Healthy Families BC: Biking to Harrison Hot Springs

(transcript to follow)

A number of weeks ago, I decided to ride my bike from my home in Abbotsford to Harrison Hot Springs for some meetings. Eight or nine years ago I did this same ride. I was feeling more stiff this time around but it could be because I hadn't adjusted my bike in several years! I really enjoyed the ride except for the flat tire I got on the way back. I had to walk my bike the final five km. It was kind of my own triathlon of biking, walking and crawling.

Transcript:

[music]

Michael de Jong: "Hi! I'm Mike de Jong, Health Minister. I did something different this morning, I reintroduced myself to my bicycle, it's.....been awhile. Ah, but...today I've decided that I'm going to RIDE this bicycle (that I bought 25 years ago for my house in Abbotsford) out to a meeting in Harrison. Kind of a 'Bike to Work' thing."

"Now I've discovered, that, uh...as I got into my mid-40's, that that extra trip to the buffet left..uh...left a little more baggage on my body."

"The trick I find, is to...to find way to work just a little bit of exercise into my...regular schedule. Healthy living. Fitness. These are decisions that we can make for ourselves and you'll feel better (although, I don't feel a whole lot better right NOW)...uh...but you'll feel better, and...you'll live longer! And that's worth doin!"

"Bicycling, running, go at your own pace - you don't have to do a marathon. You don't have to do the Tour de France....but here in British Columbia, breath taking scenery! You'll enjoy it and you'll feel better for it."

[music]

[bike horn honking]

[music]

"Well welcome to Harrison Hot Springs, here we are, beautiful Harrison Lake in behind me...we made it! 65 kilometres later (4 and a half hours later) but here we are. And, you know, I don't feel too bad."

"The trick is to find the things YOU can do WITH your family. Go for a walk! Uh....think of what you can do together as a family! You'll all feel better. You'll feel healthier. You'll get to do more with your kids, with your grandkids.... You know, at the end of the day, we've all got to accept a LITTLE of the responsibility for ourselves...to take care of ourselves. And, when you do, your family's gonna love you for it. And you're going to be around a lot longer to enjoy your family...so....so MAKE that decision and get out and go for a walk, see the beautiful British Columbia that we call home -- you're going to feel better for it! And you can do it!

[music]

For more healthy living information visit: http://www.healthyfamiliesbc.ca/

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/Healthyfamilybc

Find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HealthyFamiliesBC

Check out our physical activity and healthy eating blogs: http://www.healthyfamiliesbc.ca/communities/

Category:

News & Politics