13/10/2005

Mayors step up

By KYLEE BRUCE

They are more familiar with counting votes.
But this month two North King Country mayors will be counting steps instead as they particpate in the Sport Waikato Pedometer Challenge.
Otorohanga mayor Dale Williams and Waitomo mayor Mark Ammon are both taking part in the challenge which will see them attempt to walk a total of 250km during October - the equivalent of 10,000 steps each day.
The men have each been issued' with a pedometer and will record how many steps they take daily.
At the end of each week they report their weekly tally to Sport Waikato, who will plot their progress against fellow competitors.
Overall 11 mayors and council chief executives from throughout the Waikato are taking part in the challenge.
Mr Williams was one competitor who did not hesitate to sign up, seeing it as the perfect opportunity to improve his fitness.
"I don't like being unfit," he said, having fallen behind on physical activity since taking up the position as mayor last year.
Mr Williams bought a treadmill about six months ago and prior to the challenge was already spending half an hour on it most mornings.
He was also taking regular walks during the evenings so has only had to make minor changes in order to increase his steps.
He said small things such as parking further away from his destination, visiting people to give them messages rather than phoning or emailing and making several small trips to unload the car has enabled him to clock up more steps.
"I find I look at my pedometer quite a lot during the day and if I am falling behind on my steps I make a conscious effort to build them up," said Mr Williams who is currently averaging about 12,000-14,000 steps each day.
This effort is already having a positive effect on Mr Williams, who now feels fitter and his clothes fit better.
As of last Friday he had clocked up 89,324 steps or 71.5km while Mr Ammon had totalled 41,485 steps or 33.2km.
Leading the challenge is Waipa district mayor Alan Livingston who had totalled 112,303 steps or 90km.
The Pedometer Challenge has been launched as a way of promoting upcoming  National Push Play Day on Friday, November 4.
Each year regional sports trusts coordinate with Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) to promote National Push Flay Day and its "30 minutes a day"' message.
This year Sport Waikato chief executive Matthew Cooper issued the challenge to the region's council representatives as a way of getting the districts leaders out there and actively promoting physical activity in their area.
"Promoting the importance of being physically active is vital, but it requires leadership. Through this challenge the mayors and chief executives will be setting the standard and actively promoting the importance of being active for at least 30 minutes each day to the people of their district."
Mr Williams believes that purchasing a pedometer is a great starting point for people who want to improve their fitness and health.
"I encourage people who want to see what they are doing or want to set some goals to get one," he said.
Rather than attempt a massive lifestyle change that is often hard to follow, Mr Williams said a pedometer allows you to record progress "one step at a time".
Anyone interested in following Mr Williams' or Mr Ammon's progress should visit the www.sportwaikato.org.nz website.