By Joseph A. Curtatone

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

The Fitness Challenge kickoff event last Saturday was a lot of fun and a great success. In a marked departure from 2011 – when a big crowd came early and left early – we had a steady stream of visitors throughout the three-hour program.  To be sure, there were lines at a few of the exhibits:  the free massages supplied by students from Lincoln Technical Institute were, as always, very popular; and the healthy recipes demonstration tables had plenty of hungry and appreciative fans.  (The “Silver Spoon” cooking challenge winner was a standout Caribbean squash soup – “tweaked” for healthy eating – from Chef Ernie Campbell of Belmont Day School.)  There were also demos and information booths on topics ranging from nutrition to boxing to Zumba to community rowing to martial arts to active senior living and much, much more.

One of the core activities for many of the attendees was signing up, weighing in and recording their Body Mass Index in order to be included in one of the numerous Fitness Challenge Teams taking part in this year’s competition.  (Individuals can compete on their own as well – and it’s not too late to join a team or get weighed in. For more information, call 311 or write to Carlene Campbell-Hegarty (no relation to Ernie) at ccampbell@somervillema.gov.)

Last year, my team came in second overall, but this year I am determined to lead a team than can go the extra distance and win it all.  At the same time, and as I mentioned in my last Somerville News opinion piece (“In transportation, economics, fitness and more: Somerville plays to win,” 3/21/12), I wanted to open up the team to representation from the community at large, so I decided to hold three spots for residents who convinced me (in a write-in essay contest) that they were ready to make a personal and team commitment to improving their fitness levels and developing healthier lifestyles.

The response was truly inspiring. Entrants from all sorts of backgrounds and all levels of fitness wrote in to describe their hopes, their goals and their dedication to the principles of Shape Up Somerville: “Eat smart, play hard, move more and live well.”   In the end, I decided three spots just wasn’t enough and I should field two teams of ten each, each of which would be a mix of city staffers and residents – with a total of  thirteen residents on each team.

Since they took the time to share their thoughts as part of the application process, I wanted to pass along some of their comments.  They do a far better job than I ever could of reminding all of us of the critical role that healthy living can play in enhancing our quality of life – as individuals and as a community.

John K. Atsalis wrote in to say “I am looking to diversify my exercise routines and the fitness challenge is a great way to become acquainted with the various exercise options in our fair City. I usually work out by jogging and am emerging from my winter hibernation. I’m no slouch – I have run three marathons, two in the fall of 2011 and the Boston Marathon in 2008. I’d love to add my competitive spirit to Mayor Joe’s winning team.”

From a different point on the fitness spectrum, Jeff O’Connor wrote that “I am faced with medical consequences of being overweight.  I’m only thirty, and I’m on blood pressure medication: that scares the living daylights out of me.  I don’t just want to lose weight – I need to lose weight.  I want to be around for my wife and future children. I think getting this jumpstart will set me on the right path to be there for them for a long time.”

My friend and noted local artist Pauline Lim (Google “Somerville urban shrines” if you don’t know her work) offered these upbeat comments: “I would love to be on this team because while I love to exercise, I am at a 52-week high (for my weight), and I am addicted to sweets.  I also love hangin’ with Mayor Joe, and I love fitness challenges with other people!”

And one of my favorite entries came. In true Somerville fashion, as a series of haiku from Jeanine Jenks Farley.  Here’s a sample:

“Joe’s fitness challenge

Is a wordsmith contest, too.

Mind/body workout!

“Convex like a lens
Is no shape for a human.
Concave is the goal.

“Have I the right stuff?
I’m not an astronaut, guys.
But I like to win.

“I may be graying
Flabby around the middle,
But I can beat you!”

I’m looking forward to working with each of these contestants and the nine additional resident members of my two squads: Alan Ball; Dorothy Chaves; Matt Conley; Crystal Huff; Annie Latham; Diane Lynch; Kate Riley; Jennifer Sabia-Lopez; and Angela Venezia.

They’re all winners in my book – and so is every member of every team in this year’s Fitness Challenge.  I’ll keep News readers updated on our progress over the next seven weeks.  This is going to be fun.