INstride - June 2015

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On a Steel Horse She Rides Competitive spirit and friendship keep Titus running

FEAR ITSELF

Why we have them and how to overcome

Pole Position

Btown native turns tragedy into new career

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www.myINstride.com

06 15 FEATURES

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DEPARTMENTS

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Editor’s Letter INS green sage

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COVER STORY

Fresh Picks

On a Steel Horse She Rides

Cherries

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Competitive spirit and friendship keep Titus running

Health Chat Sinuses

18 ACHIEVE Community Spotlight Organizations partnering to assess community health

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Fear Itself

Why we have them and how to overcome

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Calendar

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Pole Position

Spotted

Btown native turns tragedy into new career

Photos of fitness in action

June 2015 • INstride 3

stride Editorial director: Bob Zaltsberg Production & copy editor: Kathryn S. Gardiner Photo director: David Snodgress Senior writers: Seth Tackett, Carol Johnson Contributing staff: Gizzelle Sandoval, Garet Cobb, Rich Janzaruk, Jeremy Hogan and Chris Howell Graphic designer: Stewart Moon Publisher: E. Mayer Maloney Jr. CONTENT: 812-331-4289 kgardiner@hoosiertimes.com Advertising sales manager: Laurie Ragle Marketing manager: Shaylan Owen ADVERTISING/DISTRIBUTION: 812-331-4310 INstride is a monthly fitness, wellness and nutrition magazine serving south-central Indiana with offices in Bedford, Mooresville, Martinsville and Bloomington. It is distributed to more than 90,000 readers and can be found at various locations throughout south-central Indiana. The free publication is also inserted in the Bedford Times-Mail, Martinsville Reporter-Times and Bloomington Herald-Times the second Monday of every month; and the Mooresville/Decatur Times, the second Thursday of every month. ©2015 Schurz Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Coming up in July n The summer heat calls for some precautions

while exercising. We’ll explain the importance of hydration. n We’ll check in with some members of the area tennis

community. n You can count on a seeing more of your friends and

neighbors in our Spotted feature.

ON THE COVER Jennifer Titus reaches the crest of a bridge on the B-Line trail in Bloomington. Photograph by Jeremy Hogan for INstride.

4 INstride • June 2015

EDITOR’S LETTER

Wheels, poles and good-bye, Kathryn This is the first issue of our seventh year of publishing INstride, and we still are finding plenty of interesting people who keep fit in a variety of ways.

This month’s features include one on a person who competes in area road races in her wheelchair, and another on a Bloomington native whose fitness regimen is centered on pole dancing.

Jennifer Titus, 39, decided she needed to improve her physical condition when she bought a size-large T-shirt at a Bloomington concert and it was too tight for comfort. She first hit the gym, then took her exercise to the streets in her wheelchair. Now she’s a common participant in area races.

Alethea Austin no longer lives in Bloomington, where she was born and raised. Physical therapy she sought after suffering injuries in a traffic accident resulted in her taking up pole dancing, which works the legs, arms and core. She’s actually a national champion who operates The Chrome Bar, a fitness and pole dance facility, in Nashville, Tenn.

I know this month’s Q&A will be relevant to a lot of people I’ve talked with in the last month or so. Dr. J.R. Sarpa answers readers’ questions about allergies.

With this issue, it’s time to say good-bye to Kathryn Gardiner, who’s worked on the magazine since the beginning. She’s going off to teach screenwriting at Ball State University and taking her strong knowledge of health and fitness with her. She’s been a Fitness Inspiration to me since I discovered she had challenged herself to train in mixed martial arts, then competed in four bouts as an MMA fighter before leaving that sport. She then did some rather extreme racing in things like the GORUCK Challenge and mud runs, while continuing her day job in commercial products for the Hoosier Times. She’s a talented writer, organizer and editor, and we’re really going to miss her.

Bob Zaltsberg, editor

June 2015 • INstride 5

Fear Itself

By Gizzelle Sandoval

F

ears can come in all forms and develop differently for each person. Ever wondered where they come from, why we have them and if it’s good to have them? Cami R. Lokken, clinical health psychologist for IU Health, answered some questions about fears and how to deal with them.

6 INstride • June 2015

What are some common, everyday fears people have that made them seek counseling?

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“People can develop fears and phobias to virtually anything,” said Lokken.

In other words, people can be afraid of anything that causes them to feel a heightened sense of danger.

Some common phobias for which people seek therapy are public speaking, enclosed spaces, storms, getting a serious illness, vomit, blood or needles, spiders, snakes, flying, the dentist, etc.

Can you explain possible roots or causes of these fears?

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“We are predisposed to develop fear of certain things based on them posing actual threats to us in our evolutionary history,” said Lokken.

Certain fears, like of dangerous animals, the dark or heights, were common among our ancestors.

