In the News - June 2009
County teams take home top prizes for walking across state
(Attention editors in Jefferson, Cleveland and Miller counties)
LITTLE ROCK - Three county teams took home the top prize in their respective
categories during the spring installment of the Walk Across Arkansas
competition. The three winning teams walked a total of 8,580 miles during the
eight-week event.
The winning counties were Cleveland, Miller and Jefferson.
"This was the best season, yet, for the program," says Dr. Margaret Harris,
assistant professor of health/extension for the University of Arkansas, Division
of Agriculture. "We had 2,572 participants in 346 teams from more than 32
counties."
Walk Across Arkansas is a physical activity program of the division. It’s
held two times each year, once in the spring and once in the fall. The purpose
of the program is to improve the health of Arkansans, one step at a time.
"By increasing the number of steps taken each day, a person can really
improve their overall health," says Harris. "We want all Arkansans to
participate in activities that encourage movement and promote health and Walk
Across Arkansas is a great place to start."
Harris says one of the great things about Walk Across Arkansas is that it’s
inexpensive.
"The only equipment someone needs to participate is a pedometer and a pair of
shoes," she says. Harris also says that Walk Across Arkansas is designed to be
convenient.
"If participants want to walk for their physical activity, that’s great, but
they don’t have to," Harris says. "Any physical activity can be converted to
miles and recorded in the daily log, from dancing, strength training to
gardening."
And Harris really means any physical activity. According to the Web site Walk
Across Texas, from which Walk Across Arkansas takes the mileage conversion, a
130-pound person can burn 133.2 calories and record 2.15 miles for 30 minutes of
raking leaves.
Others winners from the spring Walk Across Arkansas competition include the
following:
Olympians: Winners- Country Walkers- Cleveland County
Runners-up- W8s- Clay County
Royal Jaguars: Winner- Sweaty Betties- Miller County
Runners-up- Holly Creek- Howard County
Walking Warriors- Winners- Branching Out- Jefferson County
Runners-up- Ball ‘N’ Chains- Ashley County
"While these teams and participants received prizes, everyone who
participated was a winner as they each made great strides towards improving
their health," Harris says.
Harris says the fall event will begin in September. For registration
information, contact Harris at
mharris@uaex.edu or visit www.uaex.edu and click on
Health & Nutrition.
The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the U of A Division of
Agriculture.
June 5, 2009
Media Contact: Elizabeth Fortune
Extension Communications Specialist
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2120
efortune@uaex.edu
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