I Wanna Put on My, My, My, My, My Walkin' Shoes - and Walk with You

Grab your classmates and co-workers, put on comfy walking shoes and head to the Quad for well-deserved fresh air and exercise. Utah State University’s Student Wellness Center introduces Healthy Campus Lunch Walks Oct. 2, 5, 9 and 12.

“We’re inviting everyone to come out, bring a sack lunch, enjoy the beautiful fall weather and cheer each other on as we walk toward better health,” says Jamie McKinlay, USU SWC program coordinator. “We encourage everyone to walk at least a mile, which is about 2.6 laps around the Quad.”

 

The hour-long walks begin at 12:30 p.m. and participants are asked to walk in a counterclockwise direction. The first 100 participants on each day of the lunch walks receive bottled water, and the first 100 participants on Monday, Oct. 2’s inaugural lunch walk day receive a certificate for a free half-hour massage at USU’s Student Wellness Center.

 

The walks are part of Utah State’s efforts to encourage campus wellness and advance to a silver level Healthy Campus Legacy Award as part of the Utah Department of Health’s ‘A Healthier You’ program.

 

Funded by the Utah Department of Health, Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health and community partners, the ‘A Healthier You’ program was initiated in conjunction with the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games. The program recognizes efforts by college campuses, communities, public schools and the private sector to increase opportunities for health-enhancing activities.

 

Utah State received a bronze level Healthy Campus Legacy Award last fall and was the only higher ed campus in the state to receive an award in 2005. UDOH said the school displays nutritional information at campus eateries, strictly enforces laws prohibiting smoking within 25 feet of public buildings and requires all sidewalks to be cleared of snow and vegetation.

 

Last January, USU’s SWC kicked off a 13-week, campus-wide Physical Activity Challenge that concluded with an April awards ceremony. More than 300 students, faculty and staff competed in six-member teams, which tried to rack up the most exercise hours and consume five fruit and vegetable servings each day. The center plans to repeat the popular challenge in 2007.

 

In case of inclement weather, the Healthy Campus Lunch Walks will be held in the Nelson Field House.

 

“If the lunch walks are well attended, we’ll make them ongoing activities,” says McKinlay.

 

For more information, contact McKinlay at 797-1010 or jjmckinlay@cc.usu.edu.

 

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Contact: Jamie McKinlay, 435-797-1010, jjmckinlay@cc.usu.edu