Walk Across Texas Program
Spring is in the air, so it is time to get out of that chair, go for a walk and breathe the fresh air. It is that time of year when a lot of folks are going to be increasing their exercise programs for health reasons. All you really need is 30 minutes of exercise a day to realize the benefits of a healthier, happier life. If you would like to participate in a program that helps you track your miles and the health benefi ts associated with your daily exercise you should consider Walk Across Texas! Walking can have a bigger impact on disease risk and various health conditions than about any other remedy that’s readily available to you.
Walking for 2.5 hours a week, that’s just 21 minutes a day—can cut your risk of heart disease by 30%. In addition, this doanywhere, no- equipmentrequired activity has also been shown to reduce the risk of diabetes, cancer, lower blood pressure, and cholesterol, and keep you mentally sharp. In fact, according to some estimates, walking regularly could save Americans over $100 billion a year in health care costs. Even a quick one-minute jaunt pays off. A University of Utah study in 2014 found that for every minute of brisk walking that women did throughout the day, they lowered their risk of obesity by 5%.
Start walking and you’ll be helping to make your community stronger too. Social scientists have found that as more people take to the streets, neighborhood crime rates fall and the local economy improves. It’s also a wonderful way to meet new people and connect with neighbors. Take a walk with your children after dinner- it can promote better communication, reduce behavior problems, and improve academic performance. Walking can even help your mood. A number of studies have found that it’s as effective as drugs for decreasing depression. It can help relieve everyday stress, too. Tension starts to ease as the road stretches out in front of you and moodelevating endorphin levels increase.
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office in Comanche County will host a Walk Across Texas program from April 6th through May 31st. The Walk Across Texas program encourages people to develop a habit of regular physical activity. Teams and individuals walk, run, dance, garden, swim, or do any other form of exercise for an eight‐week period. At the end of that time each individual person’s and team’s total mileage is added up. The goal for each team is to virtually walk the 832 miles it would take to cross Texas during the eight-week period. You can do this by logging in several types of activities that can be converted into miles. To help keep you motivated, you will log in and track your individual and team progress throughout the program. While 832 miles is the goal, there is no limit as to how many miles participants can log!
You can walk together, individually, outside, at a mall, at a grocery store, or at a gym whatever fits your schedule and lifestyle. Keep track of your team’s miles to see if together you can go the equivalent of the 832 miles it would take to walk across Texas in eight weeks. Anyone can participate! Bring your family, friends, neighbors, pets, coworkers, and classmates. Teams consist of 8 people and will need a Team Captain to set up their team. To register for the eight‐week program, visit www.howdyhealth. org and use the League Code: watL-26030452049. Once the team captain has their team set-up, individuals can go in and register under their respective teams. If you would like more information or have questions, call the office 325-3562539 or stop by during our business hours.
Walk Across Texas is a FREE, eight‐week program designed to help Texans establish the habit of regular physical activity. Since 1996, thousands of Texans have participated in Walk Across Texas!