Stomping STEPcember Challenge and Scavenger Hunt

[Baltoscott]

Stomping STEPcember Challenge and Scavenger Hunt

Anything Goes August is almost over and it is time to start a new step challenge.  So here comes the STOMPING STEPCEMBER Step Challenge and Scavenger Hunt.  Yes, STOMPING because just like kids going back to school, we know it sucks that summer is over (in the Northern Hemisphere anyway), and that it sometimes helps to express your feelings with a stomp or two.

General monthly instructions are below, but we are also continuing the practice started last month of a picture scavenger hunt:  

Take your phone or other camera on your walks and look for, snap, and post three pics or more of the following: 

1 - the oldest structure in your area (of any type, oldest house, monument, school, whatever — tell us what it is and how old it is); 

2 - storm drain or manhole or other utility cover (keep your eyes pealed — there are some very artsy manholes in the world); 

3 - a wild animal.  (Going to the zoo is OK.  The animal need not be alive.  Statutes are OK.  If you use a stuffed animal, put it somewhere usual for the shot).  I found this guy in the DC hood ...

  

Although a picture of your dog/cat other pet won’t satisfy the scavenger hunt, post those anyway.  We love ‘em.                                                           

   
How It Works:

The primary purpose of these monthly challenges is to keep track of your daily step goals for the month; though many of us track other things as well, like body weight exercises, sleep, trips to the gym, logging food, etc. This is not a competition to see who can do the most of whatever, instead it is a challenge to measure your consistency. So whether you do 1k, 5k, 10k or even 40k steps a day, this is measuring how many days out of the monthly total you can hit your goal.

Some might have a constant goal of 10k steps every single day and others might have a variable goal throughout the week, (and some might even plan days off!) for example.
Monday -> Friday = 10k steps a day
Sat & Sun = “6k steps a day,” or “not tracking”

Regardless of how you structure your daily goals, the only thing that matters for the monthly challenge is whether or not you reach what you set out to do.

Suggested Posting Format.       
1) Post either your constant or variable step goal.
2) Keep track of the # of daily goals achieved out of the monthly minimum and or monthly total

Although you certainly don’t have to post daily, you’ll likely stay closer to what you set out to do by updating the thread several times/week

Injury Notice
If you injure yourself during the month and need to scale back due to the injury, then all you have to do is adjust your goal for that period. If you normally