THUNDER BAY -- Diane Walker says there’s a definite correlation between exercise and the state of one’s mental health.
It’s one of the main reasons the chief executive officer of the Childrens’ Centre Foundation thinks the Thunderwolves Indoor Marathon is such a great event.
Not only does it raise money for her organization, but it promotes wellness in the community.
“It actually has two important purposes,” Walker said of the marathon, scheduled for Lakehead University’s Hangar on Feb. 8.
“One is to raise money and that money goes to help kids and families. One of our big things coming up is to get child care at the center to help families so that it’s not a barrier to service or to provide other programming.
“But the other part of the event that is really important is this connection between physical health and mental health.”
Walker, a frequent exerciser despite being a double hip replacement patient, said being healthy in mind and body are equally important.
“And I love that we’re working with Lakehead University and the Thunderwolves and the running team. It just makes a lot of sense and I think we should do more of this,” Walker said.
Entering its sixth year, the indoor marathon offers competitions for runners of all ages and abilities. There’s a full marathon, which equates to 211 treks around the Hangar track, the half marathon and the relay event.
This year’s event will see the addition of high school and elementary relay teams.
Lakehead cross country and track and field coach Kip Sigsworth said about 175 people took part last year and they’re hoping for more in 2015.
It just keeps growing, Sigsworth said.
“I think the first year it was a bit of a novelty thing and people weren’t sure how it would go,” he said. “Two-hundred-and-eleven laps around the track seems a bit daunting. But the relay part has really grown and really taken off.
“We’re trying to grow, to get it into schools and with running clubs and cross-country running team – any sort of group that wants to come together, raise some money and work toward some fitness goals.”
Entry in the half marathon and 10-kilometre run is $40, while full marathon participants will pay $75. Relay teams, numbering between five and 10 runners, cost $40 per participant. School teams, featuring an unlimited number of runners, are $300 apiece.
To register or for more information, visit www.thunderwolves.ca/IndoorMarathon.
