—Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Teresa Wood Students, staff and community members at Northeast Hamilton took part in the Iowa Walk as part of the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative on Wednesday morning. Walkers strolled around the track at the newly constructed NEH playground, logging in roughly one mile during the 30 minute exercise. The event kicked off the start of the school's Don't Sit, Get Fit Walking Club.

BLAIRSBURG — Don’t Sit, Get Fit!

That’s the goal at Northeast Hamilton as students, staff and community members kicked off the 2017 Iowa Healthiest State Initiative with a 20 minute stroll around the new walking track.

“Community members and students from all across Iowa are walking 30 minutes today,” Principal Mike Kruger told the students who were gathered on a crisp autumn morning where temperatures hovered around 55 degrees. “Here at Northeast Hamilton, we are kicking off our “Don’t Sit, Get Fit Walking Club.”

The walking club was developed by the NEH Wellness Committee to encourage students to be active and stay healthy.  Committee member include Joni Smith, Janelle Oakland, Lanette Willems, Pam Swenson, Allison Keane, Dani Kohl, Mike Kruger, Matt Vagts, Cindi Sweedler and Shari Olson.

Inspirational messages were displayed around the track during the inaugural walk, including “Life is like walking.  Your take one step at a time”, “Always believe you can” and “No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everyone on the couch”.

One sign cited that walking can make a person happy.  According to research, as little as a ten minute walk can increase the endorphins in the human brain. Endorphins reduce the perception of pain and can trigger a positive feeling of well being.

The NEH Walking Club will encourage students to walk at least 20 minutes a day, said Principal Kruger.  That time will equal about five laps or roughly one mile.

The walking club will offer students incentives and the weekly winning classroom will be awarded a traveling trophy for their efforts.  Miles walked will be tabulated and students will see how far their steps could carry them.  For instance, Wednesday’s accumulative mileage total equals 100 miles – the distance from Blairsburg to Des Moines.

The Iowa State Walk was introduced in 2011 as part of the Healthiest State Initiative.  Iowa ranks #19 in the nation for the healthiest lifestyle, according to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index which measures physical, emotional and mental health.

NEH is inviting district patrons to walk along and the playground track is open to the public before and after school hours, on weekends and throughout the summer, said Kruger.