Students at IT Sligo got a rare chance to “make the teachers sweat” recently when 56 staff participated in the HSE-approved Get Ireland Active programme.
The Institute was the only third level institution in the country to rise to the challenge, and participating staff were put through their paces by students doing the Bachelor of Business (Recreation and Leisure) degree course.
The initiative saw staff undergo a range of physical challenges in a bid to meet the Get Ireland Active target of at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week for adults.
Roddy Gaynor leader of the Recreation & Leisure course, and fellow lecturer Sean Mooney who coordinated the initiative, were gratified that so many staff – including the Institute’s President Professor Terri Scott – undertook the 12 week challenge.
“People set up walking groups, some started walking to work instead of driving, others renewed acquaintances with their bicycles – it was a project for people of all fitness levels,” explained Gaynor.
Participants were encouraged to meet the students monitoring their progress at least once a week, and they also had to log in their weekly achievements on a Google spread sheet where they could also keep an eye on their colleagues’ progress.
“That was definitely an incentive,” joked Dr John Pender, senior lecturer in social policy at IT Sligo who has boosted his weekly exercise time from 110 minutes at the start of the programme to 350 minutes a week now. “When you knew the other 55 could see how you were doing, it probably helped you focus especially when some were up to 400 minutes a week and you were still at 180.”
Dr Pender pointed out that the initiative started against the backdrop of growing concern about obesity in Ireland . He said the most rewarding aspect for most people has been how the experience has boosted their sense of well being,
“It is intoxicating,” he said. “I focused on cycling and running and now my target is to cycle the return 32k trip from home to college before we break up for the summer”.
A group of women working in the Registrar’s Department who set up an informal walking group are now leaving their desks most lunchtimes for a vigorous stroll . “When there are a few people involved you are less likely to back out,” explained Mary Tully. “We all do it for different reasons – some to lose weight, others just to feel fitter and to get out in the fresh air. We look forward to it now”.
Mathematics lecturer Francis O’Regan has clocked up more minutes than any of the other participants but he doesn’t believe an hour a day is anything to boast about. “Finding the time to exercise can be a problem for many people,” he agreed. “But I walk to work now and it takes about 30 to 35 minutes – if I drove it would take at least half that”.
The Department of Health and Children has pointed out that regular physical activity reduces the risk of chronic diseases, such as coronary heart disease (CHD), type 2 diabetes, stroke, cancer, osteoporosis and depression. “Some physical activity is better than none, more is better than some, and any amount of physical activity you do gains some health benefits” according to the National Guidelines for Physical Activity in Ireland.
For more information on the Bachelor of Business Recreation and Leisure) degree course see http://courses.itsligo.ie/business-humanities-courses/recreation-and-leisure/
Photo Caption: Students from the Bachelor of Business (Recreation and Leisure) put IT Sligo staff under pressure at the Institute’s international standard running track in the Get Ireland Active Programme. More than 50 staff members participated in the programme, with direction and encouragement from the students.