Rachel Lowe is an inspiration.

In eight weeks’ time, she went from sedentary to whirlwind and kept right on going.

Last year, Lowe joined the YMCA’s Couch to 5K club and started training with other novice runners, with the goal of participating in the annual Y Fit Fest.

She completed that event, and has kept right on running.

Lowe, who lives in Auburn with her husband, Michael Bigos, and sons Harry and Nathaniel, has made fitness a family affair. The entire family participated in Saturday’s Y Fit Fest, and Lowe and Bigos run together once a week. Believe it or not, that weekly run is their “date night.”

And why not? What better way to say you love someone than to take care of yourself so you can live a full and healthy life?

“It’s almost like there’s this resurgence of people wanting to run again,” YMCA wellness director Tish Caldwell told the Sun Journal, “and people wanting to walk at what were running events.”

In most 5K events in Maine, walkers now join elite runners on the same courses with the same goal: finish.

Even the annual Beach to Beacon 10K, which features international competitors, draws hundreds of walkers who are happy to bring up the rear of the scenic course through Cape Elizabeth.

What’s interesting about the latest fitness craze is the number of fitness-themed fundraisers that appeal to the charitable-minded. The American Lung Association of Maine figured out the charity-fitness connection with its annual Trek Across Maine 26 years ago, and there are now dozens of events designed to get people moving and raise money at the same time.

Toward the end of this month, Museum L-A is hosting a new duathlon (a run/bike/run event); the Dempsey Challenge expanded to a two-day event after its inaugural year; several years ago, the Y Fit Fest, Emily’s Run and the annual Bridge Run joined to become the Greater L-A Triple Crown event, drawing more participants as one organization than the three could have separately.

The Norway triathlon at Lake Pennesseewassee benefits the Western Foothills Land Trust; Tri for a Cure is a cancer fundraiser; the Pirate Tri held at Point Sebago on Sunday raised money for Camp Sunshine; the Pineland Farms Trail Running Festival held Memorial Day weekend was a benefit for the Gray-New Gloucester Athletic Boosters. There are dozens of other events just like these in communities throughout Maine.

Lowe is among a new type of amateur athlete who likes to exercise in a group for a cause. Her fellow Couch to 5K participant Renee Courtemanche said it best: “If you make a commitment to a group or set a goal,” it’s hard to let your friends down, so people are more likely to follow through with their fitness plan.

While Lowe and Courtemanche see the fun in their fitness routines, routine fitness is more than mere fun. It’s a guaranteed way to reduce health costs and improve quality of life.

Fit people take fewer sick days, suffer fewer chronic diseases and enjoy lower health and life insurance costs. In fact, being fit is one of the leading ways to reduce personal health care costs.

The fact that Lewiston, Auburn and plenty of other Maine towns are enjoying a resurgence in fitness is good for Maine, with the potential to lower health care costs while increasing contributions for charities. It’s truly a win-win.

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 For listings of charitable fitness events in Maine, go to:

maineswimming.org

mainecyclingclub.com

mainetrackclub.com

trifind.com

Each of these sites will list contact information and people can help put you in touch with programs to help you get started.