The Live Well Committee of the Rural Health Council of Madison County, (www.mcruralhealthcouncil.org) opened a Monday Mile in Oneida on National Rural Health Day, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016.
The newest Monday Mile starts on the Rail Trail on Seneca Street, next to the Oneida High School. The Live Well Committee met to open the Monday Mile and had a “walking meeting”. Luke Griff, the director of the Oneida City Recreation program educated committee members about the Rail Trail in the City of Oneida.
What is a “Monday Mile”? It’s a fun way to get in your daily exercise and helps jump start your week in a healthy way. Research has shown that many people vow to start a healthier lifestyle “on Monday”. It takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes to walk a mile and if done each day will meet recommended guidelines of active exercise for 150 minutes each week.
The Live Well Committee members have located Monday Miles in several areas of the county, including Stockbridge, Canastota, Morrisville. There will be additional Monday Miles in Brookfield, Peterboro and DeRuyter in the near future. Locating Monday Miles in areas that do not typically have walking paths or trails has improved the opportunity for people to begin walking in safe and accessible areas. You may find the other Madison County Monday miles with maps at:
http://healthymonday.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/madison- county-e1470928656356.jpg
Committee members have been essential in locating Monday Miles, attending town and village meetings to introduce the idea, in some cases helping with the installation of signs and promoting the Miles.
The development of Monday Miles in Madison County have been assisted by Katie Wood and Leah Moser, with the SU Lerner Center. Monday Miles are part of the Healthy Monday programs: www.healthymonday.syr.edu/move-it- monday/. In the past, Monday Miles have been developed in urban areas. Madison County has been a pilot program for the development of Monday Miles in rural areas and a Rural Monday Mile Toolkit has been written for those who would like to locate a Monday Mile in their rural area.
Walking tends to be the easiest exercise for people to stick with and research found that walking significantly cuts the risk of diabetes, dementia, depression, colon cancer, cardiovascular disease, anxiety and high blood pressure by 40% or more.
Monday Miles are an easy way to begin the path to a healthier lifestyle!