This week’s workout is focused around consistency.  Take a peek…

• 10 minute warm-up
• 3 x 2 minute interval at 800M pace with 3 min rest
• Broken 6 minute interval (plus brief rest) as follows:  4 x 90 second intervals at mile pace or faster…hold spot on track and rest for just 10 seconds before starting next interval.  See how far you get in the total 4×90 sec intervals
• 5 minute recovery jog
• Broken 6 minute interval (plus brief rest) as follows:  4 x 90 second intervals - similar to above in holding spot on track but only 5 seconds rest between each.  Goal is to come within 20 feet of what you did in the first broken 6 min interval above
• 5 minute recovery jog
• 2 x 1 min intervals @ 1 mile pace with 1 min rest
• 10 minute warm-down

Thanks to Michele Baker…

Cities taking charge on health care

March 5, 2009

The Denver Post

 http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_11837896

Kids Who Live Near Green Spaces Seem to Walk More

March 12, 2009

HealthDay News

http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=624972

Los Angeles Students Help Improve Local Food Environment

March 17, 2009

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

http://www.rwjf.org/childhoodobesity/digest.jsp?id=9948

Obese die up to 10 years early, study of a million people finds

March 18, 2009

The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/mar/18/health-nhs-obesity-smoking

Diet tours to Japan

March 19, 2009

The Japan Times

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20090314cz.html

Studies Affirm Link Between Food Prices, Obesity

March 20, 2009

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

http://www.rwjf.org/publichealth/digest.jsp?id=10005

Is a Food Revolution Now in Season?

March 21, 2009

The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/22/business/22food.html?_r=1&ref=health

Health department on camera

March 22, 2009

The Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2009/03/22/news/local/doc49c5d435a3a94881596456.txt

Kentucky Coalition Releases Recommendations to Decrease Childhood Obesity

March 25, 2009

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

http://www.rwjf.org/publichealth/digest.jsp?id=10053

Should be a fun week at the track this week everyone.  Looking forward to joining you this week…

• 10 minute warm-up
• 3 x 3 minutes @ 5K race pace… 3 min jog
• 4 x 2 minutes @ 1 mile race pace… 2 min jog
• 3 x 1 minute @ 800 race pace… 1 min jog (2 min before last one and then really push pace)
• 10 min warm-down

At a time when most organizations are seeing 6-15% annual increases in their health care costs, there are a growing number of exceptions.  Those implementing an effective (key word) wellness program along with other strategies averaged just a .5% increase annually in 2008, providing a massive impact to the bottom line.

“There are many options out there for employers in the area of wellness.  Unfortunately, some of those are little more than a ‘check the wellness box’ option.  Our clients who have chosen to implement a truly effective program are not only seeing a flattening of their costs, but are actually seeing a DECREASE in their costs compared with previous years,” noted Brad Cooper, CEO of US Corporate Wellness.

For details on the study, please see the following link:   http://eba.benefitnews.com/news/more-employers-find-success-managing-health-care-costs-2671804-1.html?ET=ebabenefitnews:e25:2082057a:&st=email

It will come as little surprise to anyone that in this 24/7 age of non-stop energy drinks and coffee refills, that 20% of the population reports sleep deprivation to the point of affecting their daily activities.

Here’s the link to the full article if you’d like the details: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/589694

A new study confirmed what has long been noted in the employee wellness industry - running appears to be one of the most effective ways of enhancing bone density, even when compared with weight training (which is also beneficial).

For the full article, see the following link:  http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE52B6RR20090312

Hello Gang,

We were nice and easy last week.  We’ll continue the pattern over the next few weeks as we eeeeease back into the season.  Here’s this week’s plan…

• 10 minute warm-up
• 5 minute interval at 10K pace
• 5 minute jog
• 5 x 2 min interval at 1 mile pace with 2 minute jog in between
• Extra 5 minute jog
• 5 minute interval at 10K pace
• 10 minute jog

Thanks to Michele Baker for the updates…

Sen. Bennet, Ag Committee Examine Methods for Improving Child Health and Nutrition

March 4, 2009

The BARN

http://brianallmerradionetwork.wordpress.com/2009/03/04/03-04-09-sen-bennet-ag-committee-examine-methods-for-improving-child-health-and-nutrition/

If Diets Don’t Work, What’s the Solution to Obesity in America?

