Special Olympics NC Athlete Virtual Torch Run Challenge
Starting May 1, SONC athletes can join a unique opportunity to virtually run alongside local law enforcement as they participate in the Keep the Hope Virtual Torch Run. This FREE challenge is to see how many miles you can reach through physical activity in the months of May and June. Athletes who sign up will receive a Torch Run shirt. Can you get more miles than your local law enforcement?
- Track and record all of your miles from being physically active in the months of May and June. Use a step tracker, fitness watch, phone app or anything else you would like to track miles.
- You will record them on the challenge website after you sign up (see how to join the challenge below). You can also record your miles on this challenge tracker and email it to health@sonc.net on June 30.
- The miles you record can be from walking, running, riding bikes, training on stationary home fitness equipment – anything that gets you up and moving.
- See if you can get the most miles!
- This is FREE for athletes to join.
- Sign up on the Keep the Hope Virtual Torch Run site.
- Select the Special Olympics NC Athlete Challenge Event by clicking the “sign up” button.
- Complete the registration.
- Everyone who signs up will receive a Torch Run shirt.
- Athletes who can get 35 miles, by being physically active, in one week will receive a SONC water bottle.
- All those who can get 155 miles or more in the month of June will be announced on social media.
- Aim for getting about 35 miles a week (that is about 5 miles or 10,000 steps a day).
- If you do not have a step tracker to wear, try:
- Record your miles on this challenge tracker.
- Follow SONC Health Director, Ellen Fahey, on Strava & Garmin as she participates in the challenge.
- Post your miles on your social media throughout the challenge. Don’t forget to tag us! We love to see how everyone is doing!
Resources Athletes Can Use to Stay Active and Healthy At Home
Just because an athlete may not be able to practice doesn’t mean they can’t continue working on their fitness, nutrition and health at home. Below is a list of resources to help athletes, volunteers, family members and others continue to stay active and healthy while practices are cancelled. Please check back here as more will be added to this page as new resources come out over the next few days. (Last updated on May 28). Vea recursos en español.
- A course designed by Special Olympics North America to cover the basic information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) including: What is the coronavirus, what are the symptoms, how does it spread, and how you can protect yourself. This takes less than 30 minutes to complete and was created with the guidance of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. Access this course now!
- Easy-to-read COVID-19 Booklet: Written by and for people with developmental disabilities. Created by the Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC). Also, available in Spanish.
- Special Olympics COVID-19 FAQs
- Staying Fit at Home: A simple week–long calendar that athletes can follow to stay fit. This week–long calendar can be repeated as needed.
- Fit 5 Guide: A guide based on the three simple goals of exercising 5 days per week, eating 5 total fruits and vegetables per day and drinking 5 water bottles of water.
- Fit 5 Fitness Cards & Videos: These Fitness Cards & Videos offer exercises to challenge all abilities. The Fitness Cards exercises can be done at practice, at the gym, or even at home.
- Fitness & Nutrition Tracker: Challenge your athletes to set daily goals of staying active and making healthy choices. A six-week digital tracker can be found here.
- School of Strength (NEW): School of Strength is an interactive online platform that encourages athletes to participate in a fun and engaging training program that they can do in the comfort of their own homes. Developed in partnership with WWE superstar Becky Lynch, this series of videos, a fitness tracker, a coach’s playbook and a caregiver toolkit all contribute to helping athletes focus on nutrition and fitness and getting the most out of their workouts.
- SONA Virtual Programming: This calendar of virtual Special Olympics programming happening around the country is accessible to all athletes.
- SONJ Yoga Cards: Created by SO New Jersey, this is a list of yoga poses you can try at home.
- How to Hand Wash: A step by step visual guide on how to properly wash your hands created by the World Health Organization.
- Proper Hand Washing Techniques: A video lead by a Special Olympics Health Messenger teaching you how to properly wash your hands.
- Stop the Spread of Germs: A visual showing how you can help stop germs from spreading created by the CDC.
This can be a confusing and stressful time. Here are ways to help the anxiety and stress you may be feeling.
- Self-Care Tips for Special Olympics Families: Tips from Special Olympics on how to care for yourself and your loved ones.
- Sleeping Tips: Tips to help those who may have a difficult time sleeping. Developed by the Special Olympics Strong Minds team.
- Techniques to Help with Stress: Special Olympics has developed a few tips to help manage emotions in stressful times. Take a second to try a few out!
- Tips to Help with Stress and Keep a Strong Mind: A Special Olympics graphic that shows six ways you can build a strong mind during stressful times.
- Yoga Guide (PDF): Created by Special Olympics, this is a list of yoga poses that you can try at home.
- SONJ Yoga Cards: Created by SO New Jersey, this is a list of yoga poses you can try at home.
- Family Flash Cards: Fun and engaging flashcards featuring each of the individual activities and at home equipment modifications for families to use at home to run Young Athletes.
- Young Athletes At Home: Guide for families and caregivers on how to run Young Athletes activities at home.
- Young Athletes Videos: Videos demonstrating the individual Young Athletes activities.
- Healthy Play at Home: Poster for families to track the various healthy behaviors they do at home.
- Find more Young Athletes resources at the new Special Olympics Young Athletes at Home website.
More information and resources on COVID-19
NC Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Special Olympics International – Frequently Asked Questions as COVID-19 relates to Special Olympics
NC Council on Developmental Disabilities
North Carolina High School Athletic Association Updates on Coronavirus
Updates on School Meals Availability During COVID-19 Closures in NC – From No Kid Hungry NC
Foodbank of Central & Eastern NC – COVID-19 Preparedness & Response
NC COVID-19 Disability Form – Form to help physicians provide you with proper medical treatment, in case you need to go to the hospital for COVID-19 related symptoms.
