Get Movin' Challenge

The Get Movin' Challenge is a 12-week community-wide contest where teams compete to increase their daily averages of minutes exercised. Teams compete in one of five categories (Business, School, Nonprofit, Owensboro Medical Health System [OMHS]/Hospital, and Friends and Family); within each category, the team with the highest daily average of recorded exercise wins such prizes as free membership to the OMHS HealthPark (a health and wellness center) and fitness training sessions.

Before the contest begins, each contestant is assessed for BMI, blood pressure and heart rate. After the contest, contestants are measured again to chart their improvement. Throughout the competition, the Get Movin' website features weekly standings updates, motivational tips, and stories about participating teams and individuals.

The contest is a partnership between the OMHS HealthPark, the local chamber of commerce, and two media partners, the local newspaper and a local radio station group.

The contest is designed as a fun way for community members to get more exercise, with a target of 30 minutes or more of physical activity per day.

An estimated 1,500 individuals participated in the 2011 competition. 188 teams completed at least one week, 151 teams (80% of the field) completed at least nine weeks, and 114 teams (61% of the field) completed all twelve weeks. Combined, all teams exercised for a total of 3,943,439 minutes, with a daily average of about 38 minutes per day per person. Many businesses and schools also conducted their own in-house contests and programs in conjunction with the Get Movin' Challenge.