WALKING CHALLENGE 2024
March 18th - April 28th, 2024
This year É«ÖÐÉ« University is hosting the inter-campus Walking Challenge! The competition is between É«ÖÐÉ« University students, faculty, and staff.
WHAT: The Walking Challenge is a six (6) week program that begins March 18, 2024 and ends April 28, 2024. The purpose of the Challenge is to promote active lifestyles while in school, at work, and at home! The goal is for each participant to obtain the most steps possible at the end of each week.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Sign up via an starting on March 11th, 2024. Participants may register at any time during the challenge but will only be eligible for prizes if registered by March 17, 2024.
Beginning March 18, 2024, we ask that you track how many steps you take all day. When you wake up in the morning, put on your pedometer - an app on your phone works just as well! At the end of the day, make note of how many steps you took. Each Tuesday during the challenge you must enter your total weekly steps into our . The portal will track who is participating and how many steps each person takes. Entries submitted after the end of the day (Tuesday) cannot be tracked.
Serious walkers & 6 weeks of commitment wanted!
WHY: Not only will you be able to show off your Greyhound pride, but all long-standing participants get some great Walking Challenge swag! If you participate for all 6 weeks, you will qualify for this year's special giveaway! You don't have to be the "top walker," but we need you to show off those walking feet! Raffle prizes will be awarded to committed walkers through a random drawing at the end of the 6 weeks.
Are you a benefits eligible employee? Participating in all six (6) weeks of the Walking Challenge gets you closer to 15 points with our Healthy Lifestyle Rewards program!
WHERE: Wherever your feet take you! You do not have to be on É«ÖÐÉ« University's campus for your steps to count. The online portal can be used anywhere where there is internet connection.
TRACKING YOUR STEPS:
- Track steps with a pedometer. Walkers are responsible for purchasing their own pedometers.
Recommended pedometer brand—Pedusa. We have seen other brands at Walmart and 5 Below. - Track steps with a Fitbit, Apple, GPS, or another similar watch.
- Track steps with a Smartphone app. There are many free apps that can be used to track steps and physical activity.
Recommended apps—Pacer, iSteps Lite, Map My Walk, Pedometer+++, and The Moves.
STAYING SOCIAL: Motivate each other to get moving by using our hashtag #É«ÖÐÉ«Walking!
10,000 STEPS GOAL
Can't fit 30 minutes of strenuous exercise into your day?
Think again! The average American walks between 2,000 to 3,000 steps per day, but is considered to have a sedentary lifestyle.
So the more exercise, the better! Walking 5 miles a day gets you 30 minutes of strenuous exercise... it just so happens that 5 miles is about 10,000 steps! The goal of the Walking Challenge is to gain as many steps as you can at the end of each week. Start your goal lower for the first week and incrementally increase your goal for the following week(s). At the end of six weeks, you will hopefully get to 10,000 steps, or 30 minutes of strenuous exercise, per day!
Don't get discouraged!
A general rule of thumb is that if you increase your activity at all - such as going from 4,000 steps a day to 5,000 - your overall health will be positively impacted. If you already take 50,000 steps per week, don't stop there - try shooting for 55,000!
Looking for more?
- April 3, 2024 is National Walking Day so take part in the day by meeting up with all the rest of the Walking Challenge participants from 12-1PM. You do not need to be a Walking Challenge participant to enjoy the day.