Festival searches for 'fit' spokesperson

Austin -Today Texas Round-Up searches for a spokesperson for the 4th annual Texas Round-

Up 10K race and fitness festival in April 2007.

The Texas Round-Up is offering the Fit Texan Challenge as an incentive to encourage people to start making positive life changes and to learn from others who have overcome health obstacles.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced in March 2004 that a combination of poor diet and physical inactivity is the second highest cause of preventable death in the country after tobacco, claiming 400,000 lives in 2000, a 33 percent increase over 1990.

The CDC also predicted that poor diet and physical inactivity would be the top killers by 2005.1

"You don't have to become a competitive athlete to improve your health," said Marty McCartt, executive director of the Texas Round-Up. "The Fit Texan Challenge is designed to demonstrate that anyone can improve his or her overall health just by making a few lifestyle changes."

Arlington state worker Betty Davis has spent the last year moderating her eating and exercising after suffering the degeneration of her knees, high blood pressure and high cholesterol from being overweight most of her life.

"Since November 2005, I have lost a total of 71 pounds and my cholesterol has dropped from 270 to 153," Davis said. "My energy is now exceptional and I am enjoying things I never thought possible."

In addition to being the Texas Round-Up spokesperson, the Fit Texan will receive a VIP Weekend for two to attend the 4th annual Texas Round-Up 10K, 5K and Family Mile run/walk on April 27-28, 2007 in Austin.

Complete details about the contest rules and offerings are listed at www.texasroundup.org.

Deadline for entry into the Fit Texan Challenge is Jan. 15.

Also aimed at promoting good health is Texas Round- Up's Fit for Eating recipe contest, a joint project with the Governor's Commission for Women.

The Fit for Eating Recipe Book will be a compilation of original heart-healthy recipes taken from public submissions.

Entry details are available at www.texasroundup.org.

In 2004, Gov. Rick Perry launched the Texas Round-Up statewide fitness initiative

Today, the Texas Round-Up strives to improve the health of Texas through education andpromotion of physical activity and healthy living.