FIT CITY

Sole Sisters walk to stay in shape

Austin group knows African Americans are at higher risk for diabetes, heart disease and obesity.

By Pamela LeBlanc
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Monday, June 09, 2008

They call it the Monster, and it rises steeply and menacingly from the street across from Austin Community College's Eastview campus.

The Sole Sisters climb the daunting, grassy hill twice a week during their neighborhood fitness walks. Most of the Sole Sisters are African American and know they are at higher risk for diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity than others.

That's why Stacey Thompson Stover created the group in October. An associate professor at Eastview and associate director of the African American Cultural Center there, Stover wanted to encourage others in her community to improve their health. Seven or eight fellow faculty members decided they'd sweat it out with her, logging about 3 miles each time they went. They even entered the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in November, where some of the members completed their very first 5K.

"We all were doing a little something to stay in shape, but not too many of us were doing it regularly," Stover says.

On this day, the talk turns to upcoming summer plans and the current heat wave as they march down sidewalks and past a nearby football field. A car full of guys cat call as they pass. The women giggle.

"We stuck with it because we're all big on health," says Tommie Acree, a cashier at the campus who also runs a fitness boot camp.

The Sole Sisters are aware of health disparities among black Americans and want to encourage others to physically move more. Together, they are proving that it's easy to get in shape a little at a time. "You don't have to run a marathon or stop eating beef," Stover says.

They also support research on breast cancer, AIDS and diabetes. Several times a year, they register for a charity run or walk. On Saturday, they'll do the Sugar Run, organized to remind people that exercise and diet can fend off diabetes, and to encourage an overall healthy lifestyle among black people.

The African American community hasn't emphasized that enough, says Sole Sister Pam Jones.

"There are some of us who want to be healthy and lose weight, but we grew up eating," Jones says. "We'd get together and have big eating functions. Now in my family we get fruit trays and vegetable trays. We still eat, but we eat healthy. We know we have diabetes and things that affect us a little more."

Teresa Newby, who works in the Admissions and Records Department at Eastview, agrees. "Growing up, my parents didn't know what eating healthy was," she says. "Everything was fried, and we had four starches on the plate."

The Sole Sisters take the stairs at work and think twice before heading to vending machines. They bring their lunches to work. When one of them misses a group walk, the others drop by or e-mail to find out why.

"It's contagious," Stover says.

African Americans don't have control over such issues as discrimination, Stover says. "But we do have control over our health." To that end, they can empower themselves through exercise. The Sole Sisters' goal is not to whittle pounds — although that's a nice side benefit — but to live longer, healthier lives.

"Fit, not skinny," Stover says.

ACC students sometimes spot the group walking around the neighborhood. That's good, because setting an example is important, they say.

"I love the fact that we're educators — not just in subject areas but in terms of lifestyle," says Hazel Ward, dean of communications at Eastview.

During the summer, when some of the Sole Sisters aren't working on campus, some members exercise on their own. But come fall, the group's ranks will swell again, and they'll be back at it, motivating one another and laying on a little guilt if someone skips a walk.

"It's so much easier in numbers," Stover says.

Claude Wright, an assessment coordinator at ACC and currently the only male member of the Sole Sisters, knows that's right.

"This hill right here? First time I did it, whew!" he says, waving a hand at the Monster. He has diabetes and other health issues, and walking with the Sole Sisters boosts his energy, he says.

From the top of the Monster, the Sole Sisters get a broad view of the city. "It's like Rocky all over again," Stover says.

From here, they can see how far they have to go. They can also see how far they've come.

pleblanc@statesman.com; 445-3994

5K Sugar Run/Walk on Saturday, June 14

The 5K Sugar Run/Walk starts at 9 a.m. Saturday at Yellow Jacket Stadium, 1169 Hargrave St. A health fair hosted by the City of Austin African American Quality of Life Health Initiative will follow. Proceeds benefit the East Austin Youth Foundation and the Alliance for African American Health in Central Texas. Registration is $15 for adults or $5 for children 12 and younger, and is available online at www.thesugarrun.com or from 7 to 8:30 a.m. race day at the stadium. Event ambassador is University of Texas women's track coach Beverly Kearney.