DENVER — Tuesday, July 2, 2013 — Gov. John Hickenlooper today joined CaféWell, the Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, 9NEWS, the Pedal The Plains Bicycle Tour and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade to announce the 2013 Pedal The Plains Training Challenge, a 10-week bicycle challenge designed to encourage Coloradans to get healthy on their bikes this summer.
The Pedal The Plains Training Challenge is a free program open to any business or individual who wishes to participate. Some participants will take on this challenge with the goal of conquering the Pedal The Plains Bicycle Tour in September; others are encouraged to participate as a fun activity and a great way to get in shape.
“Biking is a great way to enjoy and visit Colorado,” Hickenlooper said. “We all can benefit from adding exercise to our daily routines. This training program will help to prepare riders be their best for the 2013 Pedal The Plains bike ride, establish healthy exercise habits for a lifetime and keep Colorado moving toward becoming the healthiest state in the nation.”
The Pedal The Plains Challenge is hosted on CaféWell, a social health network that makes getting better connected to health and fitness more fun and more rewarding. On CaféWell, Pedal The Plains Training Challenge participants can join weekly cycling training challenges, earn chances to win prizes, get world-class advice from expert coaches, check their competitive standing and communicate or compete with other participants.
“Every week will offer riders a new challenge and prize opportunities,” said CaféWell co-founder and President Scott Rotermund.
Although Colorado’s adult obesity rate is the lowest in the nation, it has steadily increased over the past 20 years, jumping from about 7 percent in 1990 to more than 20 percent in 2011, according to the Colorado Health Report Card. More than half of Coloradans are either overweight or obese, including three in 10 Colorado children.
“One of the best ways to avoid excess weight gain is to be physically active,” said Dr. James Hill at the Anschutz Health and Wellness Center. “In just five hours on a bike, we can burn 3,500 calories – the equivalent of a pound of fat.”
The Pedal The Plains Challenge begins July 8 and runs through Sept. 15. Details about the challenge and the Pedal The Plains Bicycle Tour can be found online at cafewell.com/code/ptpchallenge.
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About Pedal The Plains
The Pedal The Plains Bicycle Tour is a three-day recreation cycling tour through southeastern Colorado. The event has a strong emphasis on education, entertainment, food and agriculture. The second annual Pedal The Plains will take place Sept. 20-22, 2013. More information is available at www.pedaltheplains.com