Cathy Alexander
Thursday, July 26, 2018 9:00 am
|
We see you 'out' there...early in the morning and late in the evening. All through the day we notice that you're out there walking and running. We've even seen you on your bike and every once in a while we catch a glimpse of you paddling on the river. We see you and say to ourselves, 'I should be out there too.'
Some of us have regular routines where we get out and exercise. Some of us don't. Many of us want to get out there but have reasons why we haven't. These reasons vary but often times it's because we simply lack the motivation to get out alone. Wouldn't you be more likely to go for a walk with friends?
We all know the benefits from being active are tremendous and beside that fact that exercise is so good for our heart health, it's also a great way to relieve stress. Imagine how much better we would feel with a more active lifestyle and less stress. Then, factor in a few more perks like the sights and sounds of our beautiful Mother Nature, meeting and enjoying the company of others all while protecting and maintaining our natural resources. Getting out is a 'win/win' situation!
Rutherford Outdoor Coalition is a non-profit organization right here in the county. "ROC offers tons of opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy nature. We offer group hikes and river floats each month, lead a monthly walk with the shelter dogs from the Brother Wolf Animal Rescue, have a weekly walking club, lead Couch to 5K programs, perform clean-ups and maintenance on local trails, and host the Rutherford Race Series. These programs and events provide great opportunities to meet others from the community that share similar interests." says Dana Bradley, Outdoor Programs Director. "The ROC Walking Club meets each Tuesday and Thursday. At 6:30pm on Tuesday, we meet at the track at Summey Park in Forest City and on Thursday, we meet at the Purple Martin Greenway in Rutherfordton. We also offer a morning walk on the Purple Martin Greenway Wednesday at 8:30am. We walk together for 30 minutes each day."
For those of us that are just beginning to develop a personal exercise program, these walks are a perfect way to start. There are also planned outings for those seeking a more rigorous workout. "The Rutherford Race Series is a series of running events held in the county each year. The next race in the series is the 'Meet Me at the Fountain' 5K in Forest City on July 28th." reported Dana.
"People can also get involved in outdoor activities by becoming a ROC Trail Boss or River Steward." added Dana. "These community members help keep our local trails and rivers looking great by adopting a trail or river section and help maintain it."
Whatever your level of fitness, personal goals or interests, ROC has something for you. With so many choices, your involvement can be tailored to fit your own schedule and level of commitment. Membership fees are very reasonable and are used to promote healthy lifestyles for all of Rutherford County. They hold a monthly general meeting on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at Barley's Taproom in Spindale and everyone is welcomed. So visit www.rutherfordoutdoor.org and/or the Rutherford Outdoor Coalition Facebook page to see what ROC has going on. Surely, you'll find something that will make you want to GET OUT!