Employees urged to get out and exercise today

It may be on the warm side, but Iowans are encouraged to get out of the office and get physical on this National Employee Health and Fitness Day. State employees in downtown Des Moines are taking 15-minute, one-mile walks around the capitol today. Lieutenant Governor Sally Pederson joined the first walk at 7:30 this morning while Governor Tom Vilsack plans to walk with the throng at 11:30 a-m. State fitness consultant Tim Lane hopes those who walk today will make it part of their daily routines.Lane says nothing is more important for the health of Iowans and the state’s financial bottom line than to encourage people to get physically active.Lane says more than 25-percent of Iowans are not physically active at all. He says it doesn’t take pain to experience gain, as just a daily walk can have tremendous health and financial benefits.