Mayor Michael Fournier and the Royal Oak City Commission are encouraging individuals and families to lead healthier lifestyles with a 50 Miles in 50 Days Walking Challenge that begins on April 15, 2017 in Royal Oak.
"One of the things Royal Oak has in common with the most vibrant cities in the world is that it's very walkable," said Mayor Fournier. "This spring, I am asking you to 'step it up' and experience all of the exciting things Royal Oak has to offer on foot."
Self-guided walking adventure maps, community walks and a token gift for participants are all in the works.
Where should you walk?
Anywhere! Some ideas:
- Tenhave Woods (at Lexington/Marais behind Royal Oak High School. Enough wooded area to have walking trails with names; small enough area that you can easily find your way out)
- One of these 15 local nature trails
- Explore Art Walking Adventure
- History Walking Adventure
- Park Walking Adventure
Any perks to doing this?
Being healthier! "Walking is a great way to get the physical activity needed to obtain health benefits. Walking does not require any special skills. It also does not require a gym membership or expensive equipment." - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You are also showing a great example to your kids, and getting them to walk also means easier-to-manage behavior and better sleep!
But also:
- Everyone who walks 50 Miles will receive a water bottle courtesy of Ultimate Fun Runs and the Royal Oak Community Coalition
- Everyone who participates in a community walk (tentatively scheduled for May 11 and June 1 at 6 p.m., location TBA) will receive a reflector ID tag for your pet. (Also suitable for coat zippers, backpacks and key chains.)
How do I participate?
- NEW! Smartphone users can now track their miles using the Carrot Wellness app. Click here to find out how. (Make sure your smart phone supports mileage tracking! I have an iPhone 5 and it has the Health app which seems like it can track steps, but the phone itself doesn't have a gyroscope thingie* so it cannot track steps on its own. It took awhile to figure this out.) *Actual technical term.
- Participants can also track their miles at SuperTracker.usda.gov/join and enter the access code: 0H61-OPJ3.
- If you don't want to use the online SuperTracker, you can download a printable walking log here.
