Miles for Freedom – “However you move, do it for freedom”
Who: Cyclists, runners, inline/derby skaters, long boarders, and walkers
What: Complete a 2.7, 7.2 or 27-mile course to help in the fight against sex trafficking in Metro-Dayton and support Oasis House and BE FREE Dayton.
When: May 30, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: Eastwood MetroPark
Registration: Early $20 registration now open
Information: Visit http://milesforfreedom.org or Miles for Freedom on Facebook
See How the Pros Do It
What: The Gem City Rollergirls are a skater-owned and operated flat track roller derby league.
Next home bout: May 9, 5:30 p.m. – Gem City’s Purple Reign vs. Battle Creek Cereal Killers and (immediately following) Gem City Violet Femmes vs. First Settlement Derby Dames
Where: Hara Arena
Admission: $12 adults, $7 kids 8-12; kids 7 and under free at the door. Discounted tickets available online.
More: April is open recruitment month for the Gem City Rollergirls. Interested skaters and, even, non-skaters can find out more at www.gemcityrollergirls.com/.
It wasn’t long after Gentry Darby watched with interest the artistry and athleticism of the ice skaters during the 1992 Winter Olympics when he was lacing up a pair of skates himself.
But, living in Atlanta at the time, Darby chose wheels rather than blades. He played street hockey and was a street skater for several years, later switching gears to fitness skating. More than two decades later, the now Miami Valley resident, is still hooked on skating and will share his enthusiasm and knowledge with aspiring skaters at the Five Rivers MetroParks “Try Inline Skating” program on April 21.
The free event will focus on the basics like how to brake, but will also offer technique tips for more experienced skaters.
“We want people to get out and experience things,” said MetroParks outdoor event coordinator Lucy Sanchez. “It’s all about getting people to try something without having to make any investment.”
All equipment – skates, helmets and pads – will be available onsite at Eastwood MetroPark free of charge.
And, with more than 330 miles of paved trail, the Miami Valley is an ideal venue for inline skating for beginners and experienced skaters alike.
Skating for Health
From improved balance and coordination to muscle building, this low-impact sport has many benefits.
“You’ll definitely notice a difference in your thighs and hamstrings and, when you first start out, you will feel it in your calves,” Darby said. “You also use your arms quite a bit for balance when you’re starting out. And skating also raises your heart rate.”
Calories burned while inline skating can match and, even, exceed, those tallied by runners over the same period of time. Skaters, however, don’t have to endure the jarring impact of running.
In the try-it event’s inaugural offering last year, participants ran the gamut from teens to senior citizens.
“There’s one skater I know who is 70 years old and I hope, someday, I am as fast as he is,” Darby said smiling. “He can maintain 20 miles per hour. It’s amazing.”
Skating for a Cause
While Darby is the first to admit that skating is fun, it has also evolved into a passion.
After listening to a speaker talk about the Row for Freedom event and the horrors of human trafficking, Darby decided to raise awareness and funds through skating.
“She said ‘you don’t have to row a boat, do whatever you’re good at,’” Darby said. “I was good at skating.”
Not long afterward, Darby out his skates and, now, hosts the Miles to Freedom event in Dayton, twice a year – May 30 and Oct. 3 in 2015. The event’s motto is “However you move, do it for freedom.”
Participants can skate, run, cycle or walk as little as 2.7 or as many as 27 miles. The distances – 2.7, 7.2 and 27 miles – were chosen because of the estimated 27,000,000 people trapped in human trafficking worldwide.
Last year’s event raised more than $7,000.
Try Inline Skating
When: April 21, 4-7 p.m.
Where: Eastwood MetroPark, 1385 Harshman Road, Dayton
What: Feel like a kid again while burning calories and enjoying the MetroParks paved paths. Inline skates, helmets and pads provide – adult sizes women’s 6-9 and men’s sizes 6-11 available.
More: Free and open toall ages; program is weather dependent.
Registration: requested, walk-ins welcome
Information: www.metroparks.org/
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