Now that spring is here, more women have been attending the MeetUp Get Out & Play events!  I’ve created events with varying degrees of difficulty so if you’re not sure which one is best for you, contact me at 651-470-8060 or email me at annieelmer@comcast.net, and I can help determine the best event for you.  Or check out the group reviews and reviews of past MeetUps from the attendees at the MeetUp Get Out & Play group home page.  I’ve met some real nice women at the events.  Come on out and join us!

Afton State Park - Sunday, April 22 at 1:00

9th Annual Business Showcase at the Cottage Grove Ice arena - Thursday, April 26 5:00-8:00

Hamlet Park – Saturday, April 28 at 1:00

Colby Lake – Sunday, May 1 at 1:00

Afton State Park – Saturday, May 12 at 1:00

Minnesota AIDS Walk (Minnehaha Park) – Sunday, May 20 at 8:30 a.m.

Hamlet Park – Saturday, May 26 at 1:00

If you’re interested in participating, go to:  http://www.meetup.com/Get-Out-Play/ open a free account, create your profile, join this group (and many others if you’re interested) and RSVP Yes to the events you want to attend!  You can also go to that link to read more details about the specific events before you join.

Meet new people and get outdoors – it won’t even feel like exercise!

p.s.  I have posted other blog articles that you might be interested in reading under these categories:

ategories

• Bicycling Safety
• Events
• Healthy Lifestyle Change
• Physical Activity
• Stretches

I have to admit that I do not have very good cooking skills.  Kris David, one of the women I met through my MeetUp events does!  I thought it would be fun to have an event where I train 3 women how to do resistance training and Kris then teaches us how to cook a meal using no processed foods.  We scheduled Get Fit and Eat Clean! for April 14 although you must register before April 7 so you can schedule your one-on-one consultation with Annie before April 13. For more details about this event, go to:  http://www.meetup.com/Get-Out-Play/events/57298492/ (There is a $40 fee for this event.)

Here’s Kris’s menu for Get Fit and Eat Clean!:

Pan Seared Chicken w/ Balsamic Strawberries and Feta Cheese (181 Calories)

Quinoa Tabouli w/ Feta Cheese and Garbanzo Beans (235 Calories)

Strawberries and Peaches w/ Balsamic Glaze over Vanilla Ice-Cream (252 Calories)

Other events scheduled for the MeetUp Get Out & Play:

April 22 at 1:00:  Afton State Park

April 28 at 1:00:  Walk around Hamlet Park

May 20 at 8:30 am:  AIDS Walk

To join the group, create a free account at http://www.meetup.com/Get-Out-Play

If you’d like to meet some nice women and be active, then come on out and play with us!

Spring seems to have arrived early so come on out and play!  Join my MeetUp group Get Out & Play and participate in one or all of the following events (more details about the walks are posted at the MeetUp group site):

Sunday, March 18 at 1:00 Afton State Park

Saturday, March 24 at 1:00 Woodridge Park to CG Ravine Park

Sunday, April 1 at 1:00 Edgewater Park to Colby Lake Park

Sunday, May 20 at 8:30 AIDS Walk at Minnehaha Park

There are 2 MeetUp Get Out & Play events:

Sunday, February 26, we’ll meet in the parking lot of Hamlet Park and walk around the 2+ mile trail. This is a mostly flat trail that has a slight incline at the northern part of the park. It’s difficult to predict whether there will be snow or ice on the trail. This walk can be designed for beginners. If the whole trail is too much, there’s a bridge we can take to shorten the route.

May 20, come join me for the 25th Minnesota AIDS Walk. I’m leading “Annie’s Team” on this 10K (6.2 mile) walk. It begins and ends in Minnehaha Park following the Mississippi River. There are fun activities before and after the walk, and it’s a great fitness goal!

Want to get out and enjoy winter and not do it alone?  I have a MeetUp group called Get Out & Play.  Once you create an account and join the group, you’ll automatically get notified of events. 

There currently are 3 events scheduled:

Afton State Park Hike

Saturday, January 21 at 1:00 p.m.

Come join me at beautiful Afton State Park for this hike with very hilly terrain and snow on the trails.  The pace is strenuous (approximately 3 miles per hour).  You ought to be in good physical condition to handle this hike.  These are great hills to challenge your heart rate, so feel free to bring your heart rate monitor.

Part of the fun will be getting to know new people, but feel free to bring a friend – the more the merrier!

We will meet at the Visitor Center (not the building at the entrance to the park).

Park Fees:  Daily rate:  $5 per vehicle or $25 for annual permit

Walk from Annie’s Place to Hamlet Park

Saturday, January 28 at 1:00

We’ll meet at Annie’s, then go for a walk to Hamlet Park and around the trail at the park.  Afterward we’ll come back to Annie’s for a cool down and stretch.  This walk is designed for beginners to advanced walkers.  The total distance is approximately 3 miles with a few small hills.

