In the 10 years since its launch, the “Get Your Tail on the Trail” program has surpassed goals and gained national recognition, while helping the Greater Lehigh Valley community with personal fitness and an appreciation of outdoor exercise.

The program is a partnership between St. Luke’s University Health Network and the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor that started in 2013 to combat the lack of physical activity that commonly plagues communities across the country.

The program helps people of all ages and abilities meet their personal fitness goals and experience the outdoors through day-to-day challenges, public events and the chance to earn prizes. Individuals log the miles they accumulate during various activities, such as running, walking, biking and paddling in the program’s web app.

In 2013, organizers set a goal of 250 participants in the program. In the decade since, there have been more than 15,000 participants who have traversed 4.6 million-plus miles.

The foundation of the collaboration is shared goals of fitness, improved health outcomes and community engagement, says Kathy Ramson, St. Luke’s Director of Community Health Clinical Operations. Plus, the close geographical and historical alignment of St. Luke’s and the 165-mile D&L Trail corridor - which runs from Bristol to Wilkes-Barre - makes the partnership a natural fit.

“We want to motivate and incentivize community members to become physically active while enjoying and reaping the benefits of exercising in nature,” Ramson says.

Community members can register for and participate in ongoing challenges. The program’s 2023 165 Challenge - which will kicked off on May 7 - encourages members to accumulate 165 miles of exercise between May 1 and Nov. 12 to earn a virtual badge and a reward. In addition to the challenges, program members can attend special program community events, such as dog walks and beginner’s workshops.

“The education and outreach enabled by the program helps D&L and St. Luke’s promote the Healthy People 2030 recommendation for a minimum of 150 minutes of exercise per week,” Ramson says. “Our partnership is aimed at creating those opportunities to improve lives and well-being, and education is key to enabling residents to take advantage of local free programs.”