Morinville residents can help their town stride towards victory next month as part of a province-wide fitness challenge.
The Town of Morinville put out a call this week for residents to take part in the Communities ChooseWell UWALK Challenge.
The contest is a partnership between UWALK.ca and Communities ChooseWell, said Megan Pharo, program officer for the latter group. (Both are fitness-promotion groups backed by the province.)
“The idea is to get people walking more.”
In celebration of Winter Walk Day (Feb. 5), the two groups are challenging communities to get walking this February and to track their steps on the UWALK website. Whichever community has walked the most at the end of the month will get grants and possibly a walkability workshop.
This is the first year the town has taken part in the challenge, said Melonie Dziwenka, the town’s community program co-ordinator.
“We get kind of dormant in the winter,” Dziwenka said, despite the presence of trails and outdoor exercise equipment in town. She hoped this contest would get people more active.
“Exercise can be outdoors four seasons of the year.”
The St. Albert Trekkers Volkssport Club does regular walks through Morinville and St. Albert year round, said group treasurer Peter Van Bostelen.
Walking gives you a wealth of cardiovascular and musculature benefits, he said.
“It’s invigorating!” he said of winter walking. “Just being outside – that’s living, man!”
Van Bostelen advised walkers to use walking sticks and/or strap-on grips at this time of year due to ice.
“Even though it’s icy and cold, you can dress for cold easily.”
Dziwenka encouraged residents to create a profile at uwalk.ca and to link it to the “Communities ChooseWell – Town of Morinville” account using the site’s “Connect” tab. They can then upload their activity levels in February in terms of steps (with a pedometer) or minutes (with a watch).
Dziwenka hoped residents would walk for at least 15 minutes a day to start, with an eventual goal of 30 a day. If this contest catches on, the town might organize some mass winter walks in the future.
She also wants residents to email her at [email protected] if they take part in Winter Walk Day – an event that encourages people to walk outdoors for at least 15 minutes. Those that do will be entered into a draw for prizes.
Visit arpaonline.ca/program/choosewell/events/ for more on the UWALK challenge. For Winter Walk Day, check out shapeab.com.
