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Truckee groups aim to increase walking in Truckee for health, environment

Greyson Howard
Sierra Sun

TRUCKEE “-Truckee Health Challenge 2013 is putting on the first Truckee Walking Challenge this month.

Teams forming at businesses, schools, service groups and neighborhoods are logging walking mileage to motivate people to walk more regularly for both health and environmental benefits.

“We’re asking people to take small steps to modify their lifestyles,” said Dr. Sandra Carter of the Truckee Health Challenge. “What we know in the public health sector is Americans are moving less and less, and that’s resulting in problems including obesity and heart disease.”



So far about 400 people have signed up to walk more and log their results for the month of May, including businesses like Plumas Bank, Century 21, Tahoe Forest Hospital, Truckee Donner Recreation and Park District and the Family Resource Center, Carter said.

Maps and pedometers are provided free to participants, thanks to a grant from the Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation, Carter said.



Monica Caldari, a family advocate for the Family Resource Center, said her group has about 40 to 50 people, focusing on neighborhoods like Donner Creek and Truckee Pines.

“Because these are Latino communities culturally they’re not always into an exercise lifestyle,” Caldari said. “Everybody is really into it, it’s really the only form of exercise they can get if they can’t pay to go to a gym.”

The walking challenge also aims to show people where they can walk ” fighting a perception that there are no safe places for pedestrians in town, Carter said.

“As the town moves forward on sidewalk projects part of the process is changing people’s behavior,” Carter said. “Technology allows people to sit in place, and so many communities are designed around the automobile.”

Six days into the walking challenge, Carter said she’s gotten a lot of good feedback from participants.

In addition the Truckee Donner Recreation and Park District will be sponsoring a “Truckee Walks Day” May 17. There will be three different distances to participate in, and we will have community groups, like Girls on the Run, leading the different groups.

Carter said she hopes the event expands to encompass both Truckee and Tahoe next year.

Truckee Trails is the lead agency for the Truckee Walking Challenge. They will post information on their website (www.truckeetrails.org) concerning upcoming walks and progress to date.

If you have a friend, family, group or business that would be interested in participating, please contact Dr. Sandra Carter at (530) 581-2152.


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