Posts by Elissa Southward

Five Great Trail Activities and Their Health Benefits

Posted 01/17/15 by Elissa Southward in Health and Wellness | Tagged with Health and Active Living, Trail Use Tips

The Great Divide Trail | Photo courtesy OldDogNewTrick | CC by 2.0

When it comes to being physically active, trails provide a wide range of outdoor activities to keep us motivated year-round. Each activity has unique pluses; the key is to find one that’s right for you! Here are five fitness-forward trail activities that will help you embrace a healthy lifestyle and have a ton of fun in the process.

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Photo CC Five Rivers MetroParks via Flickr

Don't Take the Road Toward Health This Summer. Take the Trail!

Posted 07/23/14 by Elissa Southward in Health and Wellness | Tagged with Champions, Encouraging Trail Use, State and Federal Programs, Tennessee

Walking is a great (and free!) way to get outdoors and get some exercise! Walking is associated with reductions in risk of dementia, type 2 diabetes, obesity, cancer (breast and colon in particular) and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, being outdoors and around greenery can help with concentration and stress recovery, and sunlight on the skin leads to vitamin D production, which helps fight off cancer, osteoporosis and heart attacks.

Photo CC Rudi Riet via Flickr

Get Out On the Trail in Celebration of Great Outdoors America Week!

Posted 06/20/14 by Elissa Southward in Trail Use, Health and Wellness | Tagged with Community Events, Encouraging Trail Use, Health and Active Living

June 23 to 26, 2014, is Great Outdoors America Week in Washington, D.C.! As one of the largest annual conservation and outdoor-focused events in the District, Great Outdoors America Week, or GO Week for short, brings together hundreds of diverse organizations and activists to meet with lawmakers and government reps. and advocate for an outdoor way of life. Throughout the week, many organizations also take the opportunity to hold events that raise awareness of, and celebrate, nature and the outdoors.

Photo CC Bike Texas via Flickr

International Report Calls for Greater Investment in Cycling-Friendly Infrastructure, Policies

Posted 03/25/14 by Elissa Southward in Policy | Tagged with Products of Good Policy, Transportation and Health

At the end of last year, the International Transport Forum (ITF) Working Group on Cycling Safety released a report titled, "Cycling, Health and Safety." This report has put forth that the positive benefits of cycling (e.g., increased physical activity, impact on mortality and chronic disease, reduction in carbon emissions from motorized transportation) far outweigh the risks (e.g., crash injury risk to cyclists, health reduction from breathing in polluted air in an urban environment).

A relaxed bicycle ride on the beach | Photo courtesy Kim Seng, CC by 2.0

Top 7 Reasons Happy Hearts = Healthy Hearts

Posted 02/14/14 by Elissa Southward in Health and Wellness | Tagged with Health and Active Living, Why Use Trails?

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, we'd like to take the opportunity to focus on emotional heart health, which recently has been proven and recognized as having a profound impact on physical heart health in a number of different ways…for example, did you know…?

Tomorrow Is National Wear Red Day

Posted 02/06/14 by Elissa Southward in Health and Wellness | Tagged with Health Organizations

As American Heart Month continues this February, RTC wanted to let you know about National Wear Red Day®, which takes place tomorrow, Feb. 7, 2014. On this special day (always the first Friday each February), both the American Heart Association and President Barack Obama are encouraging everyone to wear red to raise awareness of the fight against female heart disease.