Live Well Crawford County
  • Welcome
  • About Us
  • Task Forces
    • Addiction Prevention
    • Age Well
    • Breathe Well
    • Eat Well >
      • Growing Growers
    • Live Active
  • Media
  • Resources
    • About Crawford County
    • Bike 4 Discounts
    • Master Plans
    • In the News
  • Spotlight
  • Our Stories
  • Grants
    • Pathways Grant >
      • Community Policy
      • Community Well-Being
      • Food Retail
      • Health Care
      • Restaurants
      • Schools
      • Worksites
    • Kansas Beats the Virus
    • Health Equity Grant
    • Pedal Power

Raider Runners inspires kids to get active

2/1/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture
What began with a teacher’s idea to get students more physically active has blossomed into a source of pride for Frank Layden Elementary School in Frontenac, Kansas.

Teacher Caroline Capehart grew up in Frontenac, a town built by immigrants and coal miners in the late 1800s, and graduated from Frontenac High School in 1996. Although considered a small town at 3,437 residents, Frontenac is the second largest town in Crawford County.

Our county ranks 92nd out of 101 counties in terms of health risks, with 36 
percent of adult residents considered obese and 45 percent report no leisure time physical activity. Capehart, once a cheerleader who began running as a youth and now physically active as an adult, aimed to set about lowering those health risks for the kids that she and her colleagues teach.

Principal Courtney McCartney said she was inspiring them to begin a lifelong habit of fitness.
It was while running one of several marathons in Missoula, Montana, that Capehart herself was inspired.

“I had the idea to start our students on a running program that would allow them to run a marathon, or even just a 5K or 10K to start smaller, but to do it in increments over a period of time,” she said.

Last summer, Capehart applied for the Healthy Habits for Life grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. She asked McCartney for permission to use the school gymnasium before school, and the program, Raider Runners, was underway.

She was overwhelmed with the number of students who jumped on board: Hoping to have 50 sign up, she got more than 150 of them from kindergarten through fifth grade.

Each Tuesday and Thursday, they can choose to show up to school 20 minutes early and begin laps in the gym.

Capehart enlisted the help of several other elementary teachers to keep track of their progress; they sit in the bleachers and using a Google spreadsheet that she set up, keep tally marks for all names by grade level.

“Eight laps is roughly the equivalent of a mile,” Capehart said, “and kindergarteners through second graders average about 10 laps each morning. Third through fifth graders average about 12.”

Last month, Capehart recognized milestone moments in a special all-school assembly in the gym: She awarded the first incentives to 120 students who reached the 5K and to 98 of them who reached the half-marathon (13.1 miles) mark just prior to the Christmas break.

“We have shoelaces charms for you today,” she told them before announcing the names of the recipients. “They slide on your shoelaces, and then whenever you wear your shoes, it reminds you of how far you’ve come, and it shows other people how far you’ve come, too.”

Costs for the incentives are offset by a $500 donation by Jane Hutsey Insurance & Investments and a $100 donation by Dr. Rob Herron, DDS.

At the end of the Spring semester, Capehart will hold another assembly and award charms and t-shirts to those who have completed marathons.

Capehart, meanwhile, is looking forward to April: She qualified to run the Boston Marathon.

“Running can be a lifelong thing,” she said. “It has been for me so far, and I’m hoping it can be for some of these kids.”​
1 Comment

Aging Well

10/19/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
It’s no secret that inactivity increases with age; by age 75, about one in three men and one in two women engage in no physical activity.

Dottie Davi is not one of those people.

At age 79, she regularly works on cardio, strength training, balance, and flexibility. She doesn’t do it alone. Her partner is Sunni Stipp, who teaches the Age Well class at Pinamonti Wellness.

“We meet four days a week for supervised exercises,” Stipp said, “and Dottie is a regular.”

Stipp says the class combats what the CDC is concerned about — that as we age, we lose strength and stamina. Remaining physically active helps maintain the ability to live independently and reduces the risk of falling and fracturing bones. It reduces the risk of dying from coronary heart disease and of developing high blood pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes. It reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression. And it helps control joint swelling and pain associated with arthritis.

Davi says it makes her feel happy and healthy to be active at Pinamonti Wellness.

“It’s the best place in town,” she said. “The people are so nice to us older ones and they take good care of us. They come out to my car and get me when I arrive and walk me back out when I’m done.”

To owner Brian Pinamonti, it was a no-brainer to offer not just a class to that demographic, but other Age Well opportunities, as well.

On Tuesday, the Crawford County Health Department provided a free Age Well Advantage Day to older members of Pinamonti Wellness, including a fall prevention session by Janie Terry, flu shots, free blood pressure checks, and chair massages.

Dottie was among those who took advantage of what the day offered, ensuring that her health and wellness are on track.

“I like that all this is in one place,” she said. “It’s one stop and you’re done.”

Terry says older members who don’t care to participate in a class but who want a safe, well-lighted, even-surfaced place to walk indoors out of the weather and do so on the facility’s indoor walking track, which is bordered by a railing. And, she invited older residents who are interested in setting up a personal plan for physical activity to call or visit Pinamonti Wellness.

