Q: What is Walk Kansas?

A: Walk Kansas is an inexpensive eight-week health and fitness program sponsored by K-State Research and Extension in collaboration with the Douglas County Community Health Improvement Project. One hundred and one of Kansas’ 105 counties – including Douglas County – have signed up to participate in the 2007 program. It will begin March 11 through May 5.

Friends, family, co-workers, neighbors or others form a team of six to compile miles equal to the distance across Kansas: 423 miles.

Teams do not really need to walk or ride together, although they may if they want to. Participants can exercise at a time or place that’s convenient for them or may want to walk with a friend or exercise buddy – 30 minutes of aerobic exercise five or more times a week is recommended. This is an excellent opportunity to promote health and fitness, and at the same time build unity and teamwork within the workplace, your community or family.

There are many benefits to walking or increasing physical activity, including:

¢ Burns energy: If you walk 30 minutes a day, five days a week, you can lose one pound in five to six weeks.

¢ Speeds up metabolism for up to 12 hours so you’ll burn more calories even at rest.

¢ Increases lean body mass – even when you’re not moving, lean muscle burns more calories than fat.

¢ Stronger muscles make it easier to carry and lift things, plus it makes the heart muscle strong, too.

¢ Coordination and flexibility helps the body move with greater ease and range of motion.

¢ Endurance ensures you won’t tire as easily and gives you more stamina for the rest of the day.

¢ Relieves stress and aids better-quality sleep, which helps the body relax and releases emotional tension.

¢ Stronger bones: Weight-bearing activities will reduce chance of fractures.

Participants also will have the opportunity to participate in an additional nutrition-based component of Walk Kansas. Good nutrition is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. To encourage Walk Kansas participants to consume a diet rich in fruits and vegetables each day, servings of fruits and vegetables can be documented along with physical activity.

This year, we also are including a new component called “Lighten UP Kansas,” if you choose to participate in it. The Lighten Up Challenge is designed to help people stop the yearly gain of 1 to 2 pounds.

The challenge will require Walk Kansas participants to increase their physical activity from 30 minutes to 60 minutes each day, five or more days a week. Those who do the Lighten Up Kansas challenge goal must also reduce calorie intakes by 100 calories a day for five or more days each week.

Q: What if I’m not a walker?

A: While this program is called Walk Kansas, other physical activities count as well. Fifteen minutes of approved aerobic exercise, such as bicycling, running, swimming, weight training, playing basketball, etc., can be counted as the equivalent of one mile.

Q: How do I keep track of my miles? And report them?

A: Walkers receive a calendar-like log to track miles, which is turned in to a team captain and reported on the Walk Kansas Web site or to the Douglas County Extension Office weekly. Progress of the Walk Kansas teams from across the state will be able to be viewed on the Walk Kansas Web site.

Q: What does the program cost?

A: The program cost is $5 for each individual or $10 for each household (family). An optional “Walk Kansas” T-shirt in Irish green can be ordered for an additional $5 (or $7 for sizes 2X or 3X).

Each participant will receive a weekly newsletter (nine issues) via e-mail or postage-paid mail. In addition, we are planning to “showcase” the Walk Kansas program by walking in the Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade, followed by a Walk Kansas reception for participants and key leaders in the county and state.

Q: How do teams sign up for Walk Kansas?

A: All you need to do is contact K-State Research & Extension – Douglas County at 843-7058, stop by at 2110 Harper St. (located on the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds), go online to our Web site at www.oznet .ksu.edu/douglas/, or e-mail mkalb@ksu.edu and ask for a captain’s packet. The packet includes information about Walk Kansas and registration forms for each team member. Registration is requested by 1 p.m. March 1; however, we will accept registrations through 1 p.m. March 16.

Q: I’m not sure if I can get five more people to make up a team. Is there any way that I can still participate?

A: Yes, you can. We will assist in coordinating participants to make up a team if you can’t get your own team together. Just give me a call or e-mail me so we can get your name on a list. Once we have a group of six interested participants, we will randomly select a captain who will coordinate your team.