– More than 3,400 Floridians log 7,449 miles in event to encourage healthier lifestyles –
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Feb. 9, 2016 – The YMCA of Florida’s First Coast is pleased to announce its win in the Treadmill Tuesday Challenge, a competition with the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA. Nearly 1,750 First Coast residents completed 3,813 miles during the 12-hour event, surpassing the Tampa Bay by 177 miles. For the Tampa Bay area, 1,686 residents logged 3,636 miles. Together, the First Coast YMCA and Tampa YMCA leveraged a friendly competition to inspire community members to become more physically active and adopt healthier lifestyles.
“Treadmill Tuesday is another way for us to promote the importance of getting 30 minutes of activity or exercise each day, it’s about building a healthy community,” said Eric Mann, president and CEO of the YMCA of Florida’s First Coast. “This year’s competition with our friends in Tampa made the event even more exciting and it’s been incredible to see these communities come together with a cheerful spirit and determination.”
As part of the friendly wager agreed upon by the two YMCA CEOs prior to the competition, Looby will wear a Jacksonville Jaguars jersey, the jersey of the winning community’s NFL team, this week. Additionally, the Tampa YMCA will send a basket of hometown favorites to the YMCA in the winning community.
“The remarkable turnout of the Treadmill Tuesday Challenge has once again demonstrated the importance of community involvement in improving Florida’s health and well-being,” said Tom Looby, president and CEO of the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA. “While this year’s competition has come to an end, both communities’ Ys remain committed to strengthening the health of our communities.”
In addition to participating at their neighborhood Y, community members were able to join the competition from other locations via social media. Of the 3,435 participants, more than 65 joined by uploading a post-workout photo of treadmill dashboard displaying the total distance, tagging @FirstCoastYMCA or @TampaYMCA, and using #TreadmillTuesday. The total distance and number of participants for the First Coast YMCA, who joined the competition via social media or at a First Coast Y branch, are listed below.
| 2016 Treadmill Tuesday Results: Jacksonville | Participants | Mileage |
| Arlington | 80 | 132.52 |
| Bank of America Tower | 49 | 123.58 |
| Barco-Newton | 168 | 430.36 |
| Brooks | 104 | 225.99 |
| Dye Clay | 140 | 263.50 |
| Flagler | 80 | 190.99 |
| Florida Blue | 64 | 149.22 |
| Johnson | 138 | 381.76 |
| McArthur | 186 | 301.63 |
| Ponte Vedra | 170 | 370.79 |
| UF Health | 24 | 56.95 |
| St. Augustine | 128 | 237.28 |
| Williams | 189 | 389.51 |
| Yates | 188 | 457.14 |
| Social Media | 41 | 101.54 |
| Total | 1749 | 3812.76 |
About the First Coast Y
For more than 100 years, YMCA of Florida’s First Coast has been providing men, women and children of all ages, and from all walks of life, opportunities to build stronger bonds, live healthy and become more engaged with their communities. Learn more: www.FirstCoastYMCA.org.
About the Tampa Y
The Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA is one of the area’s leading nonprofits, strengthening Hillsborough and East Pasco communities for more than 126 years, through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the Association, 18 facilities engage more than 160,000 men, women and children — regardless of age, income or background — to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve our community’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. The Tampa Y has long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. www.tampaymca.org
MEDIA CONTACTS
First Coast YMCA:
Jill Wu, Dalton Agency
P 904.398.5222 C 386.383.6061
E jwu@daltonagency.com
Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA:
Lalita Llerena, Tampa Metropolitan Area
P 813.224.9622 ext. 1240 C 813.545.7772
E Lalita.Llerena@tampaymca.org
