#101miles101dayshartford
Sara Stadem | Editor
The idea began with a casual conversation in the grocery store with Teri and Jake Droge, Mayor Jeremy Menning explained. “They really inspired this,” he said when discussing the Mayor’s Fitness Challenge.
Mayor Menning continued to explain while speaking with the Droge’s at the store, they were discussing the similar challenge that Sioux Falls had going on. “Teri said Hartford should do its own thing along this line and so we started talking about making it happen,” Mayor Menning said. “Of course, we joked if Sioux Falls was doing 100 miles in 100 days, we have to do 101 miles in 101 days!”
“The funny thing is the same night, I had another Hartford resident text me that we should do something similar to what Sioux Falls was doing as well and they had no idea we had already talked about it,” Mayor Menning said.
From there, it didn’t take long. Some conversations and text messages to get it rolling with Teri getting right to work on all of the graphics for the posters.
So, what’s the challenge?
From April 22 through August 1, Mayor Menning challenges you to get moving! 101 miles in 101 days!
Mayor Menning explains the best part of this is that someone can do this however it works for them. “You can do this anyway that works for you. So, for instance, if it’s just taking a walk for a mile, hopping on the elliptical or going for a run, you can do it,” Mayor Menning said. He continued, “Whatever is your challenge, you get to do it. If it’s going to the gym or doing yoga, whatever it is that makes it a challenge for you, gets you to check it off, you do it. We hope that it makes it a habit for you by the time the 101 days is done and you keep going.”
When asked what he thinks this will do for the community, Mayor Menning explained he thinks it will bring people together. He said it really comes down to when you have a goal set for residents, people want to do it and it brings people together.
Mayor Menning also said, “To me, it speaks a lot to what Hartford is as a community. All of these people that have so much pride in their community and they don’t have a problem bringing up things to me and say, ‘hey, we want to do this and bring change to our community,’ We can do these things and bring on these changes in our community.”
Charity Ragland, Hartford resident, is currently doing the Mayor’s Fitness Challenge with a friend.
Ragland said she decided to join the challenge because of the importance of getting out and getting moving, knowing that she isn’t the only one getting out and doing something gives her more motivation to get moving.
“I think it’s bringing an importance of getting out and getting your body moving and it brings an awareness of the importance of your health. It helps you get creative on how to get your miles in and to use the trails we have available,” Ragland said.
Ragland also enjoys getting to see how others are getting their miles in when they are posting on social media.
“I think it’s fun to see how people are getting their miles in. The way people are getting creative and showing how they are getting their miles in; it’s helping me get more creative on getting my miles in instead of just doing a video or going to the gym,” Ragland said. “I see how others are doing things and I’m getting more creative.”
Mayor Menning will be posting updates on social media. The best way to follow the updates will be to follow #101miles101dayshartford. He will also update on the Hartford Happenings and the City of Hartford Facebook pages as the days go on.
When it’s all said and done, the challengers can look to celebrate together. Although nothing is finalized yet, Mayor Menning explained they are looking at some type of event on August 1 to commemorate the end of the Mayor Fitness Challenge… a celebration to finish the last mile together in downtown Hartford. So, watch for more details to come as you continue to rack up those miles!