Student Wellness is encouraging the Elizabethtown College community to work toward living a healthy lifestyle by participating in the IRONJAY Challenge. This semester-long independent fitness challenge allows participants to complete an Ironman competition at their own pace and on their own time to improve their health and possibly win prizes.
Participants can register for the half Challenge (70.3 miles) or the full Challenge (140.6 miles). Each participant individually tracks their progress as they exercise toward their goal throughout the semester. IRONJAY participants can rack up their mileage in any combination of physical activities including, but not limited to, walking, running, cycling, swimming and even playing pickup games such as football, basketball and racquetball. Student Wellness encourages the College’s students, faculty and staff to take part in the Challenge. Because any form of exercise is acceptable, people of all fitness levels are welcome to participate.
Those interested can register at any time and begin tracking their mileage immediately. Each applicant is responsible for keeping a record of his or her progress. Since the competition is based on the honor system, each individual is expected to uphold integrity as they record their distance. Likewise, students should use their best judgment to calculate approximate mileage when necessary. It is recommended that participants wear a pedometer to help calculate mileage. With this, approximately every 2000 steps are equal to one mile.
Student Wellness has also provided resources to help with conversion at www.etown.edu/offices/wellness. Generally, 15 minutes of vigorous activity, such as running or jogging, is one mile; 15 minutes of moderate physical activity, such as a brisk walk, is 2/3 of a mile; and 15 minutes of any casual physical activity, such as walking or golfing, is half a mile. Once a participant completes their goal of either the half Challenge or the full Challenge, their tracking sheet can be returned to Student Wellness for a prize.
Etown Student Wellness encompasses three different areas: counseling services, health promotion and student health services. As part of their health promotion, Student Wellness has developed the IRONJAY Challenge to encourage all students, faculty and staff to partake in a healthy lifestyle. Concerned for students’ physical health, Student Wellness Health Educator Jamie Valis recognized the need to promote participation of fitness activities in an enjoyable way. “Research indicates that college students often have lower rates of physical activity compared to high school students,” Valis said. “Leading a sedentary lifestyle puts an individual at risk for many health-related conditions.” As a result, the IRONJAY Challenge was developed to encourage higher levels of physical activity among the College community.
The IRONJAY Challenge requires each person who joins to work toward his or her goal of either the half Challenge or the full Challenge. The competition is unique in that the Challenge can become personal to each participant. Participants can set their own goals while tracking their mileage. For example, throughout the course of the semester, with the IRONJAY Challenge, individuals can also work toward weight-loss goals or improve upon their skill in a specific sport. As mileage is tracked, participants can set personal fitness goals and improve upon the time it takes them to run, walk or bike a mile. While the challenge advocates for improved physical activity, those who participate may also become concerned with other aspects of living a healthy lifestyle, such as their eating and sleeping habits.
Since this is the first IRONJAY Challenge, Student Wellness was not certain how many individuals would partake in the competition. “My personal goal was to have at least 100 participants in the inaugural year,” Valis said. “We have already exceeded our target number.” Well on their way to achieving their goal of improving the lifestyles of Etown students, faculty and staff, Student Wellness also hopes this Challenge provides an additional sense of community by encouraging co-workers, students, peers and others to engage in fitness opportunities together. Valis also hopes this Challenge will influence students to take advantage of E-Fit classes, Office of Student Activities programs and the Body Shop equipment.
Participants who complete the IRONJAY Challenge, the full or half Challenge, will receive prizes including T-shirts or an official Challenge car decal. Those who complete the half Challenge will be entered in a raffle for a $50.00 Visa gift card, and those who complete the full Challenge will be entered in a raffle for a $100.00 Visa gift card.
If interested in participating in the IRONJAY Challenge, register online at www.etown.edu/offices/wellness and begin tracking immediately. For more information, contact Jamie Valis at VALISJ@etown.edu. The challenge runs all semester and ends Dec.14, 2012.