- November 27, 2024
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The Mayor’s Health and Fitness Challenge will kick off Jan. 21 with new features for 2017. Fitness teams will offer support and encouragement for participants, and youngsters can take part along with their parents.
The event, which aims to help adults get or stay healthy and fit and kids get active, will run through April 15. The Jan. 21 kickoff will be 7-11 a.m. at Nova Community Center, 440 N. Nova Road.
Challengers can register now or at the kickoff event and the cost is $25 per person. There is also a family rate. Register online or at City Hall, Room 101, until Jan. 20. For information, visit ormondbeach.org/mayorsfitness or call Christina Maguire at 676-3323.
At the kickoff, challengers will pick up their packet, goody bag, T-shirt, calendar of activities and get weighed in. They will also be able to meet all of the event partners, including fitness centers, restaurants, strategy coaches, health food stores, etc.
In the challenge, adults are weighed at the kickoff and again at the end, with the chance of winning cash prizes for various achievements. Challengers will get personal training at fitness centers and can take part in a wide range of activities, such as tennis, yoga, zumba, biking, jazzercise, racquetball, kayaking, etc.
Very popular, Maguire said, are the cooking classes at restaurants, because you get to eat what you make. Cooking, shopping and nutrition tips are also part of the challenge.
Children can take part in the challenge with their parents. Possible events include walks on the beach, hike through Central Park, swimming at the YMCA, frisbee, bowling, yoga and skating.
“The kids’ part is about being active and having fun with mom dad,” Maguire said.
The idea for the kids activity component came from Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington. He said he had received comments from participants asking for a chance to get the whole family involved.
“Also, with so many electronic distractions today it is important for children to remember to stay active. Being able to participate in the challenge will give children a chance to put down the phones and video games and take a walk, bike ride or play catch,” Partington said.
“The final reason is to teach our children that health and fitness is a priority for the whole family for a lifetime,” he said.
New this year, each fitness center taking part will form a team and will have a team captain. The teams will provide individual training, and the benefit of teamwork. The teams will compete against each other and have the chance to win cash prizes.
“It’s a blast and a half.”
CHRISTINA MAGUIRE, Mayor’s Fitness Challenge coordinator
“The team leader will be your coach and help you reach your goals,” Maguire said.
Many people who have taken part in the challenge in the past have enjoyed making new friends, Maguire said, and say having the support from others is motivating.
“The teams will have an element of accountability,” Maguire said. “And if you meet people and have fun, you’ll stick to it.”
Challengers are not required to join a fitness team and can still take part in everything in the event.
Also new this year will be a “couch to 5K,” for people who would like to slowly work up to a 5K run. Over the nine weeks of the event, challengers will build up to running the Tomoka 5K on March 25.
A friendly competition is planned on the final day of the Fitness Challenge participants can win cash prizes.
“It’s a blast and a half,” Maguire said. “It’s going to be so much fun.”
