Walk Kansas 2016 April 3rd - May 28th
Ashley Goudey, Nutrition, Food Safety & Health Agent
Want to feel better and have more energy? Maybe you need to blow off some steam from a stressful day or need to get better sleep. Regular exercise can help you achieve this and more. The health benefits from regular exercise and physical activity are hard to ignore, and they are available to everyone, regardless of age, sex, or physical ability. Another fantastic thing about exercise — it’s fun! Walk Kansas is based on Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. In 2016, we want you to walk tall and walk strong as you and your team journey across the state.
Begin by gathering a team of 6 individuals and select one of these challenges.
Challenge 1) Each person reaches the minimum goal for physical activity – 2½ hours of moderate/vigorous activity per week. Collectively, the team would walk 423 miles – the distance across the state.
Challenge 2) Take a meandering trek diagonally across the state from Troy to Elkhart. Each person logs 4 hours of activity per week which would take the team 750 miles.
Challenge 3) Walk the perimeter of Kansas – 1200 miles -- with each person logging 6 hours of moderate/vigorous activity per week.
What activities count toward Walk Kansas Minutes? You can report all activity you do at a moderate and vigorous level, as long as the activity is performed for at least 10 consecutive minutes. You can also include minutes you spend doing strengthening exercises. If you wear an activity tracker (wrist tracker or pedometer) you can start counting steps after you reach 6,000 steps in a day. Report 15 minutes of activity for every 2,000 steps you take above 6,000.
To register for Walk Kansas, contact your Local Extension Office. Cost per participant is $8 and Walk Kansas T-shirts are available at an extra cost. Registration will soon be open! Contact your local Post Rock Extension Office to receive your registration packet when they become available! Lincoln 524-4432, Beloit 738-3597, Mankato 378-3174, Osborne 346-2521, or Smith Center 282-6823.
