Let’s get this straight. There a free run, bike and walk. There was free food. There were free T-shirts. There were free duffle bags. There was free coffee. There were free shuttles. There were free prizes. There were games and
Let’s get this straight.
There a free run, bike and walk.
There was free food.
There were free T-shirts.
There were free duffle bags.
There was free coffee.
There were free shuttles.
There were free prizes.
There were games and entertainment.
Did we mention everything was free?
Organizers of the fifth annual Mayor-a-thon deserve a shout out for the event on Saturday that attracted several hundred kids and adults.
Beyond that fact everything was gratis, this was one great way to give the young and old an incentive to exercise, to move, to run, to bike, to dance, to just feel good.
Let’s face it. Many of us aren’t exactly wild about stomach crunches, chewing on carrots and reading colorful quotes meant to motivate us. It’s too much work.
We’d rather sit in our recliner, grab a slice of pizza and watch a ballgame or yet another Tom Cruise movie on late night TV. Nice and easy, though not exactly model behavior for good health.
Enter the Mayor-a-thon.
Want to know why it was the place to be on a sunny Saturday morning? It made working out, sweating, seem fun. It was fun. Friends and family traveled by foot or two wheels from Kapaa Beach Park, with some going to the end of Ke Ala Hele Makalae path and back, nearly 8 miles round-trip. Some went just a few miles. Along the way, they were rooted on by dancers, cheerleaders and an army of volunteers handing out ice cold water, smiles and waves.
Back at the park, Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr., joined by enthusiastic keiki, inspired folks with his signature “Electric Slide” dance, as well as giving it his best shot to keep up with the kids to Psy’s “Gangnam Style.” Priceless.
The Mayor-a-thon is indeed one-of-a-kind. If you were there, then you had a wonderful time and learned a bit about fitness, health, and just how it good it feels to be active.
Kudos to organizer Bev Brody with Get Fit Kauai and others, including, HMSA, County of Kauai, and for their efforts to bring this to our community.
Others chipped in, like Kauai Coffee, which gave away over 40 gallons of coffee that morning, Menehune Water, which provided the water in the park and on the path, and Hoola Lahui Hawaii, a nonprofit health organization, which coordinated entertainment and water on the path.
And if you weren’t there, well, you missed out. There’s always next year, but meantime, join the movement. Get moving. Take a walk on Ke Ala Hele Makalae. Try riding a bike. Or even, dance in your home to Psy’s hit song.
The mayor will be happy to show you the moves.
