Walking contest to kick off ‘Journey to Fitness’ for SU faculty and staff

Walking contest to kick off ‘Journey to Fitness’ for SU faculty and staffAugust 30, 2006Patrick Farrellpmfarrel@syr.edu

The School of Education’s Department of Exercise Science is sponsoring a “Journey to Fitness” for all Syracuse University faculty and staff. The program commences on Monday, Sept. 11, with a month-long walking contest and continues through Oct. 6 with a series of seminars and workshops covering a range of health and fitness-related subjects. The contest and the “Journey to Fitness” are part of the School of Education’s centennial celebration.

The walking contest will pit teams of four against each other in a month-long competition. Teams of walkers will follow several routes mapped out with pre-counted steps. The routes include the Huntington Hall block, the Manley Field House indoor track, Comstock Avenue, Skytop and the Quad.

At the end of the four weeks, teams will report their accumulated steps to the Department of Exercise Science, which will tabulate their totals. Gift certificates for $100, $60 and $40 from Dick’s Sporting Goods will be awarded to the three teams with the most accumulated steps.

“We are really excited about this opportunity to share our department’s expertise in exercise, health and fitness with the entire campus,” says Lori Ploutz-Snyder, professor and chair of the Department of Exercise Science. “In addition to the walking contest, we have a great panel of experts lined up for the seminar series. There is something for everyone.”

Faculty and staff members interested in participating in the walking contest must register by Sept. 8. Registration forms are available from the Department of Exercise Science, 201 Women’s Building, or can be downloaded from http://soe.syr.edu/newsevents/registrationform.pdf. Each participant will receive a free T-shirt upon registering.

The contest is inspired by a recommendation from the Surgeon General that 30 minutes of activity — including walking — are required each day to maintain or achieve good health.

“In an era where most of us spend countless hours in front of computers and in offices all day, and where the sum total of our exercise can be the walk from our car to a building or to the corner for a cup of coffee, we all gain by fitting fitness into our lives” says School of Education Dean Douglas Biklen. “I hope the walking contest wins a few of us over to a regular regimen of walking to stay in shape.”

In addition to the walking contest, the “Journey to Fitness” includes the following events. Each 30-minute workshop will be held twice on the scheduled date, from 12:00?12:30 p.m. and 12:45?1:15 p.m.

WEEK ONE

Tuesday, Sept. 12, 302 Schine “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Walking”Speaker: Cameron Hall; Presider: Jill KanaleyThis workshop will give tips on how to get the best results from a walking program.

Wednesday, Sept. 13, 302 Schine “Fitness-Related Injuries”Speaker: Tim Neal, head trainer; Presider: Tim FairchildAthletic trainers will talk about how to avoid exercise-related injuries and what to do if such injuries occur.

WEEK TWO

Tuesday, Sept. 19 “Nutrition and Exercise”228B Schine Speaker: Keith DeRuisseau; Presider: Jill KanaleyThis workshop will provide information on good nutritional habits.

Wednesday, Sept. 20, 228B Schine “Exercise and Time Management”Speaker: Tim Fairchild; Presider: Scott Collier This session will provide ideas for how to fit physical activity into your busy week.

WEEK THREE

Tuesday, Sept. 26, 228B Schine”Blood Pressure and Exercise”Speakers: health & exercise science majors; Presider: Scott CollierLearn what happens to your blood pressure when you exercise and how exercise can help lower high blood pressure. This session will give suggestions for the best type of exercises for those with high blood pressure.

Wednesday, Sept. 27, 228B Schine “If the Shoe Fits…”Speaker: Brendan Jackson, Fleet Feet; Presider: Summer CookThis workshop will discuss how to choose the proper footwear for physical activity.

WEEK FOUR

Tuesday, Oct. 3, 304A Schine”Get the Family Moving!”Speaker: physical education majors; Presider: Elaine GregoryThis workshop will give you ideas about how to make physical activity a family affair.

Wednesday, Oct. 4, 304A Schine”Ask the expert”Speakers: exercise science faculty; Presider: Lori Ploutz-SnyderFaculty from the Department of Exercise Science will be available to answer questions about exercise.

For additional information about the walking contest or any of the other “Journey to Fitness” events, contact the Department of Exercise Science at (315) 443-2114, e-mail Elaine Gregory at ergregor@syr.edu, or visit http://soe.syr.edu/newsevents/JOURNEYTOFITNESS.pdf.