"It's never too late to get started being active," she said.
​

Have a suggestion for a future Spotlight?
Let us know!
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Journey to health

8/25/2016

1 Comment

 
Picture
Leslie and BJ Harris had discussed focusing on their health and fitness goals for some time. In May, they took the plunge with a weight loss challenge by local business Piece of Cake Nutrition. But their journey became about much more than just losing weight: They wound up adapting to a lifestyle of healthy living and eating, becoming more active as a family, and feeling more energetic.

“We realized we are in our mid-30s now and it's just going to get harder the longer we wait,” Leslie said. “And we want to be better role models for our daughter, Quorynn.”

The couple also felt like they owed it to their late daughter, Delylah, who died as an infant and didn’t have the opportunity to live a healthy life.

“We were given that opportunity and should take advantage of it,” Leslie said.

Their strategies:

  • They started eating a high protein diet
  • They cut back on bread, pasta, potatoes, and sweets.
  • They logged everything onto a "My Fitness Pal" app.
  • They evaluated their meal logs and made changes to areas that needed work, like more fruits and vegetables and whole grains. When they took a road trip, they packed their own healthy snacks so they weren't tempted to stop at a convenient store for packaged items.
  • They began exercising more as well, with BJ getting up in the mornings to work out and Leslie returning to teaching Zumba classes on a regular basis after a 5-year hiatus.
  • They started walking more as a family and swimming in their pool together.
  • They started cooking at home a lot more, which enabled BJ to grill meat and veggies, which he enjoys doing. It also began saving the family money when they turned away from fast food.
  • Leslie began going on regular bike rides with Quorynn, which she loves.

“It helped that we had each other to rely on and keep each other accountable,” Leslie said. “The weight loss challenge was also a great motivator. BJ likes competition so that helped!”

The couple created a "Healthier Harrises" Facebook page to also add accountability and encourage others to join them in a healthier lifestyle.

“We have a long way to go before we get to where we want to be,” she said. “I'm proud of myself for getting up in front of people to instruct them in Zumba even though I know I would still be considered heavy. But I just remind myself that I'm dancing it off! We both have more confidence and feel better overall from taking better care of ourselves.”

“We all know what we SHOULD be doing, but a lot of us go for the easy way out. We still do at times, too. But once you start leading a healthier lifestyle, you start feeling much better and looking at things differently. It's amazing how great you feel when you take better care of yourself,” Leslie said. “No one cares about you more than you!”

Do you have someone to nominate for our Spotlight? We're looking for active people of all ages and backgrounds who exhibit healthy behaviors that could serve as inspiration or motivation for others. Email us at [email protected] with "Spotlight" in the subject line.
Picture
1 Comment

Everyone a winner with Get Fit TRYathlon

7/27/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Joanna Rhodes knows the benefit regular physical activity: A busy mother, she makes time for it because it has improved her health, reduced her stress, and improved her well-being. Integrating it into an event to raise much-needed funds for a cause she's passionate about seemed only logical.

The event: The Get Fit TRYathlon, which kicks off Saturday in Pittsburg and continues on Aug. 6.

​A mentor for Big Brothers-Big Sisters for more than 10 years, Rhodes' match ended in May just shy of 11 years because her “little,” Cheriah, turned 18 and graduated from high school.

As a board member, she also was well aware of the cost of matching adult volunteers with “littles” who need a mentors; each match requires $1,000.

“But those matches also are invaluable,” Rhodes said. “More than 80 percent of the kids we serve live at or below the poverty level, and 80 percent of them come from single parent households. More than 30 percent of our children currently have or have had at least one incarcerated parent.”

The desire?

“To match them with someone who can make a significant positive impact in their lives, and show them who they are capable of becoming,” Rhodes said.

Rhodes, who competes in area race events herself, saw the Get Fit TRYathlon as a unique way to bring awareness to the agency and to raise funds. But it also was a way to encourage youth and amateur athletes to get out and get active, perhaps at something they've never done before.

“I wanted to encourage individuals to be active and try something new,” she said. “You don’t have to be the fastest or most skilled. It’s just about completing something that is outside your comfort zone and supporting a great organization.”

“The TRYathlon portion of this event is so encouraging to see someone overcome a fear or improve from the year before,” she said. “There are some kids who have done this event every year and now are no longer using a lifejacket or training wheels.”

She has seen adults doggy-paddle during the swim portion.  

“I have also had one adult participant struggle during the bike portion and the next year she was excited because she was able to ride her bike the whole time and not get off to walk,” she said. “That’s what gets me excited when someone else is proud of themselves. It’s not about what you can’t do, but that you tried and succeeded.”

The 5K/10K course will start and end at Gorilla Village on the campus of Pittsburg State University on July 30. The Get Fit TRYathlon will be held at the Pittsburg Aquatic Center on Aug. 6.

The 5K/10K race is open to all ages. Start time is 7:15 a.m. July 30. The free youth TRYathlon clinic is also July 30 from 8:30-11 a.m. at the Aquatic Center. Experienced volunteers will cover the basics of safe swimming, biking, running and transitioning, and safety checks on bikes and helmets. You can register on site.

