Spring is in the Air! And so is PCF’s 100 Miles in March Run/Walk Challenge.
To quote George Harrison, “It’s been a long cold lonely winter.” It’s time for a change. Lace up those shoes and let’s get outside and see the sun.
Walking and running are two of the world’s most reliable and enduring forms of exercise. Did you know that daily walking can reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer? A whopping 30% of all cancer is preventable with lifestyle factors. Best of all, almost anyone can do it.* During the month of March, challenge yourself to raise money for prostate cancer research AND walk away with better health. Here’s how:
- Join the private Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/100milerunwalk and sign up for your FREE t-shirt.
- Put in 100 miles in March walking, running, hiking, or your favorite sport.
- Set your goals and log your miles as you go in our tracker!
It’s that easy! Not interested in Facebook? You can still participate by visiting PCF.org/100miles.
1 in 8 men in the U.S. will get prostate cancer in their lifetimes. If you are a Black man, it’s 1 in 6. We know that health habits, like exercise and healthy eating, play an important role in health risks and outcomes. While eating healthy and exercising can’t stop you from getting cancer, research shows that it can lower your risk. For example, a recent study of nearly 58,000 men found that those who improved their fitness were 35% less likely to develop prostate cancer over several years than men whose fitness declined.
There are so many benefits to regular exercise, especially if it becomes a routine for you. Walking can help your cardiovascular and pulmonary (heart and lung) fitness; it can also help decrease your risk of heart disease and having a stroke, and it can improve management of other conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, joint and muscle pain or stiffness, and diabetes. Walking can also strengthen your bones, improve your balance, and help you burn calories. Burning calories regularly can help you maintain a healthy weight or to lose weight (if your doctor has advised this).
Whether you are walking to keep yourself healthy or in honor of someone you love who has been affected by prostate cancer – you can join in the challenge this March. Over the course of the month, PCF will provide tips and science-based information on the benefits of exercise. We’ll also be sharing inspirational stories from folks who are participating. Since the Facebook group is private, if you would like your story to be considered for our blog, please submit it here and let us know why you are walking 100 Miles in March!
If you’re recovering from an injury or otherwise looking for alternatives to walking and running, no problem. Feel free to substitute swimming (try pool running with a flotation belt!), cycling (indoor or outdoor), or another activity. The key is to move as vigorously as you can for the equivalent of 100 miles. If you need to convert to miles, count 15 or 20 minutes of your activity as one mile.