See red and smile

A little bit of exercise goes a long way. Whether you’ve been sedentary for years or just found yourself in a bit of a lazy patch, today is the day you can begin to make healthy changes in your life. And you can even start small.

This free event will begin at 5 p.m. with registration, networking, awards for Best Dressed and Best Group and a brief program at Nicole’s School of Dance.
The dash will start at 6 p.m.

Not ready for the local 5K yet? No worries, try the Red Dress Dash to get you up and off the couch. The event will take place on Friday, Feb. 6 at Nicole’s School of Dance, 311 S. W. Walnut St., Ankeny.

“It’s fun and silly but centered around a very serious and deadly disease that is killing one in three Americans,” said Juliette Olejnik, Go Red For Women director. “We hope that this event will inspire women to take charge of their heart health. We hope to be the difference between life and death.”

Did you know that running for just seven minutes every day can decrease your risk of dying from heart disease? Research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2014) reveals running for less than 51 minutes a week — or about seven minutes a day — reduced the risk of dying from heart disease. What’s more, those who ran for less than an hour a week benefited as much as those running more than three hours a week.

Every step counts toward helping you maintain a healthier heart.

“We hope to raise awareness for everyone’s heart health,” said Olejnik. “However, most women are not aware that heart disease kills more women than men. Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease, but only one in six women believes that heart disease is her greatest health threat .”

The Red Dress Dash has become a tradition in various cities across the country. It stemmed from the Go Red For Women movement, which is the American Heart Association’s solution to save women’s lives — educating and connecting women of all ages on the personal and urgent truths of heart disease.

Plus seeing everyone dressed to the nines is a sight to see outside in February. But it’s a bit chilly to wear a dress without warmer layers underneath, warns Olejnik.

“I suggest finding one that is a couple sizes larger than what you would normally wear,” she said.

For those looking to compete in the Best Dressed competition, remember that it’s not all about looks — attitude goes a long way.

“Best Dressed will likely be determined by a small group of Uptown Ankeny Chamber members,” Olejnik said. “I anticipate creativity will play a big part, but there is no doubt that the right spirit and enthusiasm can add a lot to any ensemble.”

The mission of the American Heart Association is the build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

“Come with a friend and make them wear a dress, too. It’s also a great conversation starter and makes for a great Facebook photo,” Olejnik said. “If you don’t have a red dress or don’t feel comfortable wearing one, just be sure to wear red.” CV

Red Dress Dash
Friday, Feb. 6
Nicole’s School of Dance, 311 S. W. Walnut St., Ankeny

David Rowley is an Iowa native with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Iowa and a master’s in film journalism from the University of Glasgow in Scotland.