Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling and Lucia Rilling Launch 'Mayor’s Fitness Challenge'

Norwalk, CT - Mayor Harry Rilling and his wife, Lucia, are launching the Mayor’s Fitness Challenge, where residents can join them on a weekly walk, weather permitting, every Saturday morning.

The city's First Couple is hoping the initiative will help Norwalkers become more fit.

"According to the American Heart Association, the benefits of walking include reducing the risk of coronary heart disease, improving blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and blood lipid profiles, and helping to maintain body weight and lower the risk of obesity. Lucia is enthusiastic about coordinating this initiative," said Mayor Rilling in a statement. "We hope you will join us; of course, everyone should check with his or her doctor before starting any fitness program."

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According to a post on the city's website, the Mayor and his wife were inspired to do this by hearing about the U.S. Conference of Mayor’s Fitness Challenge which was held in summer 2013.

"Norwalk has natural beauty and many scenic walking routes which were established and mapped out some time ago by the Norwalk Health Department’s Norwalker Program," said Lucia Rilling. "We want to promote use of these walking routes as well as the basic concept of walking for fitness. This is only the beginning of the Health and Fitness activities I will be coordinating with the Norwalk Health Department and others in the community. Smoking cessation assistance, blood pressure screenings, and a variety of informational sessions will also be planned for the public. Walk with Us."

Click here to view a webpage listing the routes throughout Norwalk.

The next walk will be this Saturday, July 16, following the West Norwalk loop which is 3 miles. Please meet at the Fox Run Elementary School parking lot. The walk begins at 8 a.m. Come join the group and bring a bottle of water for yourself. The public is invited.

www.norwalkct.org/walking

To discover the location of future Saturday walks and find out about other health and fitness activities, go to the Norwalk website, www.norwalkct.org , and look for “Mayor's Health and Fitness Challenge.” Note that news of upcoming walk locations will be posted there each Monday afternoon for the following Saturday.

Photo: Lucia Rilling and Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling via Facebook