Lighten up!

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By Katie Vaughn | Saturday, March 10, 2007 1:26 AM CST | () comments

When you wake up Sunday — on time, if you’ve remembered to set your clocks ahead an hour — you’ll get to enjoy an hour more of daylight in the evening. And because of a change in the federal daylight-saving time law, the extra dose of sunshine comes three weeks early this year.

And that begs the question: What will you do with the extra time? The possibilities are numerous, but here are a handful of hour-long daylight activities that could improve your health, our community or simply your mood.

Go for a run

Paul Schmidt, president of the Cornbelt Running Club, can’t think of a reason not to use an extra hour of daylight to run or walk.

Running isn’t just simple, he said. It’s also the most efficient way to get a body in shape. Furthermore, running and walking are inexpensive. A good pair of running shoes — no gym membership or personal trainer necessary — is all that’s required, he said.

The Quad-Cities boasts miles of sidewalks and recreational trails suitable for running and walking. And Cornbelt offers free weekly running groups that take off from a variety of locations at a range of times, he said. Visit www.cornbelt.org on the Web for more information.

“We have a lot of disorganized organized training groups,” he said.

Need inspiration? The Quad-City Times Bix 7 and Quad-Cities Marathon are 140 and 197 days away, respectively. There’s still time to train!

Walk a dog

“Dogs, like us, get tired of being cooped up all winter,” said Pam Arndt, executive director of the Scott County Humane Society.

Taking your pooch for a walk provides exercise and fresh air for both of you, she added.

If you don’t have a dog of your own, consider volunteering at a shelter. After attending an orientation session, volunteers can socialize by playing with the dogs and taking them for walks, she said.

Play with a child

Step away from the TV — or computer or whatever machine occupies your children’s time — and head outdoors. Simply playing outside benefits both adults and kids, said Frank Klipsch IV, communications director for the Scott County Family Y.

“The best thing about playing outside is the playing in general,” he said.

Children experience a sense of freedom, learn healthy habits and develop confidence by spending time outdoors, he said. People of all ages are inundated by material items, he said, but being outside teaches them that most of what they need to be happy is right there.

So toss a ball around or play hide-and-seek. Even the simplest of activities builds relationships between adults and children, he said.

Clean up the environment

Just an hour of picking up trash can improve the look and health of the local environment.

Clear away litter from your yard, city streets or the riverfront — and recycle the discarded aluminum cans and glass and plastic bottles you find.

Dan McNeil, program manager for the environmental group River Action Inc., suggests pitching in along Wapello Avenue and Concord Street near the Nahant Marsh in western Davenport. A large organized cleanup is scheduled there May 5.

Or stop by the marsh on Saturday mornings and ask how you can help. The Friends of Nahant Marsh is always looking for more volunteers, secretary Sheri Colman said.

Ride a bike

Want to work out while soaking up local scenery? Look no further than your trusty bicycle, said Errol McCollum, past president of the Quad-Cities Bicycle Club.

Bicycling uses the body’s largest muscle groups at their largest ranges of motion, he said, and it’s a no-impact sport.

“It’s just a heck of a good exercise,” he said.

Commuters and recreational riders alike can take to the Quad-Cities’ extensive network of trails. But don’t overlook back roads, particularly the paved ones in Illinois, he said.

“Back roads are just lovely and there are miles of them,” he said.

Look at outdoor art

You don’t need to step inside a museum to see beautiful and thought-provoking art. Public outdoor sculpture and murals are scattered across the Quad-Cities.

“The amount of public art is ever-increasing in the Quad-Cities,” said Lori Roderick, vice director of programs at Quad-City Arts. “It can change your mood when you walk by a work of art.”

Concentrated clusters of artwork can be found in downtown Davenport and The District of Rock Island. Or head to Illiniwek Park in Hampton, Ill. You’ll see a limestone nature spiral, and you can check out displays inside the Heritage Center along the Mississippi River, Roderick said.

“There’s definitely an hour’s worth of things to do there,” she added.

Go birdwatching

A sure sign of spring coming is all the birds arriving in the Quad-Cities from their winter migration. You’ll start to see plenty of robins, wrens and bluebirds in the coming weeks, said Mark Graham, manager of Wild Birds Unlimited in Davenport.

“Besides your own backyard,” he recommends visiting Credit Island and Smith’s Island to glimpse birds.

But don’t forget the birdwatchers’ wintertime favorite: “Eagles are still around,” he said.

Practice yoga

The benefits of yoga are boundless, from relieving stress and pain to improving breathing, strength and flexibility, said Jeani Mackenzie, founder and director of the Davenport School of Yoga.

“And it helps you focus on the present,” she added.

Take a few sessions at a studio, then practice your downward-facing dog and warrior poses in other places. Your home, a deck or a park are all great choices, she suggested.

“Anyone can do it — any age, any body condition,” she added. “You can just do yoga anywhere.”

Grill a meal outside

Sure, you can grill your dinner outside most any time of the year. It’s just more enjoyable to do so in sunshine and warmer temperatures, said Mike Richards, owner of Golick’s Meat Market in Davenport.

Throw a T-bone, some ribs, chicken breasts or even vegetable kabobs on your outdoor grill. Practically anything you choose will taste better cooked this way than indoors, he said.

“The big thing you get is the flavor,” he said. “It’s just a better flavor outside.”

Play a round of disc golf

Disc golf has taken off in the Quad-Cities, said Scott Lund, a recreation programmer for the Moline Parks and Recreation Department.

It’s great exercise, he said, adding that players often walk about two miles during a one-hour game.

Players bring their own discs — typically a driver, mid-range and putter — to the grassy courses, he said. But playing is free at public parks, some of which supply maps and scorecards with game rules.

Try Prospect Park in Moline, Longview Park in Rock Island, Eastern Avenue Park in Davenport, and Devils Glen and Middle parks in Bettendorf.

“It’s simple, easy and fun,” Lund said. “And it’s free.”

Katie Vaughn can be contacted at (563) 383-2282 or kvaughn@qctimes.com.

SPRING WEATHER TOO!

Just in time for the time change comes a weather forecast for the best weekend of the year by far.

According to the National Weather Service office in Davenport, today will be partly cloudy with a high temperature near 50 degrees. Sunday — when daylight-saving time takes effect at 2 a.m. — and Monday should be about the same with highs in the lower 50s and upper 50s, respectively. And Tuesday should be the best of the best with more partly cloudy skies and a high in the lower 60s.