go! PEI Free Learn to Run Program Starting soon in Kensington

Photo by Stephen Harris, Studio 28, www.studio-28.ca

FREE 10 Week GO PEI Learn to Run program

starting in Kensington on Wednesday May 4th at 6pm.

Meeting place - parking lot of the Kensington Rink

http://www.gopei.ca/

What is a L2R Program?
With Spring in the air, it is time to get outside and start running! Are you a beginner runner? Are you a former runner, but want to re-learn? Join a go!PEI L2R program this spring!

L2R is a 10-week walk-to-run program where participants will build up to running a 5K distance. The L2R group is led by a running enthusiast and the group meets once per week. All participants receive a running program to follow on their own, along with tips on footwear, stretching, nutrition and equipment!

http://www.gopei.ca/index.php?number=1032441&lang=E

Over 400 Islanders have learned to run with the go!PEI Learn 2 Run (L2R) program since June 2010. The greatest thing about running is that you do it for YOU. Many people who have never run before fall in love with this activity and get “addicted” to it, because it's an activity that can be done at their own pace.

There are many opportunities to learn more about running with go!PEI. People of all sizes, ages and physical abilities have learned by running a little bit to begin with and eventually working up to run 1 km, 5 km’s or more. Some of these people were very athletic growing up and use running to keep up their fitness while others have never run a step in their life but through commitment, hard work and support are able to realize their dreams.

The PEI Roadrunners have partnered with go!PEI by offering beginner L2R clinics, and by being an incredible resource to those interested in running. The PEI Roadrunner's website has a complete list of races happening in 2011, tips on footwear, breathing, stretching, and a message board where people can post questions.

Learn to run with Go!PEI

Learn to run with Go!PEI

Have you always wanted to "learn to run", but felt you did not know how? The Charlottetown Parks and Recreation Department in partnership with Go!PEI and the PEI Road Runners are offering a 10 week "learn to run" program in Charlottetown.

DATE: Tuesdays, starting September 28, 2010
TIME: 6 – 7 PM
LOCATION: Victoria Park (meet at the ball field clubhouse)

This is a FREE program for all, please contact us to register.

Brief overview of program:
- This 10 week program is designed to help you build the stamina to learn to run.
- The most important part of the program is for the runner to be patient and not try and do too much too early.
- The program is based on 3 - 4 workouts per week. The group will meet once a week and you will pick 2 - 3 other days that are convenient for you to train on your own. A workout plan will be provided.
- Please dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable sneakers.

For more information and to register, please contact the Charlottetown Parks and Recreation Department at (902) 368-1025 or email: fquinn@city.charlottetown.pe.ca.

Website: www.city.charlottetown.pe.ca; www.twitter.com/gocharlottetown

Go! P.E.I. campaign aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=339609&sc=98

Go! P.E.I. campaign aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles
Government-funded initiative deals with chronic illness prevention, management

TERESA WRIGHT
The Guardian

Health and Wellness Minister Carolyn Bertram, right, Joan Young of Murray Harbour, left, and Kim Meunier of Cornwall lead a short walk down Victoria Row in Charlottetown Tuesday after the official launch of Go! P.E.I. during a news conference at Province House. The program is a campaign of active living and healthy eating. Guardian photo by Brian McInnis

Go for a walk instead of watching TV and have a salad instead of a cookie.
These are just some things Islanders will soon be encouraged to do by the provincial government as part of a new campaign aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles.
The campaign called Go! P.E.I. is a government-funded initiative to deal with chronic illness prevention and management.
As the Island population’s average age increases, so too does the prevalence of chronic illness such as respiratory disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Go! P.E.I. is designed to be a support system to all Islanders, to help create healthier lifestyles and decrease the risk of chronic illness.
Health Minister Carolyn Bertram said transforming bad habits into healthier ones is necessary to ensure the health of future generations.
“We want our children to know how important it is to be healthy,” Bertram said.
“Today’s children risk being the first generation in decades to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. We simply cannot allow this to happen. We must take action now to change the course of this generation of Islanders.”
As part of this initiative, 15 local communities and groups are partnering with government to administer programs and courses aimed at encouraging Islanders to eat healthy and exercise more.
The province is providing funding for these local partners to lead education and fitness programs. The cost of the campaign is $260,000, half of which is coming from the province and the other half from the federal public health agency.
Dale McIsaac of Recreation P.E.I. said he is excited by this initiative and hopes it will inspire Islanders to take on new challenges to make their lives better.
“Go! P.E.I. will ensure that every Islander will be at least 15 minutes from a Go! P.E.I. program,” McIsaac said.
“It will help Islanders and provide all Islanders with the tools they need to add new, healthy and fun activities to their lives.”
The first step is a pledge, where Islanders can commit to taking concrete steps that will improve their state of wellness.
Some Islanders have already signed the pledge sheet and have taken the Go! P.E.I. message to heart. A group in O’Leary started a running club several weeks ago and have been encouraging each other as they get out running every week. Another similar group just started in Kensington and already has 60 members.
Joan Young, the community administrator for Murray Harbour, said these are just the kinds of community-based initiatives that she’s the most excited about.
“I think as Islanders we need to take charge of our own lives and our own health and you can do that by getting fit,” Young said.
“But we have to reach everybody — the seniors in this province and those from two years old right up to 75 and older — but it’s just really important and I think we’ve really just got to take the ball and do it.”

http://gopei.ca/