Kids ages 5-14 can compete in the youth TRYathlon on Aug. 6 with distances varying by age.  The Super Sprint Team Relay TRYathlon will feature teams of three any gender over the age of 10. Each individual will swim four laps, bike four miles, and run one mile. Team members can be any gender and must be at least 10 years old. 
​

All participants receive T-shirts and finishers medals. The top finishers in age categories get trophies. Everyone is welcome to the post-race celebration to enjoy food and festivities.
Register online at http://getfittryathlon.weebly.com or call 620-704-1396 for more information. All proceeds benefit Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters serving Crawford County.
0 Comments

Wake-up calls prompt lifestyle makeover

5/25/2016

0 Comments

 
Early in life, John Robb didn’t give a thought to exercise or what he ate.

“I was a fat kid,” said Robb, who by sixth grade weighed 150 pounds and as an adult, was told he'd better shape up or his lifestyle would kill him.

At 73, he’s now a distance athlete. He logged 4,000 miles on his bicycle in 2014. He’s ridden across Kansas nine times — missing only the year he had a knee replaced, but not the year he was fitted with a pacemaker.

A native of Pittsburg, he grew up on a farm eating gravy and whole milk. He played no sports and was mostly sedentary.

It was while in basic training at Ft. Riley that he learned he had high blood pressure. While stationed in Korea, he was told it was serious: He weighed 275 pounds.

So he cut out drinking and desserts. And he started running.

"It was life or death,” he said of his condition. “You’ve got to come to a point where you realize that. I saw it as a wake-up call. The first quarter mile was awful."

In 13 months, he lost 100 pounds. Back stateside, he continued running.
Then, he began competing, starting with 5Ks, working up to 10Ks and then a marathon. He wasn’t going for speed — his best time was 4 hours. But he was 51at the time, and he was proud to finish.
​
When he retired and returned to Pittsburg in 2002 with his wife, Carole, he took up cycling and completed his first 400-plus-mile Bike Across Kansas in 2009. But then the lights went out.

Physicians discovered a heart blockage: A Widow Maker.

“It was filled with gravy,” Robb said. “I wasn’t watching what I ate.”

The misconception?

“That I could put in the miles exercising and then scarf down a cheeseburger, desserts or whatever else sounded good,” he said. “I figured I was skinny, so I had no reason to worry.”

His logic made sense, his wife said.

“He was putting in miles and miles, so if he wanted a milkshake, he would eat it,” she said.
“That’s one of the reasons he liked to run, so he could eat all the desserts he wanted.”

He began a strict diet: No foods with anything they couldn’t pronounce. No preservatives. No palm oil. No artificial sweeteners. Beef, pork or chicken once a week, and no more than 3 ounces at a time. No more than 29 grams of fat a day, including the good kind. Broccoli and fish each twice weekly. No more than 1,500 milligrams of salt per day.

Breakfast is a bowl of steel-cut oatmeal. Instead of salad dressings, they dress up greens with crunchy stuff: cranberries, walnuts, dried fruits, carrots.

The couple now cooks almost entirely with organic or locally grown food, shopping at the farmers market, a local food cooperative, the organic sections at Ron’s and Dillons supermarkets, and at Whole Foods in Kansas City.

For meat, they eat only grass-fed turkey, bison and venison for its low fat content. And their larger meals are at noon, with lighter fare such as soup or smoothies in the evening.

Keeping an exercise diary is important to his success, he said.

He's also participated in the National Bike Challenge sponsored by the League of American Cyclists. In 2014, he finished 16th out of 320 riders of all ages. He also has completed the PSU Gorilla Century and ridden every county road in Crawford County.

“Doctors tell me to just keep doing what I’m doing,” he said.

— By Andra Bryan Stefanoni
Picture
John Robb is a Live Well member and part of the Live Active commitee.
Picture
John participated in the BAK with his son and a granddaughter.


0 Comments

    Spotlight

    Live Well will spotlight Crawford County residents who have made lifestyle changes, who make living well part of their daily routine, or who have a unique story to share that could serve as inspiration to others. Email suggestions to [email protected]

    Archives

    February 2017
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Location

Picture
​EXECUTIVE director
Brad Stroud

665 S HWy 69  -  Pittsburg, KS 66762​[email protected]
​
​


Mission Statement:
​
Promoting healthy lifestyle choices through education, motivation and support for all generations

Vision Statement:
Making the healthy choice the easy choice!

Contact Us

    Subscribe Today!

Submit
Created for
​live Well
​crawford county
​by Andra Stefanoni
  • Welcome
  • About Us
  • Task Forces
    • Addiction Prevention
    • Age Well
    • Breathe Well
    • Eat Well >
      • Growing Growers
    • Live Active
  • Media
  • Resources
    • About Crawford County
    • Bike 4 Discounts
    • Master Plans
    • In the News
  • Spotlight
  • Our Stories
  • Grants
    • Pathways Grant >
      • Community Policy
      • Community Well-Being
      • Food Retail
      • Health Care
      • Restaurants
      • Schools
      • Worksites
    • Kansas Beats the Virus
    • Health Equity Grant
    • Pedal Power