Welcome to Week 2 of VIM Fit Fest, a virtual wellness experience celebrating Volunteers in Medicine (VIM) Clinic’s 25th Anniversary!
This week we are at Haney Creek Park. This park is located next door to Felix A. Williams Elementary School on Baker Road in Stuart. The park is part of a watershed project that restored wetlands and provides a place for storm water to collect. This helps improve water quality in the St. Lucie Estuary. It’s got several shaded walking paths, a fenced dog park with doggie wash down area, picnic pavilion, restrooms, and drinking fountains. It’s the perfect place for our running challenge.
Our Week 2 Wellness Challenge is led by the amazing Stephanie O’Neil, the head trainer with Fleet Feet of Stuart. Stephanie is challenging everyone to try 7 days of walking, running, or a combination of both this week. She suggests starting with 20 minutes and adding a couple of minutes each day with a goal of working up to 50 minutes of continuous motion.
Stephanie starts out showing us some stretching moves to warm up with butt kickers, ice cream scoops, and toy soldiers. After warming up, start at a slow pace and speed up until you are breathing harder, but can still easily carry on a conversation. If you are a beginner, start with walking and then quickening your pace to a light jog to build up your strength and endurance.
When your walk/run has ended, walk at a slow pace to get your heart rate down and do some final stretches to help lengthen the muscles and minimize soreness.
Share your progress with the hashtag #vimfitfest and #stuartflparks and post on your favorite social media sites to be entered in our weekly drawing for prizes. This week’s prizes include a special gift bag of goodies courtesy of Fleet Feet, a workout belt for your phone and keys when you are out for your run/walk, and small lights with Velcro attachments for safety. If you don’t do social media, no worries! Simply send us an email to [email protected] and tell us how you’re doing with your wellness journey and you’ll be entered in the drawing, too.
