The 2021 Kids Count data ranks Kentucky as 38th nationally in youth health, and 14% of children live in a high-poverty area, which is an adverse community environmental factor that impacts a child's ability to thrive (KYA, 2022). These high-poverty communities often struggle with equitable access to indoor and outdoor spaces. This inequity is heightened in winter due to a reduction of daylight hours and a decrease in outdoor temperatures. This creates a barrier for youth in these communities considering one key component of youth health is physical activity. Young people should have at least 60 minutes of physical activity no less than five days a week.

Unfortunately, data shows that only 43.8% of middle schoolers and 37.4% of high schoolers reach that level of activity (KDE, 2020). This decline in physical activity with age continues into adulthood with only 32% of adults reaching the recommended amount of daily physical activity (CDC, 2020). On average youth physical activity reduces by 20 minutes per day during winter months (Atkin, 2016). This drop in physical activity has been identified as an area of concern by youth leaders in the state. In response, the 4-H program has implemented the 4-H winter dash for a second year.

This program was a self-paced marathon that started on November 1st and ended on February 28th at the conclusion of 4-H Health Month. Individuals were challenged to walk, run, or roll a marathon during the winter months and submit logs of their progress. While there was no winner the event provided accountability and friendly compotation for groups to continue being active. Participants reported that “This really helped me stay active this winter” and “helped me be accountable to myself and my health goals".

Over the course of the four coldest months for Kentucky, 70 individuals logged their physical activity and walked/ran/rolled 3,745.62 miles in 32 counties! Of the 70 individuals who logged their activity, 44 completed a full marathon. Lined up end to end this is just over the distance from LA to New York. As part of this effort 4 individuals Trigg County contributed 30 miles.

Adult Physical Inactivity Prevalence Maps by Race/Ethnicity, (2020). Atlanta: GA US Disease Control Center https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/data/inactivity-prevalence-maps/index.html#overall

Advocates, K. Y. (n.d.). Kentucky Ranks 37th in Child Well-Being with Too Many Children Suffering from Mental Health Pandemic. Kentucky Youth Advocates. https://kyyouth.org/2022nationalkidscount-databook-release/

Atkin, AJ et al. Seasonal Variation in Children’s Physical Activity and Sedentary Time. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 48, No. 3, pp. 449–456, 2016. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000786

Youth Risk Behavior Survey, (2020). Frankfort, KY: Kentucky Department of Education https://education.ky.gov/districts/enrol/Documents/Youth%