Isolation has also been shown to increase the risk of heart disease. Walking groups can give you both benefits, he said.

«It’s actually almost like the one safe place to exercise,» said Dr. Kermis.

Marriages, friendships

Ray Boudreaux, 81, started going shopping about four times a week with a friend to stay active after bypass surgery.

«It gives old farts like us security, air conditioning, bathrooms, water and lots of friends,» Boudreaux said, as he sat with the group in the food court.

Most shops don’t open until 10 a.m. or later, but Gwendolyn McClendon, who has run Lakeside Cafe du Monde for nearly 25 years, opens the coffee shop at 9 a.m. for commuters.

Many regular travelers know him by name. Boudreaux called her «the queen of shopping.»

Before the outbreak, McClendon organized a weekly dice game in the food court for players called «left, right, center.» Now, not many walkers sit and chat after exercising. But for those who do, «this is their son, they come in, drink and prepare for a conversation,» he said.

Lakeside hosts Christmas, Easter and Cinco de Mayo parties for regulars with Cafe du Monde coffee and donations from stores. Travelers bring baked goods and dishes to share, potluck style.

McClendon said she has seen relationships grow among shoppers, many of whom have lost their partners and are turning to the traveling community for companionship.

«They come here and I know them,» he said, scrolling through a decade’s worth of photos on his phone of past Easter celebrations. Some who are no longer able to walk are brought by their children to visit McClendon.

«We became a family,» McClendon said.