My friend Maia posted an article onto my Facebook page last night which referenced a Men's Health Magazine article titled “Where Sit Happens” declaring Lexington, KY (where I live) as America's Most Sedentary City.
I was immediately baffled. How can this beautiful place, with it's wonderful, supportive, active community be the most sedentary city in America?
In this city:
- I asked for help with my fitness routine and was immediately assisted by the wonderful people at Lexington Athletic Club who provide me with an incredible fitness facility and even more incredible, supportive people every time I enter.
- People like trainer Rob Silver helped me get on a workout program and learn to love fitness.
- There are multiple 5K's weekly at some of the city's common hotspots including the University of Kentucky, Keeneland, the Kentucky Horse Park, and throughout downtown. These are supported by great local running shops like John's Run Walk Shop and amazing people like Ernie Peel whose running group John's Striders accepts people of all abilities.
- Local fitness-related businesses like Bikram Yoga Lexington are filled with people of all shapes and abilities being active participants in their health.
- Local organizations like Lexenomics have worked diligently to set up what will soon become one of the premier half-marathon's in the country, Run The Bluegrass
- We have miles of running, walking and biking trails that snake through all parts of the city, including my favorite half-marathon training spot, The Legacy Trail
No matter how the survey was compiled or conducted, they didn't ask me. So here's my take.
- This city has been my partner in losing over 100 pounds so far
- This city has been home to multiple 5K's I've done which have all been brimming with enthusiastic, active participants
- I've worked out at various places across this city doing activities from swimming to Zumba to yoga to biking to weight training
- This city has a slew of other healthy living bloggers, tweeters, and readers who jump in actively and participate whenever I've asked for help
- This city is the place where I proudly finished my first half-marathon
- This is the city where my fit reality has come true
So Men's Health – you can keep your list of sedentary cities. I'm proudly claiming Lexington as my own, and as the place that has assisted in my new, ACTIVE daily lifestyle.
/End of rant
Edited to add: Get Healthy Lexington also just posted a letter to the author of the article, which references many of the points that I thought of at first. It's here if you want to take a look.
