This spring, many A&M System employees will attempt to walk across the Lone Star State. In a manner of speaking, that is.
Various System universities and agencies are taking part in the Walk Across Texas fitness program, and their employees are being encouraged to join in. With this program, participants form teams of up to eight people and keep track of their physical activity for an eight-week period. Each team will have a captain who is responsible for logging each team member’s amount of activity into the Walk Across Texas web site. The goal is for the team to collectively log at least 830 miles, the equivalent of walking from El Paso to Orange.
The purpose of Walk Across Texas is to encourage people to get up and get moving, and participants are encouraged to do it in fun, creative ways. There are many ways to achieve those miles other than by walking. They can jog, swim, bike, rollerblade and use cardio machines at the gym. Even dancing and gardening count. A complete list of qualifying activities and how they equate into miles is provided on the official Walk Across Texas web site.
Also, the program encourages friendly competition among departments as a way of racking up those miles.
Walk Across Texas was developed by Texas Cooperative Extension seven years ago, and it has become a popular annual event in many Texas counties. System Human Resources is working with Human Resources offices from various A&M System universities to increase awareness of the program in their counties and encourage participation. To find out whether a program is available in your area, contact your Human Resources office or your county extension agent. If you live in the Bryan/College Station area and would like more information about the program, contact Marcy Hosking at (979) 361-4440 or county extension agent Dr. Alma Fonseca at (979) 823-0129. You can also visit Walk Across Texas online or www.brazoswat.com (Brazos Valley only).
H.E.A.D.s Up is a monthly column that features articles on a wide array of Health, Exercise And Diet issues. Information for these articles is provided by health and wellness professionals from throughout the A&M System. If you have questions or story ideas for this column, e-mail Bryan Pope.
H.E.A.D.s Up is a monthly column that features articles on a wide array of Health, Exercise And Diet issues. Information for these articles is provided by health and wellness professionals from throughout the A&M System. If you have questions or story ideas for this column, email Ruth McMullan.