Get on Your Feet

In lieu of Occupational Therapy month, two of the first year OT graduate students at Tennessee State University are participating in the Music City Marathon and Half Marathon on April 30, 2011. Their goal is to raise awareness about Occupational Therapy and fight the obesity epidemic that kills many Americans each year. Nicole Duncan and Leah Paterson have been training together since the semester began in January in preparation for the terrain they will encounter through the streets of downtown Nashville.

The Health & Fitness Expo presented by Power Balance sets the stage for an exciting marathon weekend. For two days, over 100 exhibitors will offer free samples, showcase the latest in running gear, sports apparel, health & nutritional information and much more. It will be held on Thursday, April 28 from 11am-6pm and Friday, April 29 from 10am-7pm at the Nashville Convention Center on Commerce Street.

Elite Athletes aren’t the only ones racing for results. The prize purse includes awards for local marathon runners (Nashville-Davidson County) with $700 for each male and female winner and $300 for second place male and female finishers. The top male and female finishers from the U.S. in the marathon (only) will win $1,000, with second place and third place receiving $500.

Men’s and women’s Master’s winners in the Marathon will each collect $500 in prize money. The first wheelchair (push rim only - no hand cycles) finishers in the Marathon will receive $500 if they complete the course in under 2:30:00 (men) and 3:00:00 (women). All finishers will receive an exclusive Country Music Marathon or Country Music 1/2 Marathon medal.

Over the last 11 years, the Country Music Marathon & Half Marathon has established itself as a Nashville institution, now bringing more than 30,000 runners to a city long known for its musical genius. It has also been 11 years since Nashville legends Montgomery Gentry took to the national stage as one of country music’s biggest acts.

The two will collide on Saturday, April 30th as Montgomery Gentry rocks the post-race concert at the 12th annual Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon presented by Nissan, continuing a strong tradition of great country music and the biggest running event in Tennessee.

During the race, however, over 20 fellow TSU student and non-student volunteers will be hosting a water table for runners passing by to refuel and promote Occupational Therapy to the patrons. Occupational therapy, often abbreviated as "OT", promotes health by enabling people to perform meaningful and purposeful occupations. These include (but are not limited to) work, leisure, self care, domestic and community activities.

The patient is involved in a variety of creative tasks and activities related to daily living. This may include the making of handicrafts (carpentry, pottery, painting, etc.) and expressive activities such as participation in dramatic role playing, music or poetry reading. Individuals can also lose some skills because of an accident or illness. These skills include walking, eating, drinking, dressing, bathing, and etc. Occupational Therapy is meant to encourage and facilitate the regaining of these skills through therapy techniques and adaptations.