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Three county teams took home the top prize in their respective categories during the spring installment of the Walk Across Arkansas competition. The three winning teams walked a total of 8,580 miles during the eight-week event.
The winning counties were Cleveland, Miller and Jefferson.
“This was the best season, yet, for the program,” says Dr. Margaret Harris, assistant professor of health/extension for the University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture. “We had 2,572 participants in 346 teams from more than 32 counties.”
Walk Across Arkansas is a physical activity program of the division. It’s held two times each year, once in the spring and once in the fall. The purpose of the program is to improve the health of Arkansans, one step at a time.
“By increasing the number of steps taken each day, a person can really improve their overall health,” says Harris. “We want all Arkansans to participate in activities that encourage movement and promote health and Walk Across Arkansas is a great place to start.”
Harris says one of the great things about Walk Across Arkansas is that it’s inexpensive.
“The only equipment someone needs to participate is a pedometer and a pair of shoes,” she says. Harris also says that Walk Across Arkansas is designed to be convenient.
“If participants want to walk for their physical activity, that’s great, but they don’t have to,” Harris says. “Any physical activity can be converted to miles and recorded in the daily log, from dancing, strength training to gardening.”
And Harris really means any physical activity. According to the Web site Walk Across Texas, from which Walk Across Arkansas takes the mileage conversion, a 130-pound person can burn 133.2 calories and record 2.15 miles for 30 minutes of raking leaves.
Others winners from the spring Walk Across Arkansas competition include the following:
Olympians
Winners- Country Walkers- Cleveland County
Runners-up- W8s- Clay County
Royal Jaguars
Winner- Sweaty Betties- Miller County
Runners-up- Holly Creek- Howard County
Walking Warriors
Winners- Branching Out- Jefferson County
Runners-up- Ball ‘N’ Chains- Ashley County
“While these teams and participants received prizes, everyone who participated was a winner as they each made great strides towards improving their health,” Harris says.
Harris says the fall event will begin in September. For registration information, contact Harris at or visit http://www.uaex.edu and click on Health & Nutrition.
The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the U of A Division of Agriculture.