October 1, 2008
Maryland Adopts Official State Exercise
Exciting news for people who like to put one foot in front of the other, via the Washington Business Journal. Maryland has become the first state in the country to adopt an official state exercise, and they've chosen walking.
Much like official state flowers, songs and birds, this potentially new tradition of naming an official exercise is no doubt doomed to end up being something no one knows until they get a question about it at pub quiz. Still, Maryland can now boast of being the first state to do it. But they chose... walking?
In attempt to slash the price tag for public health problems in Maryland, walking was chosen because it is low impact and merits high results.Of course we're tempted to make fun, but hey, if officially encouraging walking can get more Marylanders out of their cars and on two feet, that works for us. Then again, aren't official designations supposed to encompass some thing or idea that a state already strongly identifies with? Maryland residents don't really spend a lot of time walking, in our experience.
And don't think we'd bring this up without asking the obvious: what would D.C.'s official exercise be, should it adopt one?
Photo by andertho
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is looking ugly an exercise? i see alot of women about who really put in their hour-a-day with that one...
*hisss*
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I nominate throwing rocks at upwardly mobile white people. You know, the ol' cracker toss.
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Running to catch a bing-bonging metro train.
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If you want them to walk and at a fast pace to burn some calories. Allow DC drivers to whip through crosswalks while talking on cell phones, putting on their makeup or drinking and eating and reading the paper. If they don't move fast enough, well, is that really the drivers fault?
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I don't know about DC, but VA's official exercise would be driving a car with no sense of purpose, direction, or care for rules of the road. It'd be the perfect state exercise for VA: ass backwards and done completely contrary to how you're supposed to do it.
As for MD, at least it isn't as bad as the official state sport: jousting.
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DC's official exercise?
How about Running, as in your mouth. Most of the people I've met here are pretty talented at it.
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Junkpunching should be DC's official exercise.
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Isn't bobbing and weaving between tourists and strollers at the Smithsonian Metro stop already DC's state sport? I'm pretty sure it was declared during the great GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY! convention of aught-three.
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i second your notion, henry krinkle.
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When I think D.C. exercise, I think tea bagging.
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Shadow boxing at 17th & Euclid should DC's official exercise.
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Walking to the left and standing to the right.
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Bravo, perkinsms.
I'd have to say shooting.
It is an Olympic sport, after all.
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Kickball. Or making fun of kickball. Or roller derby. Or curling. Or giving up on curling because it's actually hard and involved less beer than previously advertised and switching to racewalking. So many choices.
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" Maryland residents don't really spend a lot of time walking, in our experience."
Using population density as a measurement for walking, wouldn't Maryland be one of the walkingist states, along with New Jersey, Mass, Conn. and Rhode Island?
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Let's hope it won't be dogsledding around observatory circle!
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I thought running away from a crimescene was Maryland's official exercise? Color me embarrassed.
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Can't wait for Maryland's State Bowel Movement - The #2.
I always thought the state exercise was laughing at RenFest Dorks.
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I thought Maryland's State Exercise was jousting? WTF was I doing with that lance and armor all during highschool? You can't do that sh!t when you're walking unless you have your faithful servant Patsy bang two halves of a coconut together.
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snitching and then stopping snitching for dc?
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OK whats the real difference between a state exercise and state sport?
I remember that fencing isto be the MD state sport but then the lacrosse freaks in the state pushed the legislature to create he category of official team sport to recognize the ridiculous amount of lacrosse that is played in MD. Now walking too. Seriously I think MD is addicted to naming official state stuff. Just stop already there's enough stuff out there that MD doesn't need to put it's official stamp to it.
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I just wish Annapolis would cut through the red tape and finally settle on an official Rap Snack. While I've always been partial to "Romeo Bar-b-quin With My Honey Chips," there's a lot to be said for "Mr. G Red Hot Cheese Curls." Primarily that they make yo booty burn.
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seriously, if DC had an official exercise, i would put in a vote for yelling. people walking by, driving by, hanging out of their windows, talking on their cellphones....yelling at the top of their lungs.
usually when the person they're talking to is a couple feet away. i've never understood why people feel the need to make everyone within 200 feet a part of their conversation!
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This one's a no-brainer --- SPINNING
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I vote for the sniper shuffle. Remember walking like a drunk to avoid random fire and running from the gas pump to the driver's seat. Yeah that was a workout.
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Considering how loose some Maryland ladies are, their official exercise should be Kegel.
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In the liquor corridor (Columbia Heights/Adams Morgan/Petworth/U Street): Fixie riding.
Trinidad and Southeast: Bullet dodging.
Anywhere west of the park: Shopping.
Generally: Blog bitching.