Challenge is on: Which city will win Brevard's "Most Fit City" in 2022?
Watch out Cape Canaveral. Cocoa Beach wants to reclaim the prize as Brevard's "Most Fit City."
And who knows, maybe this will be the year another municipality breaks through the ranks to seize the title and win bragging rights.
It's almost time for the sixth annual Health First Mayors' Fitness Challenge, managed by the United Way of Brevard (of which I am a board member). In case you're not familiar, this is a light-hearted fitness contest that pits Brevard's mayors and their municipalities against each other— although it's fair to say, this is a contest in which everyone participating wins.
The goal is to encourage fitness and there are plenty of opportunities to get to know your neighbors while clocking your exercise.
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Participants register as part of a municipality's team and then log their weekly minutes of exercise. The team with the greatest average number of minutes and participation rate wins.
Cape Canaveral owns the honors as defending champion, having won last year and in 2020. Cocoa Beach won in 2018 and 2019.
"We are looking forward to participating this year and looking to get our title back!," Cocoa Beach Mayor Ben Malik wrote in an email.
Cape Canaveral Mayor Wes Morrison says not so fast.
"The City of Cape Canaveral has shaken the beach sand out of our shoes after the holidays and we are ready to defend the title as the “Most Fit City," Morrison wrote. " I believe the City of Cocoa Beach wants to be #1 this year because the rumor on A1A is that Mayor Ben Malik upgraded his flip flops to a pair of running shoes."
But Morrison said he's been watching "Team Cape Canaveral" walk, run and bike on Ridgewood Avenue and on the beaches and "I have full confidence in our ability to bring the heat this year." He's so confident that Morrison even issued a separate challenge to Malik: "Let's say, whichever city falls short, their mayor has to mow the grass at the winner's City Hall in a tuxedo."
Malik counted: "I am in but would propose loser has to do beach clean up (in tux and baggies!) for a few hours!"
Sounds like the contest is on — and we'll be watching to see whether any of Brevard's other municipalities surprise both beachside cities and claim the title.
Keith Heinly, vice president of community impact for United Way, manages the challenge, and said the goal is to "help Brevard become the healthiest county in the state."
"This pandemic has proven your underlying health and well-being is vital to allow your body to fight off any type of virus," Malik said.
To participate in the challenge, you must register before Jan. 29. Go to online.uwbrevard.org. Mayors and towns participating include Cape Canaveral, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Grant-Valkaria, Indialantic, Indian Harbour Beach, Melbourne, Melbourne Beach, Palm Bay, Rockledge, Satellite Beach and West Melbourne. If you live in a community not participating or in unincorporated Brevard, pick any team to join. Full disclosure: I live on Merritt Island so I joined team Cocoa.
The challenge begins at 9 a.m. Jan. 29 at Viera Regional Park, 2300 Judge Fran Jamieson Way. There will be fitness stations that include yoga, zumba and walking/running.
Throughout the challenge, which runs though the end of March, there are plenty of group events to keep you motivated and build community.
So, no excuses. Here are some of the planned events:
February 3 – March 24: Thursday Walks in Larry L. Schultz Park, 2540 S Fiske Blvd, Rockledge. The group gathers at 6 p.m.
February 5: Walk in the Wetlands, Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands, 3658 Charlie Corbeil Way, Viera. This is not an organized event but at 8 a.m., there will be a table and water provided. Feel free to explore the wetlands at your own pace. There's great birdwatching so bring your camera.
February 12: Town Connector Walk, 1449 Valkaria Road, Grant Valkaria. This walks begins at 9 a.m. and connects Valkaria and Grant. About halfway between the communities is a giant split oak. I did this walk in a previous year and brought my family back a few weeks later, I enjoyed it so much.
February 19: Desoto Park, 499 Desoto Pkwy, Satellite Beach. This is set to begin at 9 a.m. and plans call for some fitness stations set up in the park.
February 19: Workout with Rockledge Police Chief Joseph Lasata at Rockledge City Hall Civic Hub, Barton Blvd., Rockledge. This gets underway at 9 a.m. Bring a mat and water bottle and, perhaps, a set of hand weights if you have them. Get ready for an intense 30-minute workout.
February 26: Lipscomb Community Center Basketball Courts, 3316 Monroe St, Melbourne. Walk with Mayor Paul Alfrey.
February 26: Turkey Creek Sanctuary, 1518 Port Malabar Blvd NE, Palm Bay. Starting at 9 a.m., walk with Mayor Robin Medina through the sanctuary.
March 5: West Melbourne Community Park, 3000 Minton Rd, West Melbourne. At 9 a.m. join Mayor Hal Rose for a walk through the park.
March 12th: Gleason Park Walk, 1233 Yacht Club Blvd, Indian Harbour Beach. Gather at 9 a.m.
March 19: McLarty Park, 790 Barton Blvd, Rockledge. Beginning at 9 a.m. participate in the Learnin’ The Ropes Flash Mob and Training (Jump Ropes)
March 26: Sunflower House, Merritt Square Mall, 777 E Merritt Island Causeway, Merritt Island. Bingocize and Tai Chi for seniors, and stroller walk in the mall.
The challenge ends on March 26.
In the words of Morrison, mayor of Cape Canaveral, the current holder of "Most Fit City": "Let's have some fun Brevard."
Mara Bellaby is executive editor of FLORIDA TODAY. Contact mbellaby@floridatoday.com
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Which Brevard city will win "Most Fit City" of 2022 in Health First Mayors' Fitness Challenge
