In the 10 years since its launch, the “Get Your Tail on the Trail” (GYTOT) program has shattered goals and gained national recognition, while galvanizing the Greater Lehigh Valley community around personal fitness and an appreciation of exercising in nature.

GYTOT is a partnership between St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN) and the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (D&L) that was initiated in 2013.

The geographical and historical alignment of SLUHN and the 165-mile D&L Trail corridor, which runs from Bristol, Bucks County, to Wilkes-Barre, makes the partnership a natural fit.

The GYTOT’s 2023 165 Challenge, which kicked off May 7, encourages members to accumulate 165 miles of exercise between May 1 and Nov. 12 to receive a virtual badge and a reward.

In addition to the challenges, program members can attend GYTOT community events, such as dog walks and beginner’s workshops.

GYTOT helps people of all ages and abilities meet their personal fitness goals and experience the outdoors. Individuals log the miles they accumulate during various activities, such as running, walking, biking and paddling, in the program’s web app.

In 2013, at its inception, organizers set a goal of having 250 participants in the GYTOT program. In the decade since, there have been more than 15,000 total 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, said Kathy Ramson, SLUHN Director of Community Health Clinical Operations.

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

“The education and outreach enabled by the GYTOT Program helps D&L and St. Luke’s promote the Healthy People 2030 recommendation for a minimum of 150 minutes of exercise per week,” said Ramson.

In 2022, St. Luke’s received the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society’s (PRPS) Community Champion Award for its community partnership program, “Get Your Tail on the Trail.”

In 2015, the program received national recognition when it received the Trails for Health Award from American Trails in Oregon.

Information: https://tailonthetrail.org/