Walking Gators prepare to hit the campus trail again next week

October 21, 2010

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida Healthy Gators Coalition encourages all faculty, staff and students of all fitness levels to lace up their walking shoes and go outside for fun and fitness.

As a way to exercise and de-stress during the workday, the Walking Gators program will have fall routes, beginning Tuesday that will last through Dec. 10.

The walking program will kick off at five designated routes throughout campus as well as two off-campus routes. Most routes are led Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and start between 11:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Routes are approximately 20 to 30 minutes. Leaders will be wearing orange shirts with “Walking Gators” printed on the back. No registration is necessary to participate.

Starting this year, Walking Gators participants will also have a new option to keep track of their walking times by using the American Heart Association’s MyStart! Online Tracker. Detailed instructions on how to sign up for the tracker will be posted on the Healthy Gators’ website. Although the online tracker is optional, anyone logging their time online will be eligible to receive a T-shirt and pedometer. There will be two drawings for a total of six giveaways.

“With the fabulous weather lately, now is a great time for Gators to get some exercise mid-day,” said Jane Emmerée, coordinator of the Walking Gators program. “With more routes being offered including the new off-campus routes, I hope even more people participate this year than in the past.”

Walking Gators was established to offer students, faculty and staff the opportunity to meet new people and get fresh air during the workday. Approximately 10,000 collective miles have been walked since the program began in January 2008.

Healthy Gators encourages everyone to participate in the program at least once a week and contribute to making UF healthier for all faculty, staff and students.

Visit Healthy Gators at http://healthygators.ufsa.ufl.edu or call 352-273-4450 for more information about the Walking Gators program.

Healthy Gators is a coalition of students, faculty and staff from more than 40 UF departments and organizations working together to promote a campus environment supportive of the development and maintenance of a healthy body, mind and spirit for all members of the University of Florida community. UF First Lady Chris Machen is the chairwoman of Healthy Gators.