Fearing the sight of blood, injury or needles is a special case. This fear doesn’t originate in our survival instinct, runs in families, and unlike other phobias, it can trigger

a physiological response that can lead to fainting, Lokken explained.

Fears are more often caused by people learning to fear certain situations they feel should be totally avoided. If something bad happens during a thunderstorm, for example, it is that negative experience that is associated with storms and leads the person to avoid storms and eventually become afraid of them.

“The more we avoid the thing or situation we fear, the more we become convinced it is threatening and should continue to be avoided,” said Lokken.

What are some common physical side effects to encountering fears and why do they occur?

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“Physical effects of encountering fears are a result of the body’s fight-or-flight response in which the sympathetic nervous system activates our emergency response system so we can run away from or fight a source of danger,” said Lokken.

Even though facing your fear, accidentally or not, can cause unpleasant side effects, this is your body’s survival mechanism designed to keep you alive. Some of these side effects include: racing or pounding heart, chest tightness, breathlessness, light-headedness, feeling hot, chills, cold hands, numbness or tingling, feelings of unreality, difficulty concentrating, confused thinking, excessive sweating, muscle tension/aches, fatigue, dry mouth, upset stomach, and blurred or tunnel vision.

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Why is it normal to have fears?

Not all fears are unreasonable.

In fact, having fears is normal and part of being human. “It is actually adaptive to have some fears,” said Lokken. “Fears can be helpful in alerting us to the fact that some

Jeremy Hogan | INSTRIDE

“The more we avoid the thing or situation we fear, the more we become convinced it is threatening and should continue to be avoided.”

Cami Lokken, clinical health psychologist for IU Health

situations are actually dangerous and should be avoided.”

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How do you overcome them?

While some fears are healthy, others can get in the way of having positive experiences. A fear of heights can sensibly keep you from the ledges of very tall buildings, but you may not want it to keep you from riding roller coasters and making new memories.

“The way to overcome fears is to do the thing that seems least natural—stop avoiding the thing or situation that is feared,” said Lokken. “We need to have experiences that teach us that we don’t need to fear it any longer.”

Lokken explained that it is best to approach this method gradually.

If someone has a fear of snakes, for example, he could start by looking at pictures of snakes until he is no longer scared, then build up to watching movies featuring snakes.

Eventually, he could try being in the same room as an enclosed snake. It usually helps to have a trusted friend or family member for encouragement and moral support during this process.

“This is called habituation. Our experience of fear will decrease naturally over time if we stay with the situation, rather than escaping,” said Lokken.

Prolonged exposure to the fear ensures that the brain doesn’t

June 2015 • INstride 7

“forget” what was learned the last time and allows an individual to make progress. However, it’s important to limit or avoid “safety behaviors” that can prevent progress by blunting the emotional impact of exposure. Safety behaviors, such as avoiding eye contact when giving a speech, helps a person avoid the actual depth of the fear, which then impedes the ability to overcome it.

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How long does it take to overcome a fear?

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Is it possible to not have any fears at all?

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What is the clinical difference between having a fear and having a phobia?

“This largely depends on how aggressively the individual is willing to confront their fears,” said Lokken. “Some studies have shown that some people can overcome a specific phobia in one day with concerted effort. More commonly, this is something a person would address over a number of weeks.”

“It is not desirable to have no fears at all, as this could lead a person to engage in all kinds of risky behaviors,” said Lokken. Fear is necessary for survival and avoiding dangerous situations, after all.

“In order for a fear to be a phobia, the fear must be out of proportion to the actual danger,” said Lokken.

If a fear is disruptive to a daily routine or a necessary task, it should probably be addressed—for example, a fear of needles which causes a person to avoid flu shots and needed injections.

Why should people get over certain phobias, like a fear of snakes, if they don’t often encounter snakes in their daily lives?

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“Each person needs to decide for themselves whether overcoming a fear is worth what they would need to go through to do it,” said Lokken.

It’s okay to be afraid of something, whether it’s a fear of clowns or a fear of heights. Ultimately, it comes down to whether or not the fear impacts your daily life and if it’s truly worth the effort of overcoming. Do you want to do it to “increase your overall confidence or serve as a role model to your children?”

