2008 Woodie Awards
Walktober encourages good fitness habits
Kelly MacDonald, Staff Writer
Issue date: 10/17/06
Last Updated: 12/26/07
This October, the Scotford Fitness Center has joined with the nation in a new month-long program aimed at creating a healthier nation. The event, called Walktober, encourages walking in the pursuit of fitness. The program lets students and faculty track online how much they walk for a chance at prizes.
The event started at the beginning of the October. Participants, after paying a $3 fee, set up an account at the Walktober Web site, with a password that allows them to document the time they walk each day. The administrator, the Whitworth student manager, watches the progress of the participants. Each week prizes are given to the participant who walks the most.
In the first week of October, freshman David Kuraya won a Bruchi's gift certificate. At the end of the competition the person with the most walked minutes will receive a $30 gift certificate to Twigs. The second and third place winners will receive a $30 Red Robin gift card and a $15 Didier's gift certificate, respectively.
According to the Web site, Walktober is designed to inspire individuals to make walking a priority, in October and beyond.
The participants of Walktober make goals as to how much walking they will do each day. Each week the goal is increased in hopes that by the end of the month, they will double their original goals.
The Scotford Fitness Center has two to three incentive programs each year as a means of encouraging activity around the college. Walktober is one such program.
"This program is geared towards people who don't normally work out. It's about getting people active," said student manager and junior Abbie Davis.
October is national walking month.
"It's a great time to walk," Davis said. "The weather has been really good."
The Walktober Web site also sends out daily e-mails to participants that give details on the health benefits of walking.
Kuraya said that since he does not have a car, the program appealed to him because he was used to being on foot.
"Walking is cool. I'm not from anywhere near Spokane, so being able to check out stuff is probably a good idea to learn where everything is," Kuraya said.
He said that he had not appreciated just how much walking he already did before he started counting minutes.
"You don't realize how much you walk around until you start clocking yourself," Kuraya said. "For example, I put in a good hour every day just walking to the HUB, to and from my dorm and to classes."
Kuraya likes the program, especially the prizes.
"The prizes are a perk. But I found it pretty ironic how it was, free food, in exchange for exercise," Kuraya said.
The event started at the beginning of the October. Participants, after paying a $3 fee, set up an account at the Walktober Web site, with a password that allows them to document the time they walk each day. The administrator, the Whitworth student manager, watches the progress of the participants. Each week prizes are given to the participant who walks the most.
In the first week of October, freshman David Kuraya won a Bruchi's gift certificate. At the end of the competition the person with the most walked minutes will receive a $30 gift certificate to Twigs. The second and third place winners will receive a $30 Red Robin gift card and a $15 Didier's gift certificate, respectively.
According to the Web site, Walktober is designed to inspire individuals to make walking a priority, in October and beyond.
The participants of Walktober make goals as to how much walking they will do each day. Each week the goal is increased in hopes that by the end of the month, they will double their original goals.
The Scotford Fitness Center has two to three incentive programs each year as a means of encouraging activity around the college. Walktober is one such program.
"This program is geared towards people who don't normally work out. It's about getting people active," said student manager and junior Abbie Davis.
October is national walking month.
"It's a great time to walk," Davis said. "The weather has been really good."
The Walktober Web site also sends out daily e-mails to participants that give details on the health benefits of walking.
Kuraya said that since he does not have a car, the program appealed to him because he was used to being on foot.
"Walking is cool. I'm not from anywhere near Spokane, so being able to check out stuff is probably a good idea to learn where everything is," Kuraya said.
He said that he had not appreciated just how much walking he already did before he started counting minutes.
"You don't realize how much you walk around until you start clocking yourself," Kuraya said. "For example, I put in a good hour every day just walking to the HUB, to and from my dorm and to classes."
Kuraya likes the program, especially the prizes.
"The prizes are a perk. But I found it pretty ironic how it was, free food, in exchange for exercise," Kuraya said.
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