Meet Me Downtown is a new free event by FitPHX that urges the community to run, walk or bike every Monday evening for a healthier Phoenix.
The first Meet Me Downtown, or MMDTPHX, will begin Monday at 5:15 p.m. and will continue to occur weekly. The first 200 walkers or runners to arrive will receive a free inaugural “Meet Me Downtown” shirt. Participants will meet at The Corner restaurant at CityScape and complete a 3.3 mile walk or choose an easier alternative route.
Phoenix Councilman Daniel Valenzuela said he aspires to make Phoenix one of the healthiest cities in the country.
“It is important to start at the preventative end of things. The idea is to encourage people to live healthier lives,” said Valenzuela. “And we will win because of it.”
Valenzuela said that as a Glendale firefighter he has always aspired to improve fitness and health in Arizona. As a councilman, he gets the chance to do that on a larger scale.
“I expect strollers, bikers, walkers and athletes, which will create more routes and organization,” he said. “For now, the important thing is to keep moving and get some exercise.”
There also is a 2-mile extension option for runners who want to do a 5-mile run. Runners will meet back at The Corner restaurant around 7 p.m. to participate in additionally festivities.
Meet Me Downtown will offer prizes to people who attend 10, 25, 50 and 100 times. Free raffles will be held at every event. There will also be discounts at select nearby restaurants the day of participation.
Meet Me Downtown’s title sponsor is the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ). Planning for the event has been a collaborative effort by Downtown Phoenix, Inc., CityScape Phoenix, Phoenix Parks Foundation, Meet Me Concepts and Sole Sports Running Zone.
The second Meet Me Downtown event on Nov. 17 will provide health education information from BCBSAZ.
“We are excited to be associated with Meet Me Downtown,” said Jeff Stelnik, senior vice president of sales for BCBSAZ. “Not only does it help get people moving, participants can socialize with their neighbors while seeing all that downtown has to offer. It is a great way to help Arizonans stay healthy.”
Phoenix currently has an overall ranking of 36 in the American Fitness Index’s 2014 report on metropolitan health and fitness.
Professor Chris Berger at the ASUs School of Nutrition and Health Promotion said he believes there are three reasons why Arizona does not rank higher in the fitness department.
“Most of our population is retired, we have this harsh climate and are lacking the infrastructure,” Berger said.
Meet Me Downtown was created by FitPHX, a citywide initiative started by Valenzuela, Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and Olympic gold-medalist Misty Hyman to improve health standards in Phoenix.
Runners who want to participate can register at meetmedowntownphx.com.
Contact the reporter at mdlope15@asu.edu
