Apr. 26, 2008

Gov. Perry Joins 5,600 Texans to Run 5th Annual Texas Round-Up

Annual fitness festival also hosts 2008 USA Track and Field Masters 10K Championships

AUSTIN– Gov. Rick Perry today joined 5,600 Texans and 80 track and field champions to run the 5th Annual Texas Round-Up. Thousands took part in the annual fitness festival’s 5K, 10K, family mile walk and fun zone.

"Working regular exercise and a balanced diet into daily life can yield significant benefits not only for individuals, but the state too," Perry said. "Obesity and obesity-related illnesses affect too many Texans. Initiatives like the Texas Round-Up encourage Texans to shed lethargic lifestyles by offering a fun, family-friendly venue to begin, or continue, a health lifestyle routine."

The governor was joined at the race by the individual, city and agency winners of the Governor’s Fitness Challenge. These include "Fit Texan" Norman Langwell, Jr.; the cities of Manor, Pflugerville, Huntsville, Abilene and Austin; and the Cancer Council, Veterans Commission, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and Department of Transportation. Additionally, First Lady Anita Perry recognized Michael Pennington of San Antonio, whose t-shirt design was chosen for the family mile race.

This year, Texas Round-Up was chosen by USA Track and Field to host the Masters 10K Championships. USA Track and Field is the national governing body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the U.S. Competing in the race are Olympians Sean Wade and Colleen De Reuck, national champion Dennis Simonitis and 71 USA Track and Field Masters.

Since 2004, more than 66,000 Texans have participated in the Texas Round-Up. The initiative includes GetFitTexas, a free online training program where members can track their exercise progress and access training tips. Each participant who completes the online training program receives a signed certificate from Gov. Perry. Overall, participants in the Governor’s Challenge have logged over 55 million minutes of exercise in 2008. This year, 25 Round-Up affiliate cities led efforts to make Texas the fittest state in the nation.

An avid runner, Gov. Perry has made the promotion of fitness and healthy lifestyle choices an important part of his healthcare initiatives. Too many Texans face serious health problems as a result of poor nutrition and lack of exercise. Complications from being obese cost the state more than $10 billion each year due to lost productivity and increased burden on the healthcare system.

For a complete list of Texas Round-Up affiliate cities and fitness events, please visit www.texasroundup.org.

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City Challenge Winners

Less than 5,000 residents
Manor                                                                                Governor’s Cup Winner
Anderson                                                                           Gold Medal Winner
Hutto                                                                                 Silver Medal Winner
Lovelady                                                                            Bronze Medal Winner

5,000 to 19,999 residents
Pflugerville                                                                          Governor’s Cup Winner
Elgin                                                                                   Gold Medal Winner
Kyle                                                                                   Silver Medal Winner (tie)
Rusk                                                                                  Silver Medal Winner (tie)
Bastrop                                                                              Bronze Medal Winner

20,000 to 99,999 residents
Huntsville                                                                            Governor’s Cup Winner
Round Rock                                                                       Gold Medal Winner
Cedar Park                                                                        Silver Medal Winner
Sugar Land                                                                        Bronze Medal Winner

100,000 to 499,999 residents
Abilene                                                                              Governor’s Cup Winner
Amarillo                                                                             Gold Medal Winner
Beaumont                                                                           Silver Medal Winner
Wichita Falls                                                                      Bronze Medal Winner

500,000+ residents
Austin                                                                                Governor’s Cup Winner
Houston                                                                             Gold Medal Winner
San Antonio                                                                       Silver Medal Winner
El Paso                                                                              Bronze Medal Winner

State Agency Challenge Winners

Less than 100 FTEs
The Cancer Council                                                            Governor’s Cup Winner
Office of Rural Community Affairs                                       Gold Medal Winner
State Board of Public Accountancy                                     Silver Medal Winner
Texas Board of Professional Engineers                                Bronze Medal Winner

100 to 999 FTEs
Veterans Commission                                                        Governor’s Cup Winner
Library and Archives Commission                                      Gold Medal Winner
Texas Department of Banking                                             Silver Medal Winner
Texas Lottery Commission                                                 Bronze Medal Winner

1,000 to 4,999 FTEs
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality                       Governor’s Cup Winner
Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services             Gold Medal Winner
State Comptroller of Public Accounts                                  Silver Medal Winner
Texas Department of Insurance                                           Bronze Medal Winner

5000+ FTEs
Department of Transportation                                            Governor’s Cup Winner
Department of Public Safety                                              Gold Medal Winner
Department of Criminal Justice                                           Silver Medal Winner
Department of State Health Services                                  Bronze Medal Winner

School District Challenge Winners

Less than 1,000 Students
The Honor Roll School Governor’s Cup Winner
Irion County ISD Gold Medal Winner

5,000+ Students
Fort Bend ISD Governor’s Cup Winner

Service Organization Challenge Winners

Less than 100 Members
Shape Up Sugar Land Governor’s Cup Winner

100+ Members
Fort Bend Fit 2008                                                            Governor’s Cup Winner
City of Sugar Land Mayors Youth Advisory Council          Gold Medal Winner
Exchange Club of Sugar Land                                            Silver Medal Winner
EL Fitness Fanatics                                                            Bronze Medal Winner

Corporate Challenge Winners

Less than 100 Employees
Atria Active Adults-AAA Governor’s Cup Winner
New LifeStyles Gold Medal Winner

100 to 499 Employees
Star Dillos                                                                          Governor’s Cup Winner
New Benefits                                                                     Gold Medal Winner
COP                                                                                  Silver Medal Winner

500+ Employees
HAS Flyers Governor’s Cup Winner

Municipal Organization Challenge Winners

Less than 100 Employees
Employees of the City of San Marcos                                 Governor’s Cup Winner
Jetway Joggers                                                                   Gold Medal Winner
WE Rock                                                                           Silver Medal Winner
City of Houston – Controllers                                             Bronze Medal Winner

100 to 499 Employees
Roanoke Rising Stars Governor’s Cup Winner

500+ Employees
City of Sugar Land Employees                                           Governor’s Cup Winner
HPARDners                                                                      Gold Medal Winner
City of North Richland Hills                                                Silver Medal Winner

Fitness Clubs Challenge Winners

Less than 100 Members
LJ TOPS                                                                           Governor’s Cup Winner
Sweetwater Country Club                                                  Gold Medal Winner
NTHRG (North Texas Human Resources Group)               Silver Medal Winner
Texercise Tango 2008                                                        Bronze Medal Winner

100 to 299 Members
Sugar Land Senior                                                              Governor’s Cup Winner
Fort Bend Jazzercise                                                           Gold Medal Winner
Pearland Jazzercise                                                             Silver Medal Winner

300+ Members
Houston Racing Triathlon Club Governor’s Cup Winner

Family Challenge Winners

Less than 5 Members
Reitz Family – Sugar Land                                                  Governor’s Cup Winner (tie)
Godfrey’s of Sugar Land                                                    Governor’s Cup Winner (tie)
Cazoo2                                                                              Governor’s Cup Winner (tie)
Deer                                                                                   Governor’s Cup Winner (tie)

5+ Members
Krazy Kraths                                                                      Governor’s Cup Winner (tie)
Kids For Life                                                                      Governor’s Cup Winner (tie)
Young Family Fit 08'                                                          Governor’s Cup Winner (tie)
Sista-Sista                                                                          Gold Medal Winner
AnahuaKubiks                                                                    Silver Medal Winner
Wrights are TOUGH!                                                         Bronze Medal Winner