Just move it
People walking, running means summer is here

Evan Sage, 3, spreads his wings on the walk back to the Tohatchi Chapter house walking the course for the Just Move It walk and run in Tohatchi on Tuesday. — © 2009 Gallup Independent / Adron Gardner

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

TOHATCHI — The hundreds of people getting ready for the Just Move It family fun runs and walks throughout the Navajo Nation is a sure sign that it’s summer.

The annual run/walk series has become a tradition for many people to attend through the summer. Last year some 35,845 participants ran and walked the courses at locations on and near the Navajo Nation.

Tuesday evening about 200 people showed up for the 3-mile Just Move It event at Tohatchi chapter house.

The service units across Navajo organize the free walks and runs in their respective areas. Many of the events take place at the local chapters with service providers on-site to give out information.

The Gallup Just Move It series began May 7 at University of New Mexico-Gallup and continued with stops at Iyanbito, Nashcitti, Rocksprings, Houck, Lupton, Pinedale, Manuelito and Chichiltah.

So far participation has been pretty good, said staff from the Gallup Indian Medical Center Health Promotions. The first Just Move It this year had 365 participants, and the one in Lupton had more than 300.

“I think it gives people something to do in the summertime,” said a health promotions staff member. She added that people gather with their families and see people they haven’t seen in a long time.

The age range of participants includes the very young and the elderly, who go as far as they can, she said. People with disabilities also take part, she noted.

Marla Billey has been attending the Fort Defiance Just Move It series events but went to the Just Move It in Tohatchi to meet up with family members who have been doing the Shiprock Just Move It series.

“I have done some in Window Rock,” she said. She enjoys getting to visit the different chapters as she completes runs at the various sites.

Billey said she and her family have been going to the annual fun walks and runs for years now. One year her sister did all of the Shiprock Just Move It events.

“This is my 12th one,” her mother Marilyn Billey said when she arrived. She is aiming to finish 15, she said.

“It’s good to come to this every year because it makes you look forward to that and you try to keep up walking or running,” she added.

Marilyn Billey has already received her free cap for doing six of the events in a series.

Participants get a free T-shirt when they complete their first event. Completing six in a series gets them a free cap.

“We’re working hard for it,” Marla Billey said. The mother and daughter made plans to attend more of the events together before heading out on the course.

Herbert Joe of Coyote Canyon came out with four others for the Tohatchi Just Move It. He also went to last year’s Tohatchi event and to the one in St. Michaels on June 16.

“I’m always there. The more the merrier,” he said.

Carlene Roanhorse came with a group of eight family members.

“I heard about it at the clinic so we all came over,” she said.

Roanhorse has been participating for two years in a row but it was the first time for some of her family members.

“I think it helps people pretty good,” she said. It gives people encouragement to lose weight and prevent diabetes, she added.

The Gallup Just Move It series events include 3-mile fun runs or walks. The Fort Defiance Just Move It series events include a 3K walk and a 5K run.

This is the 14th year that Gallup has had the Just Move It series. Last year it had 3,042 participants. Fort Defiance has had the Just Move It series for 12 years now. Last year, some 4,621 participants were a part of the Fort Defiance Just Move It.

Participants are asked to eat a health snack and hydrate before the walk/run, bring water, and wear sunscreen and a hat.

Navajo Nation community health representatives, Gallup Service Unit chapters, Gallup Indian Medical Center, Rehoboth-McKinley Christian Hospital, University of New Mexico-Gallup, Navajo Nation Special Diabetes and WIC Program-Gallup partner for the Gallup Just Move It series.

For the Fort Defiance Just Move It series, Fort Defiance Community Health, Fort Defiance Health Promotion, Navajo Chapters, Department of Behavioral Health Services, Office of Youth Development, community health representatives, Navajo Health Education, Special Diabetes Project, and Sage Memorial Hospital Diabetes Program partner for the events.

The Fort Defiance Just Move It series began June 2 at the Window Rock Sports Center and had events at Oaksprings, Greasewood, Kinlichee, St. Michaels, Pine Springs and Steamboat.

Participation has been up this year with the Fort Defiance series, one organizer said.

Information: Gallup JMI 722-1593, Fort Defiance JMI (928) 729-8069/8462.