Walking Wednesdays returns for fall

Monday, August 29, 2011

The Putnam County Health Coalition is pleased to announce the continuation of Walking Wednesdays. Due to the success of the summer walking program, an eight-week series of Walking Wednesdays has been planned for August 31 thru October 19th. As with the summer series, the fall program will take place on a different location, walking path or trail each week.

The first walk of the fall program will take place at the Putnam County Fairgrounds. Those who wish to take part should come to the large canopy/shelter at the north entrance to the Fairground. Sign-ups and registration for the fall series can be done in advance or a form can be filled out at the start site any week during the program. Weekly walks are scheduled from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. each Wednesday.

Registration forms will be available at the Putnam County Extension Office, Greencastle City Hall, or the Putnam County Library as well as on-line and at the site of each walk.

For more information call Troy Scott at 653-3395 or e-mail to tscott@cityofgreencastle.com

Over 80 participants aged 2 to 82 took part in the 2011 Summer series of Walking Wednesdays, despite the very hot summer. The program which was sponsored by the Putnam County Health Coalition encouraged local citizens to come together to walk or run on a different path or trail each week.

Members of the Coalition were extremely pleased with the interest and participation in the summer walking program and felt that their two main goals of encouraging local citizens to be more active and to help citizens become better acquainted with a variety of safe walking paths were achieved.

When participants of the summer program were surveyed about what they liked or did not like about the program, the only thing that was mentioned as being DIS-liked was the HEAT.

Participants indicated that they liked walking on different paths and enjoyed getting to meet new people, having an incentive to come out to walk and knowing that other people would also be walking at the same time.

Many expressed interest in having the program continue into the fall, when hopefully the temperatures would be cooler.

Even on the hottest week of the summer, when the temperature passed the 100 degree mark, more than 20 faithful walkers showed up to walk and get their Walking Wednesdays "Passports" stamped.

Once again, there is no charge to participate in Walking Wednesdays.

Participants in the fall program will be eligible for a prize drawing at the end of the program. One change from the summer program is that instead of needing to participate in a minimum number of walks to be eligible for the drawing, during the fall program, participants will be able to put their name into the drawing each week they attend so that everyone who participates will be eligible and the more weeks they attend the more chances they will have to win.

Visit our website at www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or you can contact the local Purdue Extension Office by calling 653-8411 for more information regarding this week's column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events.

It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee.

Upcoming events

Aug. 31 -- First week of FALL Walking Wednesdays 5 p.m. at Fairgrounds

Sept. 7 -- Week 2 of FALL Walking Wednesdays 5 p.m. People Pathways at Big Walnut Sport Park (Shelter on South side of Park)

Sept. 8 -- Extension Homemakers County Council, 7 p.m., Extension Office

Sept. 9 -- 4-H My Record of Achievement Forms Due, Extension Office

Sept. 12 -- Extension Homemakers Leader Lesson "Recess Time" 7 p.m. at Extension Office

Sept. 14 -- Week 3 of Walking Wednesday 5 p.m. Start in front of old Hibbitt Sports Store (in front of Wal-Mart)

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