So what is Mike like?

Add comment May 6th, 2008

Welcome to HealthyRockford.com.

Who would have guessed that taking a pass on the newsroom doughnut club could lead to a new job?

OK, there’s a little more to it than that, but my bosses here at the Register Star have assigned me to be the editor of and a writer for a new Web site called HealthyRockford.com. It’s a one-stop shop for medical, health and fitness, lifestyle and nutrition news for and about the people of the Rock River Valley.

I come into the job after 20 years writing everything from obits to politics on our news side and just short of another 19 covering local sports. I got interested in physical fitness in my early 30s after a photographer friend took what I call the “blue whale” family portrait.

I became a regular runner and weight lifter after that photo and, in 2000, stepped that up a notch and earned a personal trainer certification from what is now the National Exercise Trainers Association. I still maintain that and will be re-certifying this July.

 Since mid-March, we have been recruiting local experts — doctors, nurses, personal trainers, exercise physiologists, registered dietitians and others — to stock HealthyRockford.com with information you can use.

 When you visit HealthyRockford.com, you’ll find a searchable physician’s directory, health topics from Harvard Medical School, local and national health news and features, fitness tips, healthy recipes, a link to health-related careers and, soon, a calendar of health events in the community.

What you won’t find is a Web site that tries to take the place of appropriate visits to and conversation with your own physician.

So, welcome and enjoy.