 Walk Across Arkansas
September 21 - November 15
Team
Categories Results (PDF)
Introduction
"Walk Across Arkansas" is a statewide physical
activity campaign and friendly competition coordinated by the
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture - Cooperative
Extension Service, Family Consumer Sciences Department. By simply
increasing the number of steps taken every day, Arkansans can
improve their health—one day, one step at a time. If you’ve wanted
to bring in more activity into your lifestyle, "Walk Across
Arkansas" is the place to start!
How it works
We invite all Arkansans to participate in
activities that will encourage movement and promote health. By
simply taking a few extra "steps," you will be well on your journey
towards health. "Walk Across Arkansas" is an 8-week program (offered
in the fall and the spring) that is simple, inexpensive and safe.
All you need is a pedometer, a team of up to eight people and a
desire to get moving. Any kind of physical activity can be recorded.
The mileage you gather from an entire day is recorded.
1. First, form a walking team of up to eight people. This
includes anyone you know (friends, family, church members,
clubs, etc.)
2. Choose a team captain and pick a name for your team.
(You will have one captain + up to seven members)
3. Fill out your Individual Registration Form and give to your
Captain. Be sure to sign and date your form. Team captains
can return all member forms to their county agent.
4. Record your mileage from each day. You are
encouraged to wear your pedometer all day. The pedometer
will keep track of all your steps. Record mileage into your
Individual Mileage Log. If your pedometer does not record miles
walked, or you are doing other activities, here are some
tips on conversions:
a. 2000 steps = 1 mile
i. Example: If you walk 5,500 steps, do
the following conversion: 5,500/2000 = 2.75 miles.
b. Most people choose to walk, but our goal is to make activity
fun. So, if you want to count other activities too (such as
rollerblading, dancing, biking), here is a conversion chart to help
you record your mileage.
Select this link.
5. Try to add more activity to what you normally do so that at
the end of eight weeks you can see an improvement. Most researchers
agree that 10,000 steps a day is a great goal to reach for improving
health. To lose weight, strive to reach 12,000 - 15,000 steps per
day. If you feel you cannot reach these goals at this time, no
worries. Just strive for an extra 30 minutes of walking a day in
addition to what you normally do with everyday activities. For more
information on setting goals,
select this link.
6. Don’t forget to reset your pedometer to 0 every morning!
7. Report your weekly total to your team captain.
8. Team captains will add up all the members’ miles for the week
and report the team total to your County Extension Agent.
a. Teams with less than eight members will divide
total miles walked by number on team and then
multiply the result by "8" to determine total miles
walked.
9. Prizes will be awarded (See below
for details). However, what is great about this program is that
all of us are winners because you all win the benefits of health
and feeling much better.
10. Plan to have lots of FUN! Please don’t forget to turn
in your "Program Wrap-Up Form" to your
Team Captain. This will help us keep track of how well all
of us are doing!
Checklist for Captains: Captains are responsible to turn
in the following forms to their County Agents:
a. Individual Registration Forms
b. Individual Mileage Logs
c. Walk Across Arkansas Wrap-Ups
d. Team Captain’s Log
NOTE: Only those teams who turn in all their forms will be
eligible for prize drawing at the final recognition and awards
activity.
Why should you join?
Obesity is now considered an epidemic. Arkansas is ranked as one
of the least-healthy states in the country with over 60 percent of
Arkansans having an unhealthy weight. Increasing physical activity
is one very important way to lose weight. Moving more can also:
- Make you feel better and reduce
stress
- Reduce blood pressure and cholesterol
- Improve your blood sugar control
- Reduce your risk for cancer
- Improve your energy levels
- Strengthen bones and muscles
- Improve stiffness associated with
arthritis
- Control your weight once you’ve
lost it
- Sleep better
- Control your dietary cravings
- Reduce depression
- Control anxiety
- Improve circulation
- Lengthen your life
- Aid with mental function
And the best part yet, if you exercise with family and friends,
it will also give you a chance to expand your social circle and
improve relationships.
It’s a win-win situation…how can you resist?
Prizes
Since everyone is starting off at different levels, we want
everyone to feel encouraged to reach their personal best. For this
reason, we will be awarding 3 levels of prizes this year. After the
miles are logged for Week 1, we will create 3 levels of walkers and
1 most improved:
The Olympians
These are walkers who are well-seasoned and have an edge over the
competition (i.e., this group will have logged in at the top tier at
the start)
Royal Jaguars
These are walkers who have already started walking for exercise
and want to reach their personal best (i.e., this group will have
logged in at the middle tier at the start)
Walking Warriors
These are beginning walkers who’ve decided to take back
their health. They may not get in as many miles as the other tiers
in the beginning, but they are certainly going to try to catch up!
(i.e., this group will have logged in at the lower tier at the
start)
High Steppers
Most improved team between Week 1 and Week 8.
Four prizes will be awarded, one each to the following teams:
The Olympian Award (most miles walked total in the Olympian
tier)
The Royal Jaguar Award (most miles walked total in the Royal
Jaguar tier)
The Walking Warrior Award (most miles walked total in the
Walking Warrior tier)
The High Stepper Award (team that showed most improvement)
Agents will also receive prizes for:
Agent with the most teams from his/her county
Agent with winning teams will receive a prize.
Other useful information:
Be sure to check out the rest of the
articles
of interest for more educational material (i.e., safety,
proper walking attire, eating right, tips on walking, etc).
Good luck and Happy Trails!
Questions?
If you have questions, please contact your
County
Extension Agent or the Health Specialist Margaret Harris, PhD MS
at
501-671-2295,
mharris@uaex.edu.
Links of Interest
Articles of interest
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