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Fitness challenge asks county to walk it off
By MITCH ANDERSON, Star Tribune

May 21, 2008

While working for Hennepin County Public Health Promotions (HCPHP) during the past eight years, Dianne Blaydes noticed a troubling trend.

From 1998 to 2006, Hennepin County records showed that the percentage of adult residents classified as overweight or obese had increased from 48 to 54.

"Through some of our more or less surveillance of Hennepin County's health of its residents and environment, we've learned that Hennepin County residents are significantly overweight and physically inactive," Blaydes said, adding that experts only expect the trend to continue.

To help promote more active lifestyles, HCPHP is sponsoring its first annual Step To It Community Challenge -- a competition pitting five metro suburbs against one another to see whose residents can accumulate the most steps taken in a four-week period.

Other forms of exercise, such as cycling and jogging, will also be converted to step equivalents and counted in the final tally.

The challenge began Friday and features the cities of Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Robbinsdale and St. Louis Park.

Blaydes said her department thought the best way to increase physical fitness in the community was to have it focus around an activity everyone can do: walking.

As for the competition aspect of the challenge, that just provides motivation, she said.

Alice Browne, a Brooklyn Park resident for more than 30 years, said she already walks at least 10,000 steps per day and thought the challenge would be a good way to get more people involved.

"People don't necessarily like to walk by themselves," Browne said. "[This competition] might give them a reason to start."

Residents aren't the only ones getting involved, either. Council members of the neighboring cities of Golden Valley and St. Louis Park have already challenged each other in the competition.

Mitch Anderson is a University of Minnesota student reporter on assignment for the Star Tribune.

© 2008 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.

Residents of Crystal and Robbinsdale are being asked to "step up" this month.

The cities are two of five northwest suburbs participating in the "Step to It Communities Challenge," which begins Friday, May 16, and runs for four weeks. Participants are asked to keep track of how many steps they take.

This is the first year suburban Hennepin County cities are participating in the challenge. Other participating suburbs are Brooklyn Park, Golden Valley and St. Louis Park.

The "Step to It" program has been a "big success" in Minneapolis neighborhoods since its inception in 2004, county officials say.

Participants track how many steps they take on a weekly basis. They enter the information online, via telephone or by fax.

Other physical activities can be converted into walking steps, said Angie Martin, Robbinsdale's "Step to It" program supervisor. For example, mowing your lawn with a power mower for 15 minutes is equivalent to taking 2,273 steps, according to a "Step to It" brochure.

Walking reduces blood cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, increases cardiovascular endurance, boosts bone strength and helps manage weight, the brochure stated.

The city with the highest average number of steps at the end of four weeks will win the challenge and receive a community celebration from Hennepin County.

The top 100 walkers in Robbinsdale will receive a T-shirt. The first 200 registrants in Crystal get a free T-shirt and pedometer. The city of Crystal will also invite all participants onstage at its Taste of Crystal celebration at Becker Park in mid-June, where walkers will receive a special gift.

Tom Marshall, Robbinsdale's parks director, said he is hopeful residents will respond favorably to the challenge. But this being the first year of the challenge, he said the city would be paying particular attention to the response.

Carol Wachter, the recreation supervisor in Crystal, said she hopes 500 residents sign up and "of course, to win this fun and friendly competition."

The cities have worked closely with the Hennepin County Public Health Department in recent weeks to establish and mark designated routes on paved sidewalks or trails. In Robbinsdale, a trail has been established and marked around Crystal Lake. Walkers in Crystal are encouraged to track their steps at Bassett Creek and Valley Place Park. A 3.6-mile loop will connect the two parks.

To get a map of the routes in Robbinsdale, visit the city's website at www.ci.robbinsdale.mn.us, or pick up a copy at Robbinsdale City Hall, 4100 Lakeview Ave. N. Maps for routes in Crystal are included in that city's registration packet, which is available at the department's office, 4800 Douglas Dr.

For info in Robbinsdale: 763-531-1278. For info in Crystal: 763-531-1153. Registration is also available online at www.steptoit.org.

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