While the weather can’t quite make up it’s mind about winter or spring, I’m excited about an annual program that is kicking off in a few weeks. Walk Kansas is an 8-week initiative designed to help participants build healthier habits through physical activity, nutrition, and overall wellness.
The program runs March 22 through May 16 and registration opens on March 1 for individuals and teams. Ideal team size is 4 and it can be a fun internal competition for offices to have several teams.
Participants track minutes of activity or steps through the program’s online portal. The system automatically converts activity to miles by counting each 15 minutes of activity as one mile or each 2,000 steps as one mile.
Walk Kansas is built on the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, which recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. Moderate activity is described as working at a pace where a person can carry on a conversation, but not sing.
“It’s not just a leisurely stroll,” Sharolyn Jackson, Walk Kansas state leader of K-State Extension, said. “It’s picking up the pace a bit to get the heart rate going.”
The program also encourages participants to incorporate strengthening activities at least two days per week, such as resistance bands, light weights or body-weight exercises.
Participants can also track their fruit and vegetable intake which can lead to the realization that we are eating less servings than we think.
Each week, Walk Kansas Wednesdays will be featured on the Cottonwood Extension District Facebook page and will include top placing teams across the District as well as features from the Walk Kansas newsletters. Theses posts will include tips for increasing activity, managing stress, and improving sleep. Be on the lookout for some fun ways to interact!
A standard registration fee of $10 covers access to the online tracking system and program materials. Youth through high school may participate at no cost. More information is available at walkkansas.org or by calling one of our Cottonwood Extension District offices.
Gather up a group of friends, family, or co-workers and lace up your shoes to Walk Kansas!
Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness!
Michelle Beran is a Family and Community Wellness Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other K-State Extension resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.
All Kansas Extension education programs and materials are available to all individuals without discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.