(Editor's Notes by Christina Myer - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

Gov. Patrick Morrisey is encouraging West Virginians to incorporate a Mountaineer Mile into each day — a little exercise for what U.S. News and World Report calls the most obese state in the country. It’s a great idea. Get out and walk or jog for a bit every day in this beautiful state where too many of us are not only sedentary, but spend most of our time indoors.

But why stop at a mile?

Why not, for example, work toward two … or a little more than 13?

After all, if you start training for the News and Sentinel Two-Mile Race or Half Marathon now, who knows what you could accomplish? For most people, the hardest part is taking the first step.

My pace in last year’s half marathon was an average of 15 minutes, 25 seconds per mile. That works out to maintaining a not-quite 3.9 mph pace for 13.11 miles. I’ve been faster and I’ve been slower — but my goal every year is to finish before they close the course. This year, I believe I made it with about ten minutes to spare.

To participate in a Walt Disney World race weekend event, you have to be able to prove you can maintain a 16-minute mile. I love Disney races, but again, I’m not in it to win anything. I’m in it to finish and be part of a fun experience. During my most recent attempt in Orlando, I maintained a not-quite 3.7 mph pace for the half marathon — dressed as Camilla the chicken. (Costumes are encouraged at Disney races; and yes, once you make it past a certain point on the course you can relax and slow down a little knowing you won’t be swept).

Maybe you’re more competitive than I am. Maybe you’re thinking you can do this and you can do it much faster than the times I’m mentioning. Good! I bet you’re right.

Now do it.

Whether it be the Mountaineer Mile or training for the News and Sentinel (or some other) Half Marathon, get out there and start moving. It may feel rough at first, but you will be surprised at what your body can do.

Listen to it, though. If it’s telling you to try different shoes, knee support or different stretches before you begin, do those things. And a word of caution to those of you who blaze through two miles on the treadmill, but haven’t gotten in a lot of pavement time. If you do want to push yourself with the Two-Mile Race, get in that practice outdoors. Your legs will thank you.

For me, the training season begins in earnest this weekend, when I’ll be trying to get in my first 13 miles since January. I expect it to take me quite a while, but that’s OK. Once that first try is under my belt, all I have to do is get faster.

Your method doesn’t have to match my madness. You don’t have to dress as a chicken, and you don’t have to get out the stopwatch at first. If you’ve not been getting any real exercise at all, you don’t even have to start out with a mile a day. But you owe it to yourself to try.

Christina Myer is executive editor of The Parkersburg News and Sentinel. She can be reached via e-mail at cmyer@newsandsentinel.com