Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Want to walk to Little Rock?

For those who want to make 2008 the year of a healthier lifestyle, theres an event that will help you stay in shape while creating a little friendly competition.

Walk Across Arkansas is a statewide effort and teams are being recruited locally.

According to Nevada County Consumer Sciences Agent Amanda Rogers, Walk Across Arkansas is an eight-week health program that will spark some friendly competitions in Nevada County. Teams of up to eight will compete to see who can log the most miles walking, jogging or even biking.

Teams will keep track of their miles, which will be posted in the Extension office to see which team walks the farthest across Arkansas, according to Rogers.

Rogers said that many people want to get healthier but have trouble with motivation. The Walk Across Arkansas event creates a reason to gather for exercise and adds the element of competition as an extra incentive. Teams will be recognized for having the oldest average age, the youngest average age and for the most creative team name. Team members need not walk together for the miles to count.

To participate in Walk Across Arkansas, first get a team together, Rogers said. Biking and jogging teams are limited to four people. Choose a team captain and name your team. Fill out a registration form available at the Nevada County Agricultural Extension Office, 532 West First Street South in Prescott. Competition kicks off at 5:30 on Feb. 12 at the Johnson-Hale Walking Trail behind the Nevada County Health Department.

For more information, call Amanda Rogers at the Extension office at 887-2818. Walk Across Arkansas results will be posted at the Extension office.

And for anyone who wonders, its just less than 100 miles from Prescott to Little Rock, but is more than 300 miles across the state from West Memphis to Lincoln.