Healthy Maumee Fitness Challenges Encourage Participants To Get Up And Move
BY NANCY GAGNET — MIRROR REPORTER
Walking from Maumee to Hollywood isn’t the kind of trek most would embrace, but the last Healthy Maumee fitness challenge encouraged just that.
The 10-week challenge, which ended May 20, encouraged people to become more physically fit by exercising any way they deem necessary.
“We wanted to capture the imagination,” explained Bev Shankman of Medical Mutual of Ohio, the organization supporting the Healthy Maumee initiative.
Those who live or work in Maumee were invited to keep track of the amount of time spent exercising, with the ultimate goal of logging 40 hours over a 10-week period – or the number of hours it would take to reach Hollywood.
“Participants earned five points for every 30 minutes of exercise,” Michael Walters of Medical Mutual of Ohio explained.
Approximately 200 people attended the pre-assessment event, and half returned for the post assessment where a number of screenings took place, including blood pressure, cholesterol and flexibility.
“Lots and lots of people lowered cholesterol. It was amazing and it reflects the whole change, not just in fitness level but in eating too,” said Shankman.
Throughout the challenge, special events took place to help participants with the program, including a healthy foods cooking demonstration at Side Cut Metropark sponsored by Walt Churchill’s Market.
“I was very happy with the community involvement, especially with the local businesses,” Walters said.
For Beth Waller of Maumee, the challenge helped her stay motivated with her goal to lose weight.
“I went way beyond the hours,” she said.
As a result, she lost 10 pounds and lowered her glucose and cholesterol.
During the challenge she walked, ran, bicycled and participated in classes offered at the YMCA.
“I at least try to break a sweat by doing something to get my heart rate up every day – I feel guilty if I don’t,” she said.
She also watched her diet.
“It’s the little things that add up, like drinking skim milk,” she said.
Connie Warner of Springfield Township joined the challenge to improve her overall health.
“I did a lot more walking in the neighborhood,” said Warner, who earned the most points of all challenge participants at 960.
Keeping her pedometer handy, Warner logged 1.7 miles with the 3,000 steps she took at work in one day.
“She did a great job,” Walters said.
A new fitness challenge, currently under way, also encourages participants to walk each day with the goal of walking 10 miles.
The program, titled the 10-Week Challenge, kicked off July 19 and has walkers meeting on Mondays at Side Cut Metropark and Wednesdays at the Shops at Fallen Timbers at 6:30 p.m. to walk.
Although the challenge has begun, it’s not too late to join, said Walters, who said participants receive a pedometer and T-shirt just by signing up.
“The goal is to walk one mile the first week, two miles the second week and so on until week 10, when they walk 10 miles,” Walters said. “If they don’t make it to 10 miles, that’s fine. We just want people to keep moving.”
Representatives from Dave’s Running Shop will be on hand to discuss stretching, proper form and other important information that will help people receive the optimal levels from their workout, Walters said.
The next Healthy Maumee event, which will offer information about staying safe from crime, will take place in early fall.
To sign up for the 10-week walking challenge, visit www.healthymaumee.org or call (800) 315-3145.

Little League Celebrates Season With Grand Slam Event
The Maumee Little League Scholarship Fund will host a season ending Grand Slam Event on Thursday, August 5 at the Maumee Indoor Theater.
This family night out is for everyone and features a variety of activities and door prizes. Tickets are $5.00 per person and include a movie ticket to see The Sandlot, pop, popcorn, door prize entry number and a 15 percent food discount to Dale’s Bar and Grill in Maumee.
In addition, those in attendance will see a slideshow of this season’s Little League players in action and hear from guest speaker Cal Reese, former Maumee Little League player and Maumee High School pitcher.
Door prizes include admission to the Holiday Inn Splash Bay, pitching instruction from Chris Mason, 2011 Little League fee waivers, coupons to the Maumee Sports Mall, restaurant gift certificates, batting helmets and more.
Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door at the Maumee Indoor Theater. Doors open at 6:45, and the event begins at 7:00 P.M.
Donations of cash or gift certificates are being accepted for the Maumee Little League Scholarship Fund. Donations may be sent to: Maumee Little League Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 274, Maumee, Ohio 43537.
Donors and sponsors include: Family Video, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Donatos Pizza, Maumee Quick Print, Little Ceasars Pizza, Urban Active, Appliance Center, Frickers-Maumee, Taco Bell, Maumee Indoor Theater, Maumee Sports Mall, The Mirror, Penguin Palace, El Salto, Team Sports, Expresso Car Wash, Mama C’s Donuts, Vito’s Pizza, Pizza Hut, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Meats and More, Red Lobster, Maumee Little League, Holiday Inn Maumee, Max and Erma’s-Levis Commons, Nagoya Japanese Steak and Sushi-Levis Commons, Red Robin-Fallen Timbers, The Soccer Spot, Midas, Gino’s Pizza and Granite City Brewery.
Additional supporters include: Steve Kovar, Chris Mason, in memory of Jack and Doris Cook, Dean Harding, Steve Emerien, the Kane Family, the Wittenmyers and Hughes Primeau Controls.