If you or someone you know is having trouble making progress with your fear on your own, it is a good idea to consult a behavioral therapist to help identify what it is about your efforts that is not leading to success. Behavioral therapists can be located at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies website (http://www.abctcentral.org/xFAT/) or you can call at 212-647-1927. n

8 INstride • June 2015

FRESH PICKS

By Gizzelle Sandoval

Put a Cherry On Top Sweet fruit adds more than flavor

Grilled Chicken With Spicy Cherry Sauce Cooking spray 1 cup chopped pitted sweet cherries 1/4 cup dry red wine or water 1 garlic clove, minced 1/8 teaspoon cumin 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon black pepper 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper 1 tablespoon cherry preserves 4 (4-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

It’s important to cherish the cherry during its short time of three months (May to July). Cherries are great for so many things, not just for pies. According to Mercola.com, here are some reasons why you should include them more in your diet: Cherries contain powerful antioxidants like anthocyanins and cyanidin. These organic compounds are antioxidants that help protect cells from oxidative damage and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Sweet cherries contain fiber, vitamin C and carotenoids, each of which may help play a role in cancer prevention.

Eating up to 1/2 a cup of cherries each day will likely reduce inflammation and chances of a gout attack when someone who already has higher than normal levels of uric acid in the body has a build-up of uric acid around a joint, according to Web MD. Uric crystals form, causing a painful gout flare.

Cherries contain melatonin, which plays a vital role in sleep and bodily regeneration.

It’s thought that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of tart cherries may have a protective effect to reduce muscle damage and pain during strenuous exercise. n

Dark Cherry-Cranberry Compote 11/2 cups fresh cranberries 1/2 cup sweet marsala, port, or Madeira wine 2 (3-inch) strips lemon rind 1 (16-ounce) bag frozen pitted dark sweet cherries 2/3 cup sugar 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice Combine first four ingredients in a large saucepan over medium heat; cook 10 minutes or until fruit is soft, stirring occasionally. Stir in sugar and juice. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer until thick (about 25 minutes), stirring occasionally. Discard lemon rind. Cool.

Cover and chill.

Source: Health.com

Prepare the grill. Then lightly spray the grill rack with cooking spray. Lightly crush cherries in a small saucepan. Add the wine or water and next six ingredients (through preserves). Bring the mixture to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes. Grill the chicken, covered, for 4 minutes on each side or until it is cooked through. Serve chicken topped with cherry sauce.

Source: Health.com

June 2015 • INstride 9

COURTESY PHOTO

Pole Position Alethea Austin started pole dancing as part of her recovery from a car accident.

Btown native turns tragedy into new career

By Gizzelle Sandoval

O

ne car crash changed the course of Alethea Austin’s life. With a background in photography and a love for art, she used her artistic passion and turned a tragedy into a blessing.

In the summer of 2005, shortly after moving to Los Angeles, Bloomington native Austin was involved in a traffic accident that resulted in debilitating neck and shoulder injuries. At that point, she was a photographer for both the art and print world and had her work

10 INstride • June 2015

“From Indiana, With Love” featured in a New York City gallery and exhibited at the Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art. Instead of seeking traditional physical therapy, Austin decided to do something a little unconventional to regain her strength: pole dancing.

“I started (pole dancing) because I was living in L.A. at the time and a lot of people were starting it,” she said. “It was kind of a girls’ club, and I thought it would be fun, but then I did it and I was like, ‘Wow. This is so hard!’”

“I recommend any form of exercising where you’re using your entire body and mind as a positive total workout.”

Alethea Austin

She explained the difficulties of pole dancing, such as having to hold her core and lift her body weight eight to 12 feet in the air. Most of the moves done in pole dancing require using legs, arms and stomach, so skin exposure is critical in order to get a good grip and stick better to the pole.

“I was in it to meet girls and feel sexy about my body and to have fun,” said Austin, adding that she admired the fluidity and effortlessness of professional pole dancers.

“I couldn’t do anything at first,” said Austin. “I not only started from one of the weakest points in my life, but I also was just physically unable to do anything.”

It took Austin two years to be a good aerialist mentally and physically. The first year was getting over the pain and recovering from her injuries. During that time, her workout routines consisted of going to the pole gym, which offered three classes a night and she stayed for all of them.

The second year was all about perfecting her techniques and skills for competitions. For example, any kind of split grip handspring where she has to hold herself away from the pole is a move she considers a “work in progress,” but she managed to do it around the two-year mark.

The great thing about pole dancing is that anyone can do it. People of all shapes, sizes and ages can be aerialists. Like any workout, it’s important to ease into it, have a healthy diet to achieve the best results, and be ready to feel soreness.

“I recommend any form of exercising where you’re using your entire body and mind as a positive total workout,” said Austin.

Despite the negative stereotypes against pole dancing, it’s becoming more popular and seen as a way for women and men to feel sexy, gain upper body strength and increase their stamina, much like any other workout routine.

“I’m not going to say there aren’t parallels to (stripping), but I don’t think that defines (pole dancing) or has anything to do with where it’s going now,” said Austin.

