Sports VIEW 07/24/08

What moves you?

The Crim Fitness Foundation and the Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission asked a simple, yet key question of all Genesee County residents last week—What moves you?

And, the groups weren’t talking about the super-sized chocolate bar or fries in front of you, or the chick flicks that bring many to tears, rather, what moves people to get up and get moving? With an increasing obesity epidemic among children and the girth of America growing larger by the day, the Crim folks are extending yet another hand to try to help reverse the disturbing trends.

Key to the Do What Moves You initiative is in bringing people into Genesee County Parks so they can walk, boat, canoe, run or ride bicycles. As Bobby Crim said at the press conference last Thursday, “Do whatever moves you.”

For some, a backyard is their closest outdoors-recreational opportunity, but people living in apartments or tight city blocks don’t even have that access — until now. Genesee County’s backyard is now their backyard, and the first step to starting a healthier lifestyle for themselves, their families and neighbors. Bobby Crim noted that this is not about running, but rather in getting people up and moving. A simple walk or any kind of activity that people can do for 30 to 60 minutes six times a week is the overall goal. Play basketball in the driveway with the kids, pick up a plastic bat and hit balls to the kids, or play catcher while they hit balls. Jump rope, hopscotch, or run through the sprinklers with the kids. Kick some balls around, throw others or hula hoop. Simple, basic activities are the starting point and can include just leashing up the dog and walking up and down the sidewalks or block for 30 minutes.

The problem over the decades has been one of safety more than laziness. Years ago, you could send the kids out at 9 a.m. and you wouldn’t see them until the crickets began to chirp. They spent their lazy summer days not laying around, but climbing trees, riding bikes, chasing one another around town. Daily bike rides into town were more common than not, but nowadays that is just a safety hazard. It’s a shame, for sure, but what’s a parent to do? With the reality that both parents work, there is no one left to watch groups of kids, making sure they have refreshments, snacks etc. on a daily basis. By the time everyone comes home from work, daycare and school, it’s out of the car, into the house and onto the sofa or the information superhighway.

Changing those habits will not be easy for some, and as far as the adults, we are just as guilty as the kids of staying plugged into our Blackberrys, iPods and computers, often bringing work home. That’s dark work. Instead, Bobby Crim is encouraging all of us to simply flip the switches off and go for a walk, go to the numerous parks or just go outside and re-create the long-forgotten outdoor neighborhoods where kids could safely play throughout the block. It’s time for groups of parents to also get more active as they watch from the sidewalks and front porches, doing their own activities or joining in with the kids. Just don’t sit there, is the main message. Get up and get moving, taking care of some of the weekend yard chores as you supervise the active kids.

And don’t let Old Man Winter or Jack Frost deter you once summer ends, instead take the parks up on its offer for cross country skiing, figure skating and old-fashioned pond hockey. Sledding, winter hikes and much more can keep you moving in the right direction — just do what moves you, and don’t stop.