"Marathon Month Promotes Healthful Lifestyles for Extension Employees" by Joseph L. Donaldson, Beth A. Bell et al.

Article Title

Marathon Month Promotes Healthful Lifestyles for Extension Employees

Authors

Joseph L. Donaldson, University of TennesseeFollow
Beth A. Bell, University of TennesseeFollow
John J. Toman, University of TennesseeFollow
Shirley Hastings, University of TennesseeFollow

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Abstract

This article describes Marathon Month, a workplace wellness program for Extension employees. The program promoted physical activity by challenging employees to walk or run the length of a marathon (26.2 mi) or half marathon (13.1 mi) over the course of 1 month. Of the 317 participants, 90% achieved a self-set goal of completing a full or half marathon, and 31% reported losing weight, with an average weight loss of 4.2 lb per person. Another reported benefit was increased workplace camaraderie. A number of practical ideas, such as sending email reminders and using social media, are provided to facilitate replication in other states.

Recommended Citation

Donaldson, J. L., Bell, B. A., Toman, J. J., & Hastings, S. (2016). Marathon Month Promotes Healthful Lifestyles for Extension Employees. The Journal of Extension, 54(5), Article 17. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/joe/vol54/iss5/17

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