Program Overview:

“Do The LOCAL Motion” is a free fitness program that combines walking and running with culture and community. It was originally designed by Healthy Together and its partners as a way to encourage greater workplace wellness for the downtown businesses. Because walking is not only good for you, but good for the environment, Healthy Together is working to make it easy to for you to walk the walk, every day.

Why Emphasize Walking?

In our car-focused culture, Tampa citizens seem to have forgotten the benefits of daily walking. Maybe it’s the heat, or maybe it’s the auto-convenience, but our need to ride around in cars is separating us from our health and our community.

Walkable neighborhoods offer surprising benefits to our health, the environment, and our communities.

• Better health: A study in Washington State found that the average resident of a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood weighs 7 pounds less than someone who lives in a sprawling neighborhood. Residents of walkable neighborhoods drive less and suffer fewer car accidents, a leading cause of death between the ages of 15–45.
• Reduction in greenhouse gas: Cars are a leading cause of global warming. Your feet are zero-pollution transportation machines.
• More transportation options: Compact neighborhoods tend to have higher population density, which leads to more public transportation options and bicycle infrastructure. Not only is taking the bus cheaper than driving, but riding a bus is ten times safer than driving a car!
• Increased social capital: Walking increases social capital by promoting face-to-face interaction with your neighbors. Studies have shown that for every 10 minutes a person spends in a daily car commute, time spent in community activities falls by 10%.
• Stronger local businesses: Dense, walkable neighborhoods provide local businesses with the foot traffic they need to thrive. It's easier for pedestrians to shop at many stores on one trip, since they don't need to drive between destination.

Community, Culture & Fitness

Part of the strategy of “Do The LOCAL Motion” is to inspire you to walk by involving local artists and musicians. Podcasts feature local musical talent, and local artists and actors will be helping make our group walks more interesting and colorful.

What motivates you to walk?

Recently Healthy Together launched a survey that asks you what it would take to motivate you to walk downtown? If you already walk, what would it take to motivate you to walk more?

Please help us help you to better health.

To take the survey, click here.

Walking Incentives:

We have several strategies to encourage your walking participation. We believe that once you develop the habit, you’ll be glad you did.

To get you started, why not try one of these opportunities:

• Check out healthy downtown walking routes, which are available at most downtown hotel concierge desks, through many corporate HR departments, and at the three downtown YMCAs. You can also find copies in local newspapers and magazines.
• Download maps to downtown walking routes, click here.
• Try walking to a customized podcast. Pick your route, pick your pace and pick your music. It’s easy and safe to download these electronic files to your computer, your MP3 player or your i-Pod. To view your different selections, click here.
• Join one of our group walks. At noon, on every other Friday, beginning Jan. 16, 2009, you can join your downtown friends and local celebrities for a different walk every week. To view our schedule and routes, click here for event dates.
• Get your office to participate in our walks. Get your CEO and HR director to WALK THE WALK for WORKPLACE WELLNESS. (Click here for a form) Several office teams are signing up with Healthy Together to compete for catered company lunches. To chat with a representative who can help you set up a competitive team, click here.
• Attend our informational wellness workshops. Healthy Together is hosting a variety of educational events at lunch and after work. Check out our schedule and plan to attend, click here.
• Sign up for a health assessment. Thinking about starting a fitness plan or just want to track your progress? Stay in touch with what’s right for your body by stopping in at any downtown YMCA, or coming to any group fitness event or wellness workshop.
• Use our fitness diary to record your progress. What’s your goal? Track your walking/running/biking progress by keeping a diary on our site. (link to my diary)
• EARN REWARDS and incentives for your fitness effort. Beginner, Intermediate, Athlete? We have opportunities for everyone to win in our Walk the Walk program, click here.
• Contribute Feedback: Send us your improvement ideas. Tampa’s still working at being a great walkable downtown. Send us your feedback by completing an assessment form, or sending along photos of your latest downtown fitness experience, click here.