Working Out While Walking Kansas
Bill Carson, Manhattan, enjoys the exercise and health benefits of participating in the K-State Research and Extension Walk Kansas program.
Bill Carson is amazed at what a little teamwork and positive attitude can do.
During an eight-week period in 2005, the 67-year-old with diabetes and five teammates walked across the state of Kansas. And they did it without ever leaving their hometown of Manhattan.
The team was one of more than 3,000 groups across the state who joined Walk Kansas, a program coordinated through K-State Research and Extension. The goal for each team of six is to walk the length of the state of Kansas, a distance of 423 miles, by working out regularly and recording their mileage.
While walking is an emphasized activity, team members can log miles by participating in other forms of physical activity, such as biking, swimming, weight lifting, running, and – in some cases – even dancing.
The concept, it seems, works for Carson and many others.
"I have made a wonderful companionship with a lot of people, and they all helped me stay motivated," he said.
Walk Kansas, coordinated through local K-State Research and Extension offices, promotes physical activity for all ages from young children to older adults. It can be a family experience and bonding time, or even an opportunity to meet new friends.
The program has grown from about 5,900 participants in 2002 to nearly 19,000 in 2005.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends a minimum 30 minutes of physical activity at least five days each week to maintain one’s health. Mike Bradshaw, extension health specialist for K-State Research and Extension, said that about four out of five people do not meet that requirement, and one in three adults is obese.
Walk Kansas is helping change that trend.
"Last year, we had 90 counties and 3,047 teams that registered," said
Bradshaw, adding that surveys of
Kansans show that "we have more
people walking and eating healthier."
In Riley County, about 1,100
Kansans participated in 2005.
Many teams chose the option to track how many fruits and vegetables they ate each day. The goal was to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
"Out of 220 responses to a post-event survey, only one person did not increase fruit and vegetable consumption during the program by at least one serving per day," said Sharolyn Jackson, a K-State Research and Extension agent in Riley County.
Adds Carson: "It’s great because it helps you realize you should be eating more fruits and vegetables."
Statewide, the program is evaluated using the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s Behavior Risk Factor
Surveillance System.
"Every year we post maps on bulletin boards to track everyone’s progress," said Susan Peterson, a participant and recruiter for the program. "We will also meet for a coffee celebration a few months afterwards to talk about how well everyone is doing. We have one team member who lost 30 pounds."
Participants also reported that in addition to increased activity during the eight weeks of the program, many of them were able to sustain physical activity for at least six months afterwards.
"Our teams at the Manhattan Seniors Center have grown from one to six this last year," Peterson said. "We had a lot of people with positive experiences, and I know we’ll have even more next year."
Mike Bradshaw
785-532-5773
mhb@k-state.edu
Multilingual Training
In Wyandotte County, a newly hired Spanish-speaking agent is teaching classes to residents on such topics as diabetes, nutrition, weight, exercise, proper use of medications, and radon and lead education. All materials are available in English and Spanish. Two results include residents asking for lower-cost medicines from their physicians, and trying lower-fat ingredients in traditional foods, such as spinach enchiladas.
Terri Bookless
913-432-3737
Dealing with Limitations
Kansas AgrAbility is a K-State Research and Extension sercice project that assists farmers with disabilities and limitations, such as those caused by chronic disease, like arthritis. For more information, visit the Kansas AgrAbility Web site at www.oznet.k-state.edu/agrabiity or call 800-526-3648.
Kerri Ebert
785-532-2976