Annual Meeting attendees literally go the extra mile

Happy Monday! If you're starting off your week by going for a run or vowing to be healthier, you’re not alone. Research shows people are more likely to quit smoking, starts diets and schedule doctor’s appointments on Mondays. They're also more likely to start a new exercise regimen.

That's why it made sense that APHA’s 2018 Annual Meeting and Expo kicked off with a group walk bright and early Monday morning. More than a dozen walkers joined together to stretch their legs along the San Diego Bay by walking a mile. In fact, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer issued a proclamation that declares today, Nov. 12, as "Monday Mile Walk Day" and notes that the day supports the APHA Annual Meeting theme of "Creating the Healthiest Nation: Health Equity Now."

"If you start the week off healthy on a Monday, you’re more likely to be healthy during the week," said Peggy Neu, president of the Mondays Campaign.

The walk is just one of several scheduled for APHA 2018 through the meeting’s Wellness Center and thanks to the campaign, a nonprofit that dedicates the first day of every week to health.

"We really wanted to help members and attendees start the week off fresh and in a healthy way," Neu said. "A mile only takes about 20 minutes, so it’s doable."

The group walking event inspired APHA Annual Meeting attendee Rebecca Lyons to join in. Lyons, who works on health promotion in rural communities in Illinois, said she was inspired to practice what she preaches. The San Diego ocean view and sea breeze was also a draw.

"It's much easier to do in San Diego than Chicago," Lyons said.

Join one of the walks at the Wellness Center on Monday at 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Read more about this story in the January 2019 issue of The Nation’s Health.

Photo by Michele Late, courtesy The Nation’s Health