March 5, 2009

U.S. News

http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/diabetes/2009/03/05/if-diets-dont-work-whats-the-solution-to-obesity-in-america.html?PageNr=1

Michael Pollan Wants Your Food Rules

March 9, 2009

The New York Times

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/09/michael-pollan-wants-your-food-rules/

School fitness programs do not go far enough: experts

March 9, 2009

Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE52823O20090309?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0

Michelle Obama’s Agenda Includes Healthful Eating

March 10, 2009

New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/11/dining/11lady.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=health

U.S. on short end of health care ‘value gap,’ report says

March 11, 2009

USA Today

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-03-12-health-care-costs_N.htm

Recession thwarts healthy efforts

March 11, 2009

BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7934242.stm

Students Better Behaved, More Focused When Physically Fit, Study Finds

March 11, 2009

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

http://www.rwjf.org/childhoodobesity/digest.jsp?id=9875&c=OTC-RSS&attr=DI

Student-Designed Device Provides New Way To Track Calorie Burning

March 12, 2009

Medical News Today

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/141941.php

Thanks to Michele Baker for this week’s Employee Wellness Updates…

Leveraging Food Policy to Improve America’s Health

February 17, 2009

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation- Commission to Build a Healthier America

http://www.commissiononhealth.org/Post.aspx?Blog=62793

Health spending takes rising share of U.S. economy

February 24, 2009

Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2009/02/24/health_spending_takes_rising_share_of_us_economy/?rss_id=Boston.com+–+Health+news

Low Literacy Can Lead to Food ‘Portion Distortion’

February 26, 2009

Health Behavior News Service

 http://www.hbns.org/getDocument.cfm?documentID=1854

Children’s changing body shape

March 1, 2009

The Sydney Morning Herald

http://www.smh.com.au/news/lifeandstyle/wellbeing/childrens-changing-body-shape/2009/02/28/1235237986591.html

A Hurdle for Health Reform: Patients and Their Doctors

March 2, 2009

The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/health/03well.html?ref=health

Study Finds Exercise Advertisements Prompt People to Eat

March 3, 2009

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

http://www.rwjf.org/publichealth/digest.jsp?id=9776

Children who spend hours in front of the TV are more likely to get asthma

March 3, 2009

The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/mar/03/asthma-television-tv-children

360-degree health care forum has rousing start

March 5, 2009

USA Today

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-03-06-healthcare-forum_N.htm

Independent Grocery Stores Boost Urban Fruit, Veggie Consumption

March 5, 2009

Health Behavior News Service

http://www.hbns.org/getDocument.cfm?documentID=1858

It’s never too late to start exercise

March 5, 2009

Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE52501X20090306

Thanks to Michele Baker for these highlights…

Restaurant Supported Ag Catching On

February 17, 2009

Enivorvore

http://envirovore.com/content/view/353/1/

U.S. employers expect steady rise in health costs

February 19, 2009

Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE51I7HR20090219

Health Care Industry in Talks to Shape Policy

February 19, 2009

New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/20/us/politics/20health.html?_r=1&ref=health

Coalition Launches Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative

February 20, 2009

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

http://www.rwjf.org/childhoodobesity/digest.jsp?id=9637&c=OTC-RSS&attr=DI

Costs for individual health plans soar

February 20, 2009

USA Today

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-02-19-health-coverage_N.htm

Mouse study sheds light on obesity gene

February 22, 2009

Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE51L1YN20090222

Maine Lawmakers Propose Bills to Reduce Childhood Obesity Rates

February 26, 2009

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

http://www.rwjf.org/childhoodobesity/digest.jsp?id=9717&c=OTC-RSS&attr=DI

Uncertainty over new health safety net for jobless

March 2, 2009

The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/02/AR2009030200287.html