Titles in national competitions—such as Pole Superstar Online Winner 2009 and U.S. Pole Dance Federation Champion 2010— being one of the feature pole dancers in the movie Rock Of Ages, and having toured internationally to teach pole dancing

COURTESY PHOTO

Alethea Austin has competed nationally in pole dancing and now owns a studio in Nashville, Tenn.

workshops were all a result of Austin’s accident. Now the owner of pole dance studio The Chrome Bar in Nashville, Tenn., she works to expand her brand while making time to dance on the side.

“What I’m doing now challenges me; I’m doing elements of graphic design, elements of branding, music videos to choreography to shows,” said Austin.

“It has made me very, very happy.” n

June 2015 • INstride 11

Jennifer Titus works out at the Iron Pit with personal trainer Ryan Stanton.

12 INstride • June 2015

On a

Steel Horse

She Rides Competitive spirit and friendship keep Titus running

By Seth Tackett

H

er future wasn’t in Bloomfield, it was just too far away.

Too far away from work and what would become her new life.

Fifteen years ago, Jennifer Titus made the move from the small town in Greene County to Bloomington, where she would be able to work, live and grow.

“There is nothing for you to do in Bloomfield but just sit,” Titus said. “I needed a job, and I finally had to figure it out.”

Due to a condition called Spina Bifida, the 39-year old has been restricted to a wheelchair since birth. Her mother, Karen Apple, was forced to make a difficult decision in 1975. The hole in Jennifer’s spine had to be closed, but she might not make it through the surgery.

If they decided against the procedure, then an infection could set in and Jennifer’s brief life would probably only last three more months.

“We thought, well, if we close it and she doesn’t make it, at least we were trying to do something for her,” Apple remembered, “instead of just letting her lay there, knowing she won’t make it.”

The procedure saved Jennifer’s life, and it has been an uphill battle from then on, both literally and figuratively.

Titus has endured countless procedures and surgeries since then. One for almost every year of her life. She was the 131st person to have a bladder

Jeremy Hogan | INSTRIDE

June 2015 • INstride 13

Jeremy Hogan | INSTRIDE

Jennifer Titus works out at the Iron Pit with personal trainer Ryan Stanton.

augmentation at the tender age of 12. She also has a shunt in her head to help the flow of spinal fluid.

Her life started to take shape after she moved to Bloomington and moved into an accessible home with the help of Habitat for Humanity. She also started working out at a gym nearby, but it was a visit to the Bluebird for a concert in 2003 when her life really started to change.

“I went to a concert and I bought a shirt and it said it was a large,” Titus remembered. “When I got into it, it didn’t fit and that made me mad.”

A Billy Currington concert shirt that was just a bit too snug kick-started Titus’ passion for getting into shape.

Within the past few years, Titus has taken her new-found passion and her exercise routine from the gym to the streets.

“My trainer kept telling me I needed to get some cardio,” Titus said. “I would never get much from what I was doing around (the house). So I went on a walk with some friends of mine that were in town. We probably walked four and a half miles that day. I looked at my friends and said, ‘I am not going to be able to move tomorrow.’ I woke up the next morning and I wasn’t sore.

I enjoyed what I was doing, so there you go.

“I started running and haven’t stopped.”

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Titus made a big decision in September of 2014 when she decided to participate in The Glo Run, an Indianapolis race that is described as a 5K ‘Through a Night Safari World.’

“I just thought it would be fun,” Titus said of the 5K. “In case I really hated this and didn’t want to do this anymore, I wanted it to at least be fun. It was at night, everything glowed, it was pretty cool. I knew by the time I got to that, I was hooked, I couldn’t wait to go and practice and when it was over I was like, ‘When is the next race?’”

Titus was off and running from there. In one word she can describe why she fell in love with the sport.

“Competitiveness,” she said confidently. “I like that it pushes me, it challenges me. I don’t get that a lot. I do at the gym, some. We try not to push too hard, because we don’t want to hurt me. I have to be able to use my arms to move around. When I am racing, I am challenged.

“I am going up a hill and my eyes are as big as saucers, but I do it.”

Titus’ life on the road would take a new turn at the inaugural Maple Grove Goat Run in 2014. She had been using a standard wheelchair while participating, but that would all change after she met Rick Scherer.

Scherer is a fixture in the local running community and hosts the Maple Grove Goat Run. He wanted the proceeds of the 2014 race to go to help purchase Titus a racing wheelchair.

“I knew absolutely nothing,” Titus said, holding back tears. “I don’t know how they kept it from me. I am usually good at figuring stuff out.

“All of a sudden, he is like, ‘We are going to present your chair to you,’ and they all start singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to me. Then this sea of 160 people parts and here comes my mom in the middle with this chair.

Everybody is bawling, they are bawling, I am bawling and I have to talk.

“It was breathtaking. It was probably one of the best days of my life. I don’t remember what I said. I think it was just, go out there have a good time, everybody be safe, thank you, this means more than you ever know and that it will make this easier for me.”

