Photo By Bethani Crouch | U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity’s Larry Friedman joins fellow cyclists during...... read more read more
A U.S. Army civilian set out on a challenging adventure, riding his bike from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Bel Air, Maryland in seven days, providing a chance to highlight the wellness program at the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity (CMA).
Larry Friedman, business manager for CMA’s Recovered Chemical Materiel Directorate, gathered with 12 cyclists -- half of whom are fellow U.S. Army civilians -- and pedaled 445 miles last fall, completing the Great Allegheny Passage and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Trail.
CMA encourages its workforce to lead healthy, active lifestyles, and Friedman’s latest trek highlights how exercise can keep you healthy. February is American Heart Month, a timely reminder that heart disease causes one in three deaths, equal to 2,200 deaths per day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CMA Director Col. James Reckard says wellness in the workforce is a top priority for the U.S. Army and acknowledges that any effort, big or small, is a win for healthy living.
“We want our employees to make healthy lifestyle choices all year long,” Reckard said. “One of the best ways is by exercising. Moving during the day provides a great mental boost, and working out alongside friends and colleagues can increase morale.”
Friedman, who organized the trip,and documented their week-long, self-supported journey to generate wide-spread interest in cycling, and encourage others to live healthy lifestyles.
“We tried to start and end together most days, taking in the amazing fresh air and scenery of the trails in the process,” Friedman said. “Pushing ourselves to our physical limit can be fun while doing something you love. For me, that’s taking on new cycling challenges.”
Cycling is one of many ways to promote healthy cardiovascular function, and for Friedman’s group, proves that continuous exercise has lasting benefits. One even started the hobby to help heal a previous injury, a testament to the health benefits of cycling.
Anthony Yoor, a U.S. Army training contractor, resumed cycling just three weeks after having bilateral surgery last year, a move he says his doctor encouraged.
“Arthritis got the better of my knees, and cycling, though painful at times, was the best exercise I could to do to get my heart rate up and work the leg muscles,” Yoor said. “Since surgery, I have biked several thousand miles with no limitations, as my doctor says biking is one of the best exercises a person can do.”
Lawrence Bickford, a U.S. Army civilian with the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, said Friedman’s flexible, good natured demeanor kept everyone in the group in good spirits.
“Parts of the trip had challenges, as the riders in single file had to cautiously traverse continuous obstacles,” Bickford said. “But the group had great camaraderie and we all enjoyed the trip immensely.”
After such a successful journey, Friedman said the cyclists are planning their next expedition in the summer, a seven-day ride around Lake Ontario.
“Friendships were forged and we collectively bonded in our accomplishment of this exciting ride, making it an easy decision to push our limits once again,” he said.
Reckard echoed that sentiment, adding “whether you’re standing up to stretch, taking the long route to a meeting, or riding your bike to work or the Great Allegheny Passage, all exercise is positive and we’re excited to see CMA employees take charge of their health!”
For more information, visit https://www.cma.army.mil.
| Date Taken: | 02.21.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 02.21.2018 14:44 |
| Story ID: | 266686 |
| Location: | ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD, US |
| Web Views: | 62 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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