Overview:
Palau Athletics is calling on middle-aged and older adults to lace up and hit the track as part of its new Master’s Program aimed at building a healthier nation — one lap at a time.
In Koror, Coach Maggie and fellow board members are encouraging participants to walk, jog, run and compete in field events, promoting fitness, unity and long-term wellness across generations. The initiative not only targets rising health concerns such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension, but also seeks to strengthen community bonds and inspire future athletes to represent Palau on the world stage.
By: Laurel Marewibuel
KOROR, Palau — “After all, many of us are strong and built for it, thanks to our ancestors!” Coach Maggie, a Palau Athletics board member, rallied supporters with this rallying cry for the island nation’s new Master’s Program.
Palau Athletics Master’s Program is a track program designed to encourage middle aged and up adults to walk, jog, run and participate in field events to promote and maintain a healthy lifestyle while having fun
The initiative targets middle-aged and older adults, urging them to walk, jog, run and tackle field events. “The Palau Athletics Master’s Program is a track program designed to encourage middle aged and up adults to walk, jog, run and participate in field events to promote and maintain a healthy lifestyle while having fun,” she said.
Beyond fun, the program combats rampant health woes. “Many locals and foreigners alike struggle with obesity, diabetes, hypertension and other illnesses,” Coach Maggie noted. “Athletics events and training for competitions will help alleviate or reduce symptoms of those problems, and when a person feels good, the chances are, they might continue to do what it is that makes them feel good.”
Exercise naturally boosts brain chemicals like endorphins and dopamine, she explained, improving heart health and easing hormonal shifts in menopause for women and andropause for men. It also counters destructive habits. “Walking and running in itself help improve the body’s hormones such as endorphin, dopamine, etc. Heart activity improves during these workouts, training and competitions,” Coach Maggie said. “For this age group it especially helps those heading into the menopausal (women) and andropause (men) stage—hormonal imbalance.”
She highlighted how substances like alcohol, smoking and narcotics mimic that “natural high” at first but ultimately wreck the brain. “A person who doesn’t use, but is involved in exercise, will get those benefits of the brain on their own,” she added. “Subsequently, feeling high naturally, may lead to better choices, and dependency may hopefully be reduced, be minimized or and alleviated (disappear) altogether.”
The program fosters unity too, drawing in agencies, NGOs and businesses. “Bringing together groups from various agencies, NGOs, businesses and others to exercise will not only aid in the promotion of well-being, and prevention of illness, but also, bring people together,” Coach Maggie said. “We, Palauans, enjoy that within our culture, and should continue to strengthen that unity—both Palauans, and foreigners. Exercising, training and competing together will undoubtedly bring that feeling of camaraderie (‘togetherness’) and elation (‘happiness’).”
Long-term, Palau Athletics envisions healthier families and future Olympians. “A long term impact Palau Athletics hopes to see in the Master’s age group is, Healthier people, therefore Healthier Community,” she said. “As parents and grandparents in this group work on lifestyle changes for the better, the chances of instilling these character traits (working together and exercising) in their children will be there. Hopefully, these children will enjoy walking, running and participating in track and field events, and with that said, Palau Athletics hopes to see in the future those young athletes that will represent our nation in Athletic Sports.”
Like this:
Loading…