Titus finished the race that day in her brand new set of wheels, which she has affectionately nicknamed Steel Horse. She not only got a once-in-a-lifetime birthday present that day, she also got a friend.

“I would honestly say he is like a father figure,” Titus said of Scherer. “His family has literally adopted us. We went to his house for Thanksgiving. They invited us over for Easter and we have made other plans.

“I told Rick the other day, I patted him on the shoulder and said, ‘I think we’ve both adopted each other,’ and he said, ‘Yeah, probably.’ My dad is gone, so he has been like a father.” n

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Sinus Chat with Dr.J.R. Sarpa With spring comes allergies, so we turned to Dr. J.R. Sarpa, board certified in otolaryngology with IU Health Southern Indiana Physicians, for our May live chat.

Q:

What benefits do allergy shots provide?

How long can it take to reap those benefits?

SARPA: Allergy shots or immunization therapy function to decrease sensitivity to allergens that trigger your symptoms. In general most patients feel a positive effect from immunization therapy within six months, but most immunization therapy should be continued for up to four years.

Options for treatment for allergy shots now include the use of pills that have just become commercially available in the last year by prescription. Taking these pills requires allergy testing initially to discern if the pill will cover your allergens. The pill is obviously more convenient than having to go a doctor’s office and get an allergy shot weekly.

Q:

Is there a downside to relying on decongestants too frequently? How often is too often to be taking them? Could there be a bigger problem if I’m experiencing sinus headaches or a stuffed up nose too frequently?

SARPA: Decongestants should be taken based on how long they work by the instructions on the medication, which is related to the milligrams in each dose, i.e. some decongestants last four hours and some last 12 hours. Decongestant side effects can include a jittery-like feeling similar to drinking too much coffee.

Decongestants also can increase your blood pressure and your blood pressure should be monitored if you take decongestants frequently. Frequent decongestants are contraindicated if you have a diagnosis of high

16 INstride • June 2015

blood pressure or hypertension.

Sinus headaches may be related to sinusitis, or nasal and sinus tumors especially involving the sphenoid sinusitis, which is the sinus at the base of the brain.

This is only definitively diagnosed by a CAT scan or CT of the sinuses. Standard CTs of the sinus give significant radiation exposure but a Mini CAT CT gives much less radiation exposure than a traditional CT done at most hospitals. In general, nasal stuffiness can be secondary to septal deviation, turbinate hypertrophy, allergic rhinitis and or nasal masses or polyps, sinusitis or even a “cold” or virus.

Q:

How concerned should an adult be about frequent sore throats (maybe weekly), especially during spring? Can that just be related to the season?

SARPA: Postnasal drainage from allergy does not cause sore throats. Sore throats occur from topical irritation which could be either viral or reflux in origin, or bacterial causing such things as strep pharyngitis or tonsillitis. Postnasal drainage from allergy can be significant and feel as if it is copious, but should not cause a sore throat per se.

Q:

I’ve had ear discomfort (not pain) for over a year, but I got checked out and have no infections and my hearing is unaffected. Is this something best just left alone? Do ears sometimes just “feel weird”?

SARPA: Yes, ears can “feel” pressure because of eustachian tube dysfunction. This may be related to allergy or even idiopathic. Treatment can be considered with nasal steroids which may give some relief, or in severe cases, even placement of a ventilation tympanotomy tube in the eardrum which bypasses the need for the eustachian tube to function and “pop” your ear.

MODERATOR: That’s all the time we have. Thanks for being here. What else should we know before we say goodbye?

SARPA: In general, mild allergies should be treated symptomatically during the season that you are affected. This can be accomplished with over-thecounter antihistamines, such as loratadine or cetirizine, and are most effective when used in combination with over-the-counter nasal steroids, such as fluticasone or Nasacort. Nasal steroids can cause nasal bleeding and dryness and even possibly nasal septal perforation if used too frequently or incorrectly. If your symptoms persist and are not adequately relieved by these conservative measures, then that would be an indication to see an ear, nose, and throat physician for possible chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps, and or even the need for allergy testing. n

June 2015 • INstride 17

achieve community spotlight

By Kathy Hewett

POWER in NUMBERS Michael Reece, PhD, MPH, leads the group through the process of creating a health assessment survey

COURTESY PHOTO

Organizations partnering to assess community health The Monroe County Health Department and Indiana University Health Bloomington, along with ACHIEVE, are partnering on a joint community health assessment.

Community health assessments are used by health departments, hospitals and other agencies in the public health system to gather information used to identify health needs, issues and assets.

The assessment partners decided the first step should begin with talking to the experts: the community itself.

“We have all the stats and the numbers, but they don’t tell us what is really important,” says Penny 18 INstride • June 2015

Caudill, health department administrator. It is critical, she says, to pay attention to what the community can tell us about its health and safety.

