Couch to 5K: FLOWCo gets set for spring fitness
Those who are members of the "couch to potato" program are invited to switch gears to be part of the bona fide "couch to 5K" program brought by the Fitness Lovers of Washington County.
Tyler Cunningham and Jason Hall, exercise physiologists at Ascension St. John Jane Phillips Wellness Center, will be leading FLOWCo's spring season and the door is wide open for anyone who wants to move more and achieve greater health all while being part of a close-knit community.
It's the place to be for anyone who wants to lose or maintain weight, reduce stress, improve cholesterol, relieve arthritis pain, and reduce the risk for heart disease and diabetes, but it's also about getting outside, being with people and having some fun, Cunningham said.
“This provides an opportunity for people in the community to better their health and find people who are interested in doing the same thing,” he said. "Honestly, it's the relationships people care about."
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The ultimate goal of the program is for all participants to be able to complete in a 5K at the end of the 12-week season, whether walking or running. Many 5K races in the area are on the calendar in 2022 including Ascension's Nellie Johnstone 5K & Half Marathon on May 7.
The spring training ground for FLOWCo's new recruits will be Lee Lake on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning at 6 p.m. March 1.
FLOWCo began as a project of the Preventative Health Partnership, a sub-committee of the Washington County Wellness Initiative sponsored by the City of Bartlesville, Ascension St. John Jane Phillips, and the Washington County Health Department. It was modeled after the successful RoCo Fit program in Rogers County.
The program accommodates all individuals regardless of fitness level. Avid runners and advanced walkers are welcome as well as those who are new to exercise or haven't been active in awhile.
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The program is open to anyone 13 years of age and older, but it is also family-friendly. Babies in strollers are welcome as well as children accompanied by a parent or guardian.
An informational/registration meeting about the FLOWCo program will be held Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. in the first-floor classroom at the hospital, 3500 SE Frank Phillips Blvd.
Individuals unable to attend the informational meeting may contact the hospital's Wellness Connection at 918-331-1102 or email wellnessconnection@ascension.org. Participants can also register online at Eventbrite.com. Registration closes March 15.
This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: FLOWCo gets set for spring fitness with couch to 5K program
