JEFFERSON CITY – Logging enough miles to circle the Earth 46 times, Missourians taking the Governor’s 100 Missouri Mile Challenge walked, hiked, rode and rolled more than 1,162,000 miles during 2013. Gov. Jay Nixon today said the Challenge has been a great success, with 3,715 of the 12,700 participants completing the challenge to complete 100 miles on the state’s roads, trails and waterways.
“The First Lady and I launched the 100 Missouri Mile Challenge to encourage Missourians to get healthy and fit by enjoying the tremendous outdoor recreational opportunities the Show-Me State has to offer, and we could not be prouder of the overwhelming response,” the Governor said. “Missourians challenged themselves, their families and friends to make 100 Missouri Miles part of a healthy, active lifestyle and logged more than 1.1 million miles in only seven months.”
Missourians have signed up for the Challenge and recorded their miles online at 100MissouriMiles.com. Those who pass the 100 mile mark receive a medallion to commemorate the achievement, and the website helps participants track other benchmarks they reach. In addition to individuals taking the Challenge, more than 380 groups – from businesses, schools, organizations, and groups of friends – have signed up to record their miles together as well.
The Governor and First Lady Georganne Nixon have led by example to motivate Missourians to get out on the trail. To date, Gov. Nixon has recorded 369.1 miles and Mrs. Nixon 429.5 miles; the Nixons often log their miles by walking the Katy Trail near Jefferson City with their dog, Daniel Boone.
The 100 Missouri Miles Challenge for 2014 will be launched later this year. In the meantime, Missourians can continue to sign up and log miles at MO.gov.
Gov. Nixon formally launched the 100 Missouri Mile Challenge at the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics Missouri State Summer Games in Columbia. One impetus for the Challenge was the designation last April of Missouri as the “Best Trails State,” a biennial award given by the national non-profit organization American Trails to the state with the most innovative and successful trail-sharing efforts, programs and systems.
“The Best Trails State award confirmed on a national stage what we already knew – when it comes to trails and other great ways to enjoy the outdoors, Missouri is second to none,”Gov. Nixon said.
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