CSUN’s 3 Wins Co-Hosting Mile Event to Encourage Fitness in Northeast SFV
San Fernando Valley residents are invited to race/run/walk a mile down Maclay Avenue in the city of San Fernando on Saturday, Oct. 29, as part of an event partly organized by California State University, Northridge’s 3 Wins Fitness to encourage personal healthcare and fitness.
The San Fernando Valley Mile and Día De Los Muertos Festival is scheduled to take placed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Maclay Avenue.
“The goal is to let people know that they’ve got to start somewhere to lead a healthy active lifestyle, and the San Fernando Valley Mile is an easy way to start,” said CSUN kinesiology professor Steven Loy, founder of 3 Wins, a student-led health training and nutrition education program. “Sometimes, the entry bar is too high — a 5K can seem too much. But, walking this mile will show you your starting place and then your goal is to do 30 minutes of activity most days of the week. Seeing people who are of different ages and different fitness levels all doing the same mile will show you what’s possible.”
The race component of the San Fernando Valley Mile is scheduled to begin at the corner of Maclay Avenue and 8th Street at 8 a.m., followed at 8:15 a.m. with a run/walk and at 8:45 a.m. with a family walk. The race/run/walk will culminate with the festival at Macneil and 2nd Streets. The festival will include artisan and food vendors, entertainment and Día de los Muertos altars.
3 Wins Fitness has partnered with the city of San Fernando and healthcare provider Anthem, Inc., since February 2022 to provide free, bilingual health and fitness classes every Saturday morning in El Cariso Community Regional Park in Sylmar to prepare kids through adults for the mile. The sessions focused on strength, cardiovascular, mobility and flexibility training, with the goal of having participants ready for the Oct. 29 event.
“We wanted to make it possible for whole families — from the kids to the parents and grandparents — to take part,” Loy said, adding that the Saturday sessions are expected to end Oct. 22, the Saturday before the race.
Registration for the San Fernando Valley Mile is $20 per person. Those 65 years and older can register for free and all receive a unique Día de los Muertos medal and t-shirt. To register, click on the following link: https://racewire.com/register.php?id=13064.
Though the Saturday sessions are ending, Loy said 3 Wins is currently offering free health and fitness classes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. at Recreation Park in San Fernando.
“Someone’s fitness routine shouldn’t end with the San Fernando Valley Mile, it’s your start!” Loy said. “We want to motivate them to continue with their routine and set their eyes on a new goal to maintain and improve their health.”
3 WINS Fitness started in 2011 as a project by a group of California State University, Northridge kinesiology students and faculty in the College of Health and Human Development to bring health training and nutrition education to the community for free. Originally called 100 Citizens and recognized by the White House in 2013, the program operates in several underserved communities across Southern California.
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