For the second year in a row, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock is encouraging faculty and staff to get fit this summer by making exercise part of their routine. 

Running June 12 to July 23, the SummerTime Fitness Challenge helps employees integrate exercise into their daily lives by having employees track the number of minutes they exercise.

Activities like going for a lunch-hour walk, taking a group exercise class, or participating in swimming, running, cycling, or strength training are examples of the “structured and planned” exercise sessions encouraged by this program. The activities have a variety of health benefits.

“Physically fit individuals have more energy and have a lower risk of developing life-limiting diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, and chronic low-back pain,” Employee Wellness Coordinator Karl Lenser said.

Participants will keep a log of the time they spend exercising. Every Monday, participants will enter this amount into an online document.

Prizes will be awarded on a weekly basis to participants who accumulate a minimum of 200 minutes of exercise per week.

Fill out this online form to register for the fitness challenge. The first 75 UA Little Rock employees who sign up will receive a free T-shirt.

Marie Sandusky (left), director of health services, works out with Karl Lenser (right), employee wellness coordinator. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III/UA Little Rock Communications.