Senior Strut

EVENT STIRS UP FUN, FRIENDLY COMPETITION IN KONA

BY CAROLYN LUCAS-ZENK

WEST HAWAII TODAY

clucas-zenk@westhawaiitoday.com

Jean Herrman didn’t get serious about exercising until about two weeks ago, when the 84-year-old Kona resident said she began walking daily at Makaeo Walking Path in preparation for the Senior Strut.

It had been roughly 25 years since Herrman had participated in a running event — a fact that didn’t stop her from showing she can complete a mile, enjoying every step along Alii Drive and having the satisfaction of saying she’s a finisher.

Herrman exhorts other people, especially senior citizens, to “get out and start doing something.” She was among the roughly 30 runners and walkers who participated Sunday morning in the county Elderly Activities Division’s first-ever Senior Strut, a free 5K or 1-mile race for people ages 55 and older that started and ended at Hale Halawai in Kailua-Kona.

Kelly Hudik, a recreation technician for the division, came up with the race as a way to promote friendly competition, fellowship, health, wellness and an active lifestyle among senior citizens.

She said exercise has been shown to add years to a life span, decrease arthritis pain, keep the mind active, stop muscle strength and endurance from slipping way, better the psychological mood state, and improve one’s quality of life in countless ways.

Finding reasons to keep exercising is a universal challenge, but Hudik said competition and deadlines could help spur people on. She has discovered this herself while participating in local running competitions like the Peaman events and the Kona Marathon.

The strongest motivating driver for Sandy Hild, a 64-year-old Kona resident, is her spouse, Terry.

“My husband is my spark plug. He knows exactly how to get me out of the house and going,” she said. “I bike, swim and walk regularly because it keeps my flexibility going, keeps me fit, helps with my overall health and does wonders for my PMA — positive mental attitude.”

Hild was the top female finisher in the 1-mile race and called the Senior Strut “awesome.”

“We need more of these types of events, preferably on Saturdays, to help seniors get hooked on exercise and stay motivated,” she said.

Hudik also hopes the Senior Strut inspires the creation of more running and walking events for those in their golden years. She thanked Big Island Candies, Cal-Kona Produce, People’s Advocacy for Trails Hawaii and Big Island Running Company for helping make the event possible.

The top female and male finishers were Pammer Kidani and Orestes Barrios in the 5K race, as well as Hild and Jim Gibbons in the 1-mile race.

For more information about the Senior Strut, call the Elderly Activities Division at 323-4340.