ACHIEVE coach Nancy Parker agrees. “Hearing what the community truly feels and understands about their health, what resources are available to them and their commitment to health” is very important.

Two thousand surveys are being sent out by mail and email to Monroe County residents by the Indiana University Bloomington Center for Survey Research.

Distribution began in May and will continue through July. Recipients are being carefully chosen so that a truly representative sample is reached.

In August, the assessment partners will be inviting all those who live, work, play, or pray in Monroe County to attend one of four “community

conversations” for an opportunity to hear the preliminary survey data and to help shape and guide local public health initiatives. The meetings will be held in local schools with the dates to be announced later.

The assessment partners, along with five other health departments, received guidance and support on the survey from Indiana University School of Public Health.

SPH staff Michael Reece, PhD, MPH, professor and associate dean for research and graduate studies; and Gina Forrest, MPH, CHES, workforce development and community engagement, led the entire group through the process of creating the survey.

According to Reece, “Through the support of faculty in the School of Public Health, a range of campus entities are making scientific and human resources available that will ensure that the assessment is rigorous and that the findings are useful to the multitude of organizations in the region who are on the front lines of today’s public health challenges facing Indiana’s diverse communities.”

The Monroe County Health Department is using the health assessment survey as part of a requirement for public health accreditation. The department hopes to apply within the next two years. Currently, no health departments are accredited in Indiana.

The survey is designed to be re-useable and can, in fact, be used by any Indiana health department working on accreditation.

IU Health Hospital Bloomington does a health needs assessment every three years. Their last assessment was done in 2011-2012.

ACHIEVE Bloomington/Monroe County is a collaboration of community organizations and individuals who work to build a healthier community for tomorrow. n Kathy Hewett is the lead health education, accreditation coordinator for the Monroe County Health Department

Community Health Assessment Survey Partners Indiana University Bloomington School of Public Health n Michael Reece, Ph.D., MPH, Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies n Dr. Catherine M. Sherwood-Laughlin, MPH, Clinical Professor, Assistant Department Chair, Department of Applied Health Science, Director, Public Health Programs-School of Public Health-Bloomington n Linda Henderson, MA, Research Associate, Community Relations Specialist n Gina Forrest, MPH, CHES, Research Associate, Workforce Development and Community Engagement Indiana University Hospital Bloomington n Carol Weiss-Kennedy, Community Health Director ACHIEVE n Paula McDevitt, Recreations Services Director, City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation n Nancy Parker, Executive Program Director, Monroe County YMCA n Allison Miller, Health and Wellness Coordinator, City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Monroe County Health Department n Penny Caudill, Administrator n Kathy Hewett, Lead Health Education, Accreditation Coordinator Indiana Public Health Association n Jerry King, Director Dubois County Health Department Madison County Health Department Ripley County Health Department Clark County Health Department Jackson County Health Department Indiana University Hospital Bedford

June 2015 • INstride 19

calendar

June Run for Literacy 5K 13 WHEN: 8 a.m.

WHERE: Bloomington Hardware, 2700 East Covenanter Drive, Bloomington, Ind. MORE INFO: mag7raceseries.com

Superman 5K 13 JR WHEN: 9:15 a.m.

WHERE: St. Paul United Method-

ist Church, 4201 W. Third St., Bloomington, Ind. DESCRIPTION: The event is raising awareness about colon cancer and familial adenomatous polyposis also known as FAP. MORE INFO: mag7raceseries.com Back-story in the Back-water: Cultural History Paddling Trip WHERE: Pine Grove SRA on Monroe Lake DESCRIPTION: Explore a portion of Monroe Lake’s backwater with a knowledgeable guide during this three- to four-hour paddling trip. The focus will be on the lake’s fascinating cultural history. You’ll learn about some of the families that once lived here, how the land came to be a reservoir, and visit some of the lingering remnants from those pre-reservoir days. Preregistration required by noon on June 10 at http://bit.ly/backstoryjun2015.

Limited to 15 people, minimum age of 15. Program fee is $10 per person. Bring your own canoe/ kayak, or rent a kayak from us for an additional $25. Designed for intermediate/advanced paddlers.

13

Nature on the Water Pad16 dling Trip WHERE: Crooked Creek SRA on

Monroe Lake DESCRIPTION: A naturalist

guide will highlight flora and fauna during a leisurely 2-hour exploration of Monroe Lake backwaters. Beginning paddlers are welcome but must have at

20 INstride • June 2015

least 2 hours of prior paddling experience. Preregistration is required by June 12 at http://bit. ly/naturewaterjun2015. Program fee is $10 per person. Limited to 8 people. Restricted to ages 16 and up. Bring your own canoe/ kayak, or rent a kayak from us for an additional $25.

every Friday to ensure that they have meals each weekend. All proceeds from this event will go to the cause.