Afton State Park Candlelight Hike

Saturday, February 4 at 6:00 p.m.

Afton State Park is hosting a Candlelight Hike and Snowshoe event and I thought it would be fun to have our group meet there and participate!  It’s scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m.

Enjoy a refreshing walk or snowshoe trek in the moonlight along trails lit by candlelight. Refreshments will be served at the Visitor Center. The park has a limited number of snowshoes available for rent by advance reservation.  I plan to hike instead of snowshoe, but it’s up to you to decide if you want to snowshoe.  Their number is (651) 436-5391 if you want to call about snowshoes.

State park stickers are required and can be bought at the building at the entrance to the park.  We will meet inside the Visitor Center which is not at the main entrance.

To join the group, go to this link: http://www.meetup.com/Get-Out-Play/ to create an account and RSVP to any of the events you want to participate.  Joining the group is free!  (If you RSVP without creating an account, your name won’t show up on the list.)

Don’t let winter get you down!  Come on out and play!

If being active is part of your new year’s resolution, here’s an opportunity for you to get outdoors with others on a weekly basis for January.  I’m looking forward to being outdoors and enjoying winter with others.  Hope to see you at these events!  Feel free to invite your friends!

To keep track of who RSVPs for events, I’ve set up a group through MeetUp.  It’s free for you to sign up.  I have provided the links for you to see the details of these walks and/or to sign up to participate. 

GET OUT & PLAY EVENTS:  

Bring in the New Year – Hamlet Park Walk

Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 1:00 p.m.

For details and to sign up for this event, go to:  http://www.meetup.com/Get-Out-Play/events/43383192/

Woodridge Park Walk

Sunday, January 8, 2012 at 1:00 p.m.

For details and to sign up for this event, go to:  http://www.meetup.com/Get-Out-Play/events/43386932/

Afton State Park Hike

Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 1:00 p.m.

For details and to sign up for this event, go to:  http://www.meetup.com/Get-Out-Play/events/43387792/

Afton State Park Hike

Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 1:00 p.m.

For details and to sign up for this event, go to:  http://www.meetup.com/Get-Out-Play/events/43387902/

Walk or Hike somewhere determined by the group

Saturday, January 28 at 1:00

 For details or to sign up for this event, go to:  http://www.meetup.com/Get-Out-Play/events/43388292/

Don’t just hibernate this winter – start the year out having some fun working on your physical activity goals and getting to know others!

Want to meet others and get out for a walk?  This walk is designed for beginners to advanced walkers.  It can last from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on how far you want to walk.  We start with walking around the Woodridge Park pond, stop for 5 minutes of stretching, and then walkers up for more of a challenge can walk up 90th Street and in to the Cottage Grove Ravine Park.  Those not ready for that much of a challenge can take an additional loop around the pond.  The goal is to have walkers with different energy levels to have an opportunity to get outdoors, be active and meet other people with similar interests.  Feel free to bring your friends!

The walk will be held rain or shine or snow unless there are storm warnings, threats of lightning, etc.  If in doubt, call me at 651-470-8060 to check on the status of the walk. 

To register to attend, join my Meetup Group:  Get Out & Play and sign up for this event at:  http://www.meetup.com/Get-Out-Play/events/42042772/

(Note:  Liability forms must be completed before this walk, and I will have them available at the park.  If you haven’t already filled these out, please arrive 5-10 minutes early.) 

Not sure what to wear?  Check out my blog from last year:  WHAT TO WEAR DURING COLD WEATHER ACTIVITIES: IT’S ALL ABOUT LAYERING!  http://annieelmerpersonaltrainer.areavoices.com/2010/11/21/what-to-wear-during-cold-weather-activities-its-all-about-layering/

Don’t let winter stop you from getting out for a walk!  Join me at Woodridge Park!

Have you ever seen anyone clean the mats at your gym?  How many people have you watched use those mats?  To be safe, take your own mat or use a towel between you and the mat.  If you take your own mat, make sure you clean it when you get home so you don’t transfer the germs to your home.  This will help to avoid the risk of getting ring worm, athlete’s foot or a staph infection, etc.  If you have open wounds or scrapes, make sure to cover them up to avoid leaving germs behind for others.  Thoroughly wash your hands before and after working out.

It’s great that you’re working out to be healthy – just make sure you’re not picking up any germs!

I have an Afton State Park hike scheduled.  Read more about it, sign up and RSVP at http://www.meetup.com/Get-Out-Play.  Not available for this event but want to be notified of upcoming events?  Then sign up for the MeetUp Get Out & Play group, and you’ll get notified of future events and you can see the other people who have joined the group.