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This journey to fitness begins with Step Up
By ALEXANDRA ZAYAS
Published February 1, 2006
Footsteps will fill Florida this month in a relay to promote physical fitness. And the pedometer starts rolling in Tampa today.
Hillsborough County is one of four starting points for Step Up, Florida! 2006, a campaign organized by the Florida Department of Health to encourage people to exercise and embrace healthy lifestyles.
Participants in comfy sneakers will pass "fitness flags" on four routes branching throughout each of Florida's 67 counties from the Keys to the Panhandle, and merging in Duval County for a final celebration Feb. 28.
Today, walkers will follow the "fitness flag" from Curtis Hixon Park in downtown Tampa north through several spots in Hillsborough and over the Friendship Trail Bridge to pass it off to Pinellas participants who will then spend Thursday walking.
The event is free, and, hoping to inspire some healthy habits for the rest of the year, coordinators will hand out free pedometers and water bottles.
Wednesday's kickoff will feature a health fair announcing fitness opportunities in Hillsborough County, speeches by city officials and live entertainment from the Blake High School Dancerettes.
This year's slogan, "60 A Day - The Florida Way" refers to the Agriculture Department's dietary guideline suggesting that an hour of physical activity per day will help manage body weight and prevent gradual weight gain.
The latest health statistics from the state Health Department indicate that for every 100,000 Hillsborough residents, there were an average of 161.3 deaths of coronary heart disease, 48.5 stroke deaths, and 30.5 diabetes deaths in 2004.
An average of 24.3 percent of Hillsborough adults were obese that year, surpassing the state average of 19.4 percent.
But in a world of TiVo and takeout, when will we find time to exercise?
"In today's busy lifestyle, most people are probably correct that they feel they don't have the time. However, most people really do have the time," said Hillsborough County Health Department spokesman Steve Huard.
Even parking an extra block away, taking the stairs instead of the elevator and walking to lunch instead of driving can step up fitness, Huard said.
"There are plenty of opportunities through everyone's day to promote healthy living," he said.
Alexandra Zayas can be reached at 813 226-3354 or at azayas@sptimes.com
STEP UP, FLORIDA!
KICKOFF CEREMONY, WEDNESDAY:
Curtis Hixon Park
8:30 p.m. registration
9 a.m. ceremony
10 a.m. walk
ROUTE: Start on the northeast corner of the riverwalk, turn right and loop around the exhibitors for a 1-mile walk; the Blake High School crew team will row the flag to the high school; walk to Sulphur Springs Health Center, University of South Florida, Department of Transportation, University Community Health Center, North Hillsborough Health Center, Ruskin Health Center, downtown Plant City/library/health center, Floyd Kelton Health Center and across the Friendship Trail Bridge to hand off flag to Pinellas County at 3 p.m.
[Last modified February 1, 2006, 01:02:08]
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