MORE INFO: https:// www.facebook.com/ groups/478296178902673/

Bands Glow in the 20 BNL Dark 5K Run/Walk

WHERE: Judah Community Cen-

WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Bedford North Lawrence

High School, 595 North Stars Blvd., Bedford, Ind. DESCRIPTION: BNL Band Glow in the Dark 5K Run/Walk is a fundraiser to support the BNL Band Department. Enjoy a nice evening run or walk around the county road surrounding BNL High School, endure some hills as well as flat terrain.

MORE INFO: www.signmeup.com/ 106550 5K 20 Springville WHEN: 8 a.m.

WHERE: Springville Community

Park, Intersection of Ind. 54 & Ind. 58, Springville, Ind. DESCRIPTION: Race starts and ends in front of the Springville Community Park. The course is an out and back with a slight incline at the start and decline to the finish. A good course for a 5K PR. There will be mile markers and water at the turn-around.

There will be refreshments for the racers in the park area after the race.

MORE INFO: mag7raceseries.com Backpack Blessings 20 5K Run/Walk WHERE: Edgewood Cross Coun-

try Course 851 Edgewood Drive, Ellettsville, Ind. DESCRIPTION: Backpack Blessings is hosting their 1st annual 5K Run/Family Walk. Backpack Blessings is an organization that feeds children in the RBB Schools. Backpack Blessings hands out food to at-risk children

Jog 5K 27 Judah WHEN: 8 a.m. ter, 385 Hillcrest Way, Judah, Ind. DESCRIPTION: The Judah Jog is part of the Judah Heritage Festival—great family fun and entertainment including a cruise-in, live music, flea market and more.

Bike Back in Time: 27 The Mini Tour WHEN: 8:30 a.m.

WHERE: Route begins and

ends at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Office, 1620 E. Monroe Dam Court, Bloomington, Ind. DESCRIPTION: Discover how limestone shaped the development and identity of the people that settled in the Salt Creek communities during the 1800s and early 1900s during a guided cycling tour near Monroe Lake. Sign up at http://bit.ly/bikemini2015

by June 23. Program fee is $10 per person. Limited to 15 people; minimum age of 15.This is a shortened version of the full-length tour, designed to be accessible to beginners. The route is approximately 12 miles over rolling hills.

Total trip length (including all stops) is approximately 2 hours 30 minutes. Participants must bring their own road/hybrid bike, helmet (mandatory!), and water.

July Sarah Jones Memorial Run WHEN: 8 a.m.

WHERE: St. Paul United Methodist Church, 4201 W 3rd St., Bloomington, Ind. MORE INFO: mag7raceseries.com

4

Ride Across Indiana: Same Thing, Only Ride More (RAINSTORM) WHERE: Starts and ends in Richmond, Ind., at Earlham College DESCRIPTION: RAINSTORM offers an intensive week of cycling for riders preferring longer distances. Each day’s route is approximately 100 miles, and there are no layover days.

RAINSTORM travels over hardsurfaced back roads in southern Indiana. Terrain ranges from rolling to hilly; expect to be challenged. Lodging in Indiana state park inns (three nights) and nice hotels (two nights) is included in the tour fee. All accommodations offer comfortable beds, air conditioning, and free WiFi. Four breakfasts and three dinners are included; menus are carefully planned for sound nutrition and variety, and include options for vegetarian and diabetic participants. At the Indiana state park Inns, buffets are served in the inn dining rooms. Dinners in Bloomington and Terre Haute are on your own.

MORE INFO: www.triri.org

6-11

Artie Fest WHEN: 8 a.m.

WHERE: 59 E Washington St., Martinsville, Ind. MORE INFO: mag7raceseries.com

11

RAIN (Ride Across Indiana) WHERE: Starts at St. Mary-ofthe-Woods College (West Terre Haute); ends at Earlham College (Richmond).

DESCRIPTION: RAIN is an annual one-day, one-way timed ride across the width of Indiana.

While a timed event, RAIN is not a race. The 160-mile route runs mostly on historic National Route 40. Mass start at St. Maryof-the-Woods College, West Terre Haute, Ind., finish line at Earlham College, Richmond, Ind. MORE INFO: www.rainride.org

11

Limestone 5K Run and 18 Walk

Behrman Color the 24 Jill Campus Run/Walk

WHEN: 8 a.m.

WHEN: 11 a.m.

WHERE: Lawrence County Boys &

WHERE: Indiana University Student Recreational Sports Center, 1601 Law Lane, Bloomington, Ind. DESCRIPTION: Now in its 16th year, the JB5K was created to keep the memory of Jill alive and to bring awareness to issues of violence in our community.

