BETHLEHEM, Pa. — An exercise initiative is celebrating a decade of participation and success.
St. Luke’s University Health Network’s Get Your Tail on the Trail aims to motivate people to move their bodies and stay active.
The health system partnered with the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, also known as the D&L trail, to help people meet their fitness goals.
- For a decade, the Get Your Tail on the Trail initiative has been getting people to walk, run, bike or paddle their way to better health
- Sponsored by St. Luke’s University Health Network and the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
- Offers day-to-day challenges and public events to encourage people of all ages to exercise
The trail spans a 165-mile stretch from Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, to Bristol, Bucks County.
“There's a lot of research and evidence out there that we can really look at the prevention of some illnesses and the maintenance of chronic diseases if people are more physically active,” St. Luke's Clinical Operation Director Kathy Ramson said.
Ramson said her team works with community groups across the Lehigh Valley to connect them with day-to-day challenges, public events and the chance to earn prizes.
We'll connect with those community groups and try to get them engaged in local events happening on their local trails and things that are happening that will benefit the different populations that we serve.Kathy Ramson, network director for clinical operations at St. Luke's.
“We'll connect with those community groups and try to get them engaged in local events happening on their local trails and things that are happening that will benefit the different populations that we serve,” Ramson said.
She and her colleagues also are promoting a health initiative called Healthy People 2030, in which they encourage people to get 150 hours of exercise per week.
For the past 10 years, Get Your Tail on the Trail has encouraged people to walk, run, bike or paddle along the D&L and then log their miles on a mobile app. The initiative has drawn national recognition for promoting good health.
The current competition began this month and runs through November. The challenge encourages participants to run, walk or bike 165 miles and log their mileage.
