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Stepping into Shape at MWU
Posted July 14, 2009
If you visit MWU this summer, you may notice a lot of people walking all over campus.
You will see people park their car at the farthest spot in the lot so they can walk longer to get to their office. You will see people hand-deliver important documents rather than dropping them into intercampus mail. You will see pairs and groups of colleagues walking the campus loop during lunch hour. You may even occasionally see people pacing back and forth in their offices while talking on the phone.
Why? Take a group of health-oriented, competitive-leaning people, arm them with free pedometers, give them a team challenge, and lots of stepping is the result!
MWU is taking part in the Virgin Health Miles Program as part of the many wellness initiatives spearheaded by our HR department. Everyone on campus who enrolls can receive a GoZone pedometer and has access to an online program to track their steps and other activities. As you achieve various levels in the program, you can win cash prizes or gift cards. The real reward, however, is getting healthy with the support of your colleagues.
The MWU Challenge has 31 teams with a total of 244 participants. The event started July 10 and ends on July 31, and already the competition is fierce. So far, the participants have logged over 8 million steps with an average distance walked of 17 miles--all in just four days!
I am a member of the Admin Team Walkers, which includes Dr. G, a few execs, and several deans. We figure we won't be expected to win, since we spend so much time in meetings and on airplanes. So far, however, we are in 12th place, which is better than expected! A few of my teammates spent long hours walking the mall this weekend, while one colleague shared that her dog now growls at her every time she sees her coming at her with the leash for yet another walk!
While the challenge and opportunity to win prizes is fun, this program truly reflects MWU's commitment to good health for everyone on campus. Having a pedometer attached to you at all times makes you more conscious of getting daily exercise. It can become somewhat pathological to make sure you reach your goal each day, but there is nothing bad about those extra steps.
So, if you see us walking around campus, be sure to cheer us on!
