Get Healthy with the Heart of Summer Walking Clinics!

Friday, April 07, 2006

WHAT: Mayo Clinic, the Olmsted County Steps to a Healthier Rochester program and the Rochester Area Family Y are collaborating to provide walking clinics throughout the summer to promote more physically active lifestyles.

The participating organizations are kicking off the walking clinics with an informational session next week. During the event, walking clinic coaches and past participants will discuss what the clinics offer and will answer any questions.

The eight-week walking clinics are designed for women who would like to begin an activity program or who want to increase their endurance. The registration fee is $25 and is on a self-determined ability to pay.

Participants meet weekly at Soldier's Field, and clinics include health tips and walking schedules to meet individual goals. Walkers also have the option to enter the Guidant Heart of Summer 5K and 10K in Minneapolis on Aug. 19. A portion of the race proceeds will go to the Mayo Clinic Women's Heart Clinic for community heart health education.

WHEN: Kickoff Event:
Tuesday, April 11, 2006, at 6:30 p.m.

Walking Clinics:
Three eight-week clinic sessions are scheduled throughout the summer:
Session 1: May 1-June 23
Session 2: June 26-August 18
Session 3: August 21-October 13

During each session, three time options are available:
Tuesdays at 9 a.m.
Tuesdays at 7 p.m.
Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m.

Additional educational sessions will be offered throughout the clinics on health topics such as goal setting, nutrition, and women and heart disease.

WHERE: Kickoff Event:
Olmsted County Public Health Services, 2100 Campus Drive SE in Rochester.

Walking Clinics:
Participants meet weekly at Soldier's Field in Rochester for walking. Educational sessions will be held at Olmsted County Public Health Services, 2100 Campus Drive SE in Rochester.

WHO: The clinics are designed for women but are open to men and women who want to start an activity program or increase their endurance.

CONTACT: For more information or to register, call Paula Ricke at the Mayo Clinic Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center at 507-266-4688. For more information about the race, visit http://www.heartofsummer.org.
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To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to www.mayoclinic.org/news. MayoClinic.com (www.mayoclinic.com) is available as a resource for your health stories.

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About Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic is the first and largest integrated, not-for-profit group practice in the world. Doctors from every medical specialty work together to care for patients, joined by common systems and a philosophy of "the needs of the patient come first." More than 3,300 physicians, scientists and researchers and 46,000 allied health staff work at Mayo Clinic, which has sites in Rochester, Minn., Jacksonville, Fla., and Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz. Collectively, the three locations treat more than half a million people each year. To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to www.mayoclinic.org/news. For information about research and education visit www.mayo.edu. MayoClinic.com is available as a resource for your health stories.