Posted on Feb 21, 2018
 
Are you ready to walk across Texas? If you don't want to actually walk across the Lone Star State, you could do the equivalent in combination with team members in a friendly challenge with other teams.
 

It is called "Walk Across Texas" and put on annually by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to encourage people to walk and exercise.

The event seeks teams of no more than eight people that combine their total miles walked during the eight-week challenge period to determine which teams walked the farthest. The idea is for each team to walk at least 834 miles – the distance across Texas.

Lynette Babcock, pictured center above, is the family and community health extension agent for the Palo Pinto County Extension Office. She spoke Wednesday to Rotary Club of Mineral Wells about "Walk Across Texas." This year's local challenge is set for March 18-May 12.

Babcock said last year some 30 local teams took part, involving more than 230 participants. The top three teams were presented trophies, and every team that met the combined 834-goal were honored.

She said you don't have to have eight people on a team, but fewer people will require some extra walking to make it to 834 miles or more. Individuals can also take part in the challenge.

Teams and individuals can register beginning March 1 at https://palopinto.agrilife.org. There is no cost to register or participate.

You can then go to the "Walk Across Texas" website at http://walkacrosstexas.tamu.edu/ for more information, tools and resources and help calculating your steps. Many use a pedometer throughout their day to keep track of their daily steps. Team members will sometimes meet to walk together at certain times of the day.

Babcock said she hopes to kick off the event at the Mineral Wells High School track and have a mid-challenge event at the Palo Pinto General Hospital walking track. PPGH generally assembles a number of teams for the event every year.

For more information contact Babcock at 940-659-1228.

Pictured with Babcock are Beth Henary Watson, left, who filled in as program chair for the day and is a member of a citizens advisory council for Babcock's family and community health services programs, and club President David Cairone.

Rotary Club of Mineral Wells meets every Wednesday at noon for lunch, networking, updates on club projects and a program of interest.