Be
Active in Your Community
This
last Thursday evening, a meeting was held to share information with the public
about the Valdosta-Lowndes County Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan that has
been developed up to this point. This was the second of two such meetings. The
first meeting was in March 2007 and over 60 members of our community, local and
county politicians and a number of City Managers were present at the meeting.
Ideas were shared by those that attended to help shape the recommendations of
the consultants hired to produce the Master Plan. During the second meeting,
results of the suggestions offered from the first meeting and how this Master
Plan is to be integrated into future transit alternatives was presented and open
for comments. There are projects in the works currently that this plan will have
an impact on, as well as many future projects. Your opportunity to be heard or
read is not over. Check out the City of Valdosta web site for more information
and see the maps that were presented Thursday evening. Comments may also be
forwarded to Dan McGee, MPO Planner via email: dmcgee@sgrdc.com,
phone: 229.333.5277, fax: 229.333.5312, or in person at the South Georgia
Regional Development Center located at 327 W. Savannah Avenue. I encourage you
to take the time and energy to look at the plan, think about it and offer your
thoughts. Consider that the more active our community becomes, the more
attractive our region becomes for future businesses to locate here. Help our
City and County make the best possible plan – be active in your community.
Reading some current statistics in a periodical, the State of Georgia is going
in the wrong direction. The GA Department of Human Resources states that 11,000
children in Georgia aged two to four are obese; 24% of third-graders are obese
and 16% of middle-school students are obese. Statistics also show that childhood
obesity is more likely to lead to adult obesity. One of many factors is that 50%
of Georgia’s middle- and high-school students watch three or MORE hours of
television a day. This is a double whammy – not only are the children not
being active during that period of time, but the advertisements offered are
designed to teach the viewers how to nag their parents to get the fast food,
latest sugary cereal or empty calorie treat. Our health in Georgia is going in
the wrong direction, and is starting early.
There are health costs that are directly related to our State’s level of
obesity. A figure of $2 billion per year is the estimated amount of money spent
on obesity related illness. That figure breaks down to $250 per Georgian per
year. As you are already aware, nothing related to health costs are going down,
so this figure will only increase, especially factoring in the rate at which our
children are becoming obese.
The current generation is the FIRST generation expected to have a shorter life
span than the previous generation. Here we are the greatest country on earth,
and our children are expected to live a shorter life than we are. Obesity is
known to cause: premature death, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, high
cholesterol, some cancers, type-2 diabetes, asthma, gall bladder disease,
osteoarthritis and depression is a side effect also. What on that list is
something you want for yourself or your children?
The silver lining in all the doom and gloom offered above…YOU HAVE THE POWER
TO MAKE THE CHANGE! You are the parent that uses resources available to learn
what you can do. You are being the parent that shares and educates your children
in making choices that are healthy. You are going to encourage activities away
from the television, video games and frequent eating of empty calories. You are
going to be active in your community to help cause change so that it is safe for
your children to walk or ride a bike to school or the store. You will support
the local school lunch programs that are offering healthy choices for our young
people to enjoy and expect your child to eat those foods. It will take effort
and it will take change, but I know you are strong enough make it happen and
change the dire trend of our great State.
Kevin’s Race to End Cancer was run on Saturday to raise awareness and money
for the American Cancer Society. The event included a 5K, 2 mile and 1mile.
Results will be posted on www.getactivevaldosta.com,
GetActiveSouthGeorgia yahoo group, www.runningintheusa.com
and Running Journal magazine.
Winnersville Triathlon will be held on 09/08/07 and starts at 7:30 AM. Flyers
are available now. The distances include 0.25 mile swim, 14 mile bike and 3.6
mile run. Many are in training for this local Valdosta event; you too can be a
part. If you are not comfortable with all three events, there is a relay offered
as well. The YMCA Valdosta is offering help on the swimming preparation –
check with them on what they are offering. Get your family or friends together
and each takes a leg of the event. Keep listening to NewsTalk 105.9 FM WVGA on
Wednesday evenings from 6 to 7PM, to get updates and training
suggestions/opportunities. On August 29th, one of the organizers will
be the guest and the topic will only be about the triathlon. The show starts at
6PM every Wednesday evening on NewsTalk 105.9 FM WVGA.
Monday, September 10th there will be a Fitness 101 class offered for
people interested in finding out how to start or improve their walking or
running programs. Class starts at 7PM at Get Active – Running and more store
on North Ashley Street – use www.getactivevaldosta.com
to get the directions.
Wendy’s and Wild Adventures are teaming up to present the Wendy’s 5K Wild
Adventures Run for Adoption to be held at Wild Adventures Theme Park. September
29th needs to be set aside for you and the family to be involved with
this event. Applications are now available at the store or we will email you a
copy. The first 50 applications received will have a pass to get into the park
that day. Go to www.getactivevaldosta.com
and request an application and one will be sent quickly.
The
4th edition of the St John Road Race is being presented on October 27
at 8:30AM. People who have requested an application through email have already
started to register. Go to www.getactivevaldosta.com
and request your application today.
There
are weekly, FREE activities for the runners and cyclists in the area. Runners
can show up at Get Active on Saturday and Sunday morning at 7AM for runs from
1.5 to 8 plus mile runs. Thursday morning is a women’s ONLY run, and the other
runs are all-comers. Cyclists can meet for rides on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday,
Saturday and Sunday. For more information, check out the web page at www.azaleacitycyclists.com.
Do you have results you want to share about yourself, a loved one or friend? Do
you want to share what motivates you to being active? Send an email to me at Get
Active – Running and more.
If you have questions about your walking, running or other training, drop me an
email and I will do my level best to answer your questions. Check out www.getactivevaldosta.com
to get connected. Listen to the Get Active South Georgia radio show on Wednesday
evenings from 6 to 7PM on NewsTalk 105.9 FM WVGA to receive additional
information or to ask questions.
Thank
you,
Todd
& Alice Smoot
GET
ACTIVE
Running
and more
GET
ACTIVE SOUTH GEORGIA
as
heard on
NewsTalk
105.9 FM WVGA
Wednesdays
6
to 7 PM - call into the show at 229-241-1059
GET
ACTIVE SOUTH GEORGIA
as read weekly in the Sunday VDT - look for us
www.getactivevaldosta.com
3200-C
North Ashley Street
Valdosta,
GA 31602
229-219-0010
229-219-0012
(F)
In
the long run, one must have goals to succeed.
"To
give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift" Steve
Prefontaine