I have to admit, I’m a bit envious of my friends who are participating in this weekend’s 500 Festival Mini Marathon. When we talked about it several months ago, I declined the offer to join the team. I’m sure I had too much going on, didn’t have enough time to devote to training – or simply didn’t feel like I could run the 13.1 miles. Now, I want to!
Lucky for me, there’s a cool new FitCity Challenge that I’ve decided to do: the 4,000 Steps A Day Challenge. FitCity is challenging Hoosiers to walk 4,000 steps a day from May 10 through May 16. If I can get in the 4,000 steps, I will have walked an entire mini-marathon by the end of the week. That’s 26,000 Steps! (2,000 steps = 1 mile)
As a FitCity Mom I feel compelled to take the challenge. Not only that, but I’ll be able to boast that I’ve walked the mini-marathon – with my daughter. Yep, rather than ask any friends to join me, I decided to ask my 7-year-old. She’s thrilled – and so am I.
We haven’t started yet, but here are a few early things that are motivating me to do this:
- Togetherness: We are both excited by the idea of doing this together. She told me this weekend that she’s excited to do walk with me because “there’s no way I’ll ever put on a swim hat and do a triathlon with you.”
- Curiosity: I’m actually curious as to whether or not I can actually walk 4,000 steps each day. Sure, I’m training for a triathlon, so on the days that I have to run I know I’ll log the miles. However, on my swim, bike and rest days, I’ll be interested in seeing how many steps I walk – and what I can do to get to 4,000 steps.
- Competition: I think we’re both driven by competition – and by the thrill of competing in something we haven’t done before. Bailey asked me yesterday if she was going to be the youngest person to ever win the FitCity Mini Marathon Challenge.
- Math: Ok, this one just came to me this morning when Bailey asked how many times she would have to walk around the house to get in 4,000 steps. I’m trying to figure out how to make this challenge a math problem too (why not exercise the mind while exercising the body).
I encourage you to join us as we walk our own Mini Marathon. For more information visit www.fitcityindy.org.
Tags: FitCity Challenge, mini marathon, running, walking
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Great idea! I might get pedometers for all my kids and see if we can all do it.
My daughter and I are doing it too! Sounds like a good post-Mother’s Day activity.
I really, really like this idea — I am going to have to see if they have something like this in our area.
I’m eager to get started. I know I log a lot of steps each day… and I have a good idea og how many steps I log with different daily activities. I’m going to push and see if I can get the 26,000 steps in 2 days!
My daughter is 5 and I’m going to see if she is interested. I remember the Children’s Museum handing out pedometers a couple of years ago- she was mildly interseted but too young to comprehend. Now, though, she sees me and my commitment to activity and this might be a really fun thing for her!
Jennifer & I will be at Broad Ripple Park from 2-4 on Saturday, handing out pedometers and getting people registered to participate!!
How did Bailey do with her steps? Did she beat you?