One of the key elements of SA2020, the community vision to improve the future of our fair city, is a focus on health and wellness. The goal is to make the residents of San Antonio some of the healthiest in the country. We certainly have some work to do in the next seven years to make that happen, but the city, and others in the community, seem to be pushing hard toward offering programs and opportunities for all of us to get a little more involved and a little more active. So, if you or the kids are getting a little antsy this summer, consider these offerings.

The eleven key components of SA2020.

Fit Pass SA

Fit Pass SA offers locals the opportunity to earn points and win prizes by attending official events, from outdoor fitness challenges and healthy cooking demos, to bike rides, and walks with your four-legged friend. The program is free and runs through March 2014. If you happen to read this early enough, you can hustle over to O.P. Schnabel Park from 8.am. to 10 a.m. to take part in Summer Sports Day, one of the signature events of the program. For Fit Pass SA official rules and information on how to get started, just click here.

There are lots of opportunities for you and your family to get out and get moving. Many of the programs are totally free.

Fit Family Challenge

San Antonio Sports is currently in the midst of its 12-week Fit Family Challenge, another free program which offers families the opportunity to get active, eat better, and learn more about health and fitness by logging and tracking their progress. Each activity features door prizes, and you still have the chance to snag one of the remaining $1,000 grand prizes. But in order to do that, you have register and participate. To get started, visit FitFamilyChallenge.com.

If that’s not enough for you, consider partaking in some outdoor classes via Fitness in the Park. The year-round program offers an extensive variety of classes from high intensity bootcamps to water aerobics, and everything in between, all free at area parks. Below you’ll see a quick snapshot of some of the offerings in the week ahead. For more information, follow this link.

A quick look at just one week of what Fitness in the Park has to offer.

Something Monday

Finally, don’t forget about our Something Monday ride which got bumped due to the rain last week but is rolling forward on June 22. The Rivard Report has teamed up with the folks at B-cycle for a truly unique cruise down the Southtown corridor. You don’t have to be speedster or a hipster, you just have to be able to ride a bike. Join us at the B-Cycle station across from the Liberty Bar on South Alamo at 6:15, and be ready to ride at 6:30. Find out more here: “New Event: ‘Something Monday’ — Rescheduled Due to Rain”

This is you on a B-Cycle, joining us for a fun, casual ride down the Mission Reach on Monday evening.

And while it may not be a city program, HEB is certainly a city staple, and registration is now open for their 2014 Community Slim Down Showdown, an intensive 14-week contest toward better health with a $10,000 grand prize. Fifteen people from around the state will make the cut for the program that kicks off in January 2014. If you’re interested in being one of the chosen few, make sure to sign up by November 1. For more information, or to register, click here.

Slimming Down

This year’s “healthy hero,” Juan Ramirez, lost 38 pounds and decreased his body fat by 18 percent. Ramirez and his wife recently adopted two little boys, a powerful motivation for him to change his lifestyle. “The physical changes and the personality changes that you go through in a journey like this are a reward in itself,” he said. “This is just icing on the cake.” Caption and photo courtesy of H-E-B.

Speaking of the Slim Down Showdown, it’s time to check in with our friend Juan Ramirez, a local boy who picked up the Healthy Hero award at the 2013 challenge. We last checked in with him about six weeks ago. Here’s a quick review and update of his numbers.

Heaviest weight: 375

Starting weight at Slimdown Challenge: 315

Finishing weight: 277

Weight at last check-in (May 25): 266

Current Weight: 262

Goal weight: 200 – 225

So, what’s been going on since we last talked?

Things have been incredibly busy lately at work and at home, and as a result, I lost my focus a bit. My eating habits changed and I actually gained some weight, but I’m back on track now with my diet and training, and have lost the weight I gained and even a little more.

You ran your first 5K at the end of June, how did it go and how did you feel?

We did the Color Me Rad 5K and it was really exciting for me. I’ve walked in events before, but this was the first time I actually ran an entire race; i kept a steady pace throughout and felt a great sense of accomplishment when I crossed the line. Even better, my wife was right there running with me the whole time… And now my training has been kicked up a notch, I’m doing 5 to 6 miles about four times a week.

What’s your goal for the next four to six weeks?

To be more accountable. I have a great support group online and I need to use them more as a tool. I also have a couple other small goals, and want to drop another 8 to 10 pounds and about two inches off my waist in the next month or so.

Did you have any epiphanies or learn anything new since we last talked?

I learned that when I’m running, if I concentrate on my breathing I’m able to run a bit longer, and that’s something that’s really helped me survive the longer distances now that I’m prepping for a half marathon. It really helps me focus and maintain my pace. That said, it’s almost surprising what I can do now. And the feedback and support I get once I post my workouts online helps a lot too.

If Juan’s story and all those free events aren’t enough to get you motivated, then you should watch this. The title is a bit misleading, but Charles Eugster’s enthusiasm and energy during his TEDTalk is infectious, and enough to make you reconsider your thoughts on retirement, aging and the aging process.

Tom Trevino is a writer and wellness coach based out of San Antonio. His column, “The Feed,” covers anything and everything related to health and wellness. He holds a B.A. from the University of Texas at San Antonio, with certification and training from the Cooper Institute. He has a fondness for dogs, NPR, the New York Times, and anything on two wheels. When he’s not writing, training, or cooking, you can find him wandering the aisles of Central Market.

Related Stories:

The Feed: Sharing My Big Fat Secrets to Inspire Others

The Feed: Two Guys Aim for Downtown Grocery Stores

The Feed: Kitchen Tips from a Kitchen Pro

The Feed: Skinny, Sweet, and Cool

The Feed: Juan on Juan

The Feed: For the Dogs

The Feed: Work Hard, Sleep Harder

The Feed: Get Outside the Box for an Outdoor Workout

The Feed: National Bike Month Rides into San Antonio, Just in Time

The Feed: B–Roll on the Mission Reach