In addition to the Color The Campus Run, workshops related to assault awareness, assault prevention and self-defense will be offered throughout the year.

MORE INFO: www.iurecsports. org/jbrez

Girls Club, 2009 19th St., Bedford, Ind. DESCRIPTION: This event is raising funds for the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence County MORE INFO: mag7raceseries.com Hornet 5K 25 Solsberry WHEN: 8 a.m.

WHERE: Solsberry United Methodist Church, 10051 E. Wilkerson Drive, Solsberry, Ind. MORE INFO: mag7raceseries.com

Sept.

20-25 September Escapade Touring Ride in Rural Indiana WHERE: Southeastern Indiana; ride starts and ends at Hardy Lake SRA. DESCRIPTION: September Escapade will guide you to the scenic and historic sites of southeastern Indiana, with overnights at three state parks: Brown County (two nights), Spring Mill (one nights), and Clifty Falls (two nights). Routes use rural, hardsurfaced roads, with stops in small towns for services. Terrain ranges from rolling to hilly with some challenging hills. September Escapade offers a choice of inn lodging or tent camping at three state parks. Indiana state park inns are modern and well-appointed, with high-quality linens, comfortable furniture, air conditioning, and free WiFi. Five breakfasts and five dinners served in the inn dining rooms are included. Menus are carefully planned for sound nutrition and variety, and include vegetarian options. Expect to ride an average 70 miles on the days we travel to a new state park, and train to complete this distance over hilly terrain. Two layover

GARET COBB | INSTRIDE

2013 Limestone 5K

days offer two or three loop rides of varying distances, or free time to explore the park, with activities such as hiking, horseback riding and photography.

MORE INFO: triri.org Hoosiers Outrun Cancer 26 WHEN: 1-mile kids’ run and 1-mile family walk start at 10 a.m.

The 5K timed race starts at 10:20 a.m. and the 5K walk starts at 10:25 a.m.

WHERE: Indiana University Memorial Stadium DESCRIPTION: 2015 marks the 16th running of Hoosiers Outrun Cancer. This fantastic fall race— again voted the No. 1 local road race in The Herald-Times Reader’s Choice Awards—benefits the IU Health Olcott Center.

MORE INFO: www.hoosiers outruncancer.org

Oct. 10

Bedford Half Marathon WHEN: 8 a.m.

WHERE: All races will start and finish on the town square

DESCRIPTION: This family-friendly running event promotes health and wellness while showcasing Bedford. The event offers an option for everyone, including a half marathon, 5K run and 1-mile family fitness walk. The event will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence County.

MORE INFO: www.BedfordHalf Marathon.com

NSA Crane Commodore Run Half Marathon & 5K DESCRIPTION: Naval Support Activity (NSA) Crane intends to re-start the Commodore Run Half-Marathon and 5K Run/Walk this fall. The race will take place on NSA Crane on Saturday, Oct. 24. This event began in 1986 and was held annually until the events of 9/11 led to its suspension. Both the half marathon and 5K courses will be new this year.

Participation in this year’s event will be capped at 500 runners.

MORE INFO: Please follow the Naval Support Activity Crane Facebook page at https:// www.facebook.com/pages/ Naval-Support-Activity-CraneIN/182791225543 to receive race updates and base information.

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Annual Run/Walk 24 11th to the Creek: WHEN: Run/walk starts at 9:30 a.m.

WHERE: McCormick’s Creek State Park DESCRIPTION: Portions of the proceeds will be donated to McCormick’s Creek State Park.

MORE INFO: www.racetrackers.com/page/ show/214710-run-to-the-creek Contact is Del Backs dbacks@ racetrackers.com

Bloomington’s Breast 24 Cancer Awareness Walk: WHEN: Registration at 8:30 a.m., survivor recognition ceremony at 9 a.m. and the approximately one-mile walk immediately following.

WHERE: Showers Plaza, 401 E. Morton, Bloomington, Ind. DESCRIPTION: This annual local Bloomington event is free and promotes awareness of the importance of prevention and early detection of breast cancer.

Donations are gladly accepted and all proceeds go to local breast cancer causes. Bring your family, friends and well behaved pets. Free t-shirt as supplies last.

June 2015 • INstride 21

SPOTTED

Create your own photo galleries at myINstride.com

ABOVE: Paul Konstanski runs in the 10K during the YMCA Spring Run. He finished third in his age group.

RIGHT: Steven R. Floyd runs in the 10K during the YMCA Spring Run. He finished third in his age group.

Haley Ward | INSTRIDE

Haley Ward | INSTRIDE

22 INstride • June 2015

Larry Hammersley runs in the 10K during the YMCA Spring Run. Hammersley, who is 76, believed he was the oldest one there, and participated in both the 5K and the 10K. He won the 5K walking division overall.