Running Zone’s Spring into Fitness Challenge is Recruiting Exercise Teams

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For the past six years, Space Coast City Hall employees have organized teams of volunteers to accumulate weekly exercise time in the Health First Mayors Fitness Challenge, a casual competition.

Now, the free health-focused contest has expanded in scope to include Brevard County businesses, organizations, and grassroots participants in the eight-week Running Zone Spring Into Fitness Challenge.

Our latest fitness campaign kicks off on February 11th with a kickoff event at Melbourne’s Running Zone. Teams will submit total hours of physical activity (walking, running, biking, yoga, weightlifting, etc.) each week through April 1st.

The organizer tallies the average exercise time for the entire challenge and awards bonus points to teams with high participation rates. The winner will be given the title of “Most Fit Team”.

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“We decided to open it up so it wasn’t just limited to local governments,” said Maggie Dickinson, partnership coordinator for the Running Zone Foundation. ” he said.

“So teams are companies, schools, small businesses. There are churches. Anyone can create a team.”

Participants and new teams of 40 or more can register for free. “2023 Running Zone “Spring into Fitness” Challenge” Facebook page. Those who register by Thursday, January 5th will receive a free t-shirt and will be randomly drawn each week.

Brevard’s Case Management Services coordinates fitness campaigns. Call 321-265-1647 for more information.

“You can register throughout the course of the event. You can register your team at any time. You can also register to join a team at any time,” Dickinson said.

“The important thing is that everything is free. And it’s designed to be fun. I have,” she said.

Prior to the Spring into Fitness Challenge, Running Zone will host a free weekly ‘warm-up’ at nearby Wickham Park on five consecutive Saturday mornings, January 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th and February 4th. ” will be held.

The walk begins at 9:00 am and participants must meet at the store at 3696 N. Wickham Road.

In last year’s Mayor’s Fitness Challenge, nearly 2,400 people representing various municipalities in Brevard clocked in about 5.2 million minutes of activity.

Cape Canaveral has won the title of best-fit city in four of the six years since the Mayoral Contest began in 2017, and Cocoa Beach has won two other crowns in 2018 and 2019.

As of Wednesday morning, 29 teams have signed up for the Spring into Fitness Challenge. Participating municipalities to date include Cape Canaveral, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Indian Harbor Beach, Indialantic, Melbourne, Palm Bay, Rockledge and West Melbourne.

Companies, nonprofits, and organizations range from Brevard’s Aging Matters and Brevard Alzheimer’s Foundation, to L3Harris and Space Force Launch Delta 45, Florida Tech, and Island’s HOT Yoga.

On the fitness front, FLORIDA TODAY Executive Editor Mara Bellaby will be honorary chairman of the Health First Fight Child Hunger 5K Run/Walk on January 14th at 8am at Viera High soccer field.

Proceeds will benefit the Children’s Hunger Project and Sharing Center in Central Brevard, and participants will receive a free post-race pancake breakfast.

For registration or more information, please visit: Health First Fight Child Hunger 5K Facebook Page.

Rick Neal South Brevard Watchdog Reporter for FLORIDA TODAY (For more on his story, visit click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. twitter: @RickNeale1

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