Writer / Megan Jefferson
In 2016 the national state health index study ranked Indiana No. 50. This statistic showed that people living in Indiana were the least healthy out of everyone in the United States. Ryan Striebel and Jeremy McGrew wanted to take action and help Hoosiers make positive changes.
“We know how hard people here work, we believe we can inspire them to work toward health goals, and we can eventually be ranked No. 1 on our country’s health index,” Striebel says.
To help people meet their goals, Striebel and McGrew started Indy Fitness Mag (IFM).
IFM is an online resource that hopes to grow the local fitness economy by educating its readers, connecting them with local fitness professionals and providing both groups with powerful tools and resources to grow.
IFM provides a wide spectrum of information. Posts include topics like how to eat and prepare healthy food, how to use the right technique during workouts, how to lose weight, how to build muscle and how to enhance different areas of one’s body. There are also inspirational stories from around the city of Indianapolis.
“It is our responsibility to continue to provide our readers and partners with influential tools and resources that help to apply this knowledge. We promise to continually do that, and to hold ourselves accountable to our community,” Striebel says.
IFM is run by a team of five men who work full time as well. It is a labor of love. Their slogan “Last to first” has inspired them to create IFM’s first event – The Kettle Run 5k, “The most fun run.” The April 28 event will take place 1-5 p.m. and is sponsored by Ketel One.
The start of the race will be held at Healthspot on the corner of Keystone and Broad Ripple Avenue. There will be a fun run and 5K event. The fun run is a one mile run straight down Broad Ripple Avenue, ending with a celebration for 21 and older with two drink tickets included. The 5k will travel through Broad Ripple and incorporate one mile on the Monon trail.
Indy Fitness Magazine is determined to always be giving back to the community as well. They are proud of their philanthropic work and will continue to “pay it forward” as one of their core principles. A large portion of the proceeds from the Ketel Run 5k will be donated to the PataChou Foundation. This mission prepares and serves healthy meals to children impacted by homelessness and hunger and increases their awareness, connection and excitement about the whole food they are eating.
Striebel wants people to remember, “Indy has a legitimate opportunity to climb the ladder of the health index. We think we have the spirit and work ethic to improve our ranking and our lives.”
You can register for the event at ifmrun.com. Ticket prices are $35 and there is an early bird special for $30.
You can find IFM online at indyfitnessmag.com and on Facebook and Instagram as @indyfitnessmag.
