FARMINGTON – Tom Eastler, professor of geology at University of Maine at Farmington, will be having a book signing of his newly published children’s book, “Racewalking! Fun?” (2009 Bedazzled, Inc.) at 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 13, at Devaney, Doak & Garrett Booksellers on Broadway in Farmington.
Eastler, a long-time supporter of the sport of racewalking, has written the fictional third-grade story with the hopes of informing young people, their families and teachers about the value of racewalking. The sport offers an opportunity for low impact, aerobic exercise that can promote lifelong, healthy exercise habits at a time when the national Center for Disease Control and Prevention expresses continued concern over national obesity rates in young people. Developed with the assistance of UMF faculty members and local educators, the book is also offering free access to curriculum lesson plans created by Mark Dennett, a UMF graduate.
The publication has recently caught the attention of school systems in south Texas that have expressed an interest in introducing the sport to their students. Pharr-San Juan-Alamo and Edinburg Independent Texas school districts have ordered books for 13,000 of their third, fourth and fifth graders, with continued interest from other districts in the state.
This January, these students will join other young athletes in the largest racewalk in Texas, an event held by the South Texas Walking Club, one of the largest race walking teams in the country.
Eastler was instrumental in helping to develop the racewalking program in the Maine high school outdoor track and field competition schedule. Begun in 1990, this program offers the only high school girls and boys racewalking teams in the U.S.
