Get fit with the 'Boat to Beijing' Activity Challenge

Malaspina University-College's Campus Recreation Department is always looking for creative ways to promote health and wellness.

That's one of the reasons they've launched the "Boat to Beijing Activity Challenge."

“In the spirit of the summer Olympic games being held in Beijing, our Activity Challenge is a free campus wide event whereby individuals log kilometer equivalencies for physical activity,” explained Tina McComb, Coordinator of Fitness and Intramurals at Malaspina.

"Anyone can participate with any kind of physical activity taking place on or off campus, she added. “For example, if you participate in a running group, swim, walk, play squash, take a fitness class or play community basketball, it all counts."

There are about 175 registered participants in the Boat to Beijing Activity Challenge, mostly students, staff and faculty at Malaspina but community members are welcome to take part, added McComb. "Our goal is to accumulate enough collective ‘mileage’ to go from Nanaimo to Beijing. That's 8,100 kilometres by sea."

The challenge will continue throughout the Spring 2008 semester with prizes drawn randomly every week as an added incentive for participants. A grand prize of a flatscreen TV will be randomly drawn at the conclusion of the event April 11.

So far, first-year science student Doug Merrick is the front-runner in the Boat to Beijing Activity Challenge with over 1,400 kilometres logged.

"I signed up right away when I heard about this event," he said. "The weekly prizes are a good incentive to encourage people to keep physically active."

Merrick, who grew up in the Comox Valley, is avid road racer. He's been racing at the local club level for the past two seasons and is now training for his first provincial road race competitions this spring and summer. The Boat to Beijing Activity Challenge is helping him stay in shape and keep up with his training.

McComb, meanwhile, says there’s still time for participants to sign up for Malaspina's Boat to Beijing Activity Challenge. “We’ve got another few weeks to go. People can still improve their fitness and stand a chance of winning some great prizes," she said.

Individuals can register either online at Campus Rec or by coming to the Malaspina gymnasium. For more information, call the gym office at 740-6418.