Registration for Spring Walk Across Arkansas opens March 11; start walking March 25
March 1, 2019
By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast facts
- Walk Across Arkansas registration opens March 11
- Registration, info here: walk.uada.edu
- Eight-week walking period begins March 25
(350 words)
(Newsrooms - With file art of walkers: https://flic.kr/s/aHskTLt1zv )
(Download this story in MS Word format here.)
LITTLE ROCK – Can eight weeks change your life and improve your health? Taking part in Walk Across Arkansas might just do that, say organizers of the statewide public health initiative.
“We’ve had past participants tell us that getting in the habit of walking or taking part in other fitness activities during that eight weeks did change their lives,” said Addie Wilson, extension program associate-health for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “Many of our participants said they had more energy, slept better, strengthened their relationships, lost weight and/or inches, improved their blood pressure, improved their blood panels, and controlled their stress.”
Last year, Walk Across Arkansas participants logged more than 1.2 million minutes of exercise time. Wilson said that equated to a healthcare cost savings of $30,356.
Registration for the spring edition of Walk Across Arkansas begins March 11. The eight weeks of Walk Across Arkansas begins March 25. Registration and other information may be found at walk.uada.edu ; or contact your county extension office.
While participants don’t actually walk across the state, participants come from all over Arkansas. Walkers can sign up to log their minutes of activity as individuals or be a part of a team of two to 10 members. The teams compete to compile more minutes than any other.
The program has an online leader board so participants can see how they’re doing compared to other teams and individuals, counties and districts.
“Most participants in our program choose to walk, but you may do any type of physical activity it increases your heart rate or you break a sweat for at least 10 consecutive minutes,” Wilson said.
“Youth are also becoming involved in school classrooms and are able to register with their teacher as the captain,” she said.
“Most of our participants enjoy the camaraderie they share with team members,” Wilson said.
Participants can also sign up for weekly newsletters throughout the program.
To learn more about this and other health initiatives offered by the Cooperative Extension Service, contact your county office or visit www.uaex.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact your county extension office as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
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Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Dir. of Communication Services
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uada.edu
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