The Healthiest State Initiative and officials from Grand Blue Mile are again partnering to encourage Iowa communities to “Set the Pace” in 2018. The Set the Pace challenge encourages Iowans to develop sustainable, healthy habits throughout 2018 — starting with participating in Grand Blue Mile, the popular one-mile walk/run through downtown Des Moines on April 24. As part of the challenge, the community with the highest percentage of its residents participating in the event — measured by the number of registrants for a given ZIP code against its total population — will be awarded $10,000 to use on a project that promotes safe and accessible places in which to be active, such as a park, playground or trail. Last year’s Set the Pace winner, Urbandale, used its award for trail enhancements, including a play pod for Walnut Creek Regional Park. Youth and adult registration for the Grand Blue Mile is now open, with all proceeds supporting school-based wellness programs in association with Iowa Kidstrong and the historic Drake Relays. To register, click here.