Prepare to Walk Kansas
Rhonda Gordon
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
It is the time of year that we begin to plan for Walk Kansas.
This last Saturday, the weather was just wonderful for a nice long walk. I hope that each of you were able to be outside and enjoy the glimpse of spring offered to us. I would like to invite each of you to join a team for this eight week fitness challenge.
Walk Kansas became a statewide program in 2002, and our county continues to grow in the number of participants. Last year we had 41 teams of six in our county. On the state level, 22,000 people participate in this eight week fitness challenge.
How does Walk Kansas work?
Walk Kansas is a program that motivates people of all ages to get started making small changes in our lifestyle to improve our health. The program is simple, inexpensive and safe, and all you need is a team of six people and a desire to get moving.
Teams do not really need to walk or ride together, although they may if they want to. You simple pool your minutes each week to work towards the goal of 423 miles across the state of Kansas. The physical goal for each team member is 2 ? hours (150 minutes) a week of activity, which is equal to 10 Walk Kansas miles. Walking isn’t the only activity that counts. Walk Kansas goals are based on Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.
Participants will also record daily fruit and vegetable consumption as well as how often they eat whole grain products. Team members will report progress to their team captain on a weekly basis.
Why is a healthy lifestyle important? Many Kansans are at risk for chronic disease because of physical activity and nutrition choices — 37 percent are overweight, and an additional 27 percent are obese; and only 19 percent of Kansans eat enough fruit and vegetables. Only 48 percent of our population in Kansas reaches the minimum goal for physical activity — 150 minutes per week.
Increased activity and better nutrition can postpone or reverse Type 2 diabetes, and reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease, some cancers, and other diseases stemming from obesity. Other benefits of a healthy lifestyle include more energy, better sleep, improved coordination, increased muscle strength and flexibility, a more positive attitude, and a boost in brain power.
This year’s event will have a few changes from past years. All of these changes are fun and exciting. Listed below is an outline for Lyon County’s Walk Kansas 2009.
F Kick-off party from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 10. Come and enjoy the different trails that the Fairgrounds has to offer. We will have mini-Subway sandwiches and other healthy snacks as part of our kick-off party. There will be drawings for door prizes, a chance to walk, and much more. This is come and go; we hope you and your team will spend part of your lunch hour with us. Please let the Extension Office know how many from your team will be at the kick-off by Feb. 23. The kick-off party will be at the Anderson Building on the Lyon County Fairgrounds rain or shine. Thank you to our local Subway Sandwich shops for helping with Walk Kansas activities this year.
F Meet Me at the Fairgrounds is a new addition to Walk Kansas 2009. Meet Me at the Fairgrounds will be every Tuesday during Walk Kansas — March 10 through April 28. Barb Rourk from the Emporia Recreation Commission and I will be at the fairgrounds from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Come join us while walking the different trails. You will be amazed at the mileage the fairgrounds has to offer. If the weather is below 35 degrees or raining meet us at the Flinthills Mall.
F Fat Bucks Buffet will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m April 23 in the Social Hall of the Lee Beran Recreation Center. It is a fun way to introduce the concepts involved in controlling the fat content of our diet by making educated food choices. Come and learn to measure the amount of fat in the food we eat. We will be building our own Subway sandwiches, sponsored by our local Subway Restaurants. This is open to the public for $5 fee. (It is free for Walk Kansas participants.) Please call the Extension Office for reservations by April 16. (341-3220)
F Walk Kansas newsletters will available on-line at www.lyon.ksu.edu. If you would like a hard copy you may stop by the Extension Office and pick one up. We will not be mailing copies this year.
The last change in Walk Kansas 2009 is a $10 registration fee per participant. This includes a T-shirt, Kick-off Party, Fat Bucks Buffet and Meet me at the Fairgrounds. We would like to have teams registered by Feb. 23. Late registration will be accepted until the March 10 Kick-off Party, but will cost $15 per participant.
So, gather your teamates, dust off your exercise shoes and prepare to join us in the eight-week journey across Kansas! Team captain packets are available at the Extension Office, Lee Beran Recreation Center, Walburn’s Gym and Emporia Fitness. If you have questions please call me at the Extension Office. I will be glad to visit with you. I look forward to hearing from all of you soon.
F Rhonda Gordon is the Family and Consumer Sciences agent for K-State Research and Extension in Lyon County. For more information on this column, nutrition, food safety, parenting, financial management, health and safety, e-mail Rhonda at rgordon@ksu.edu call the Lyon County Extension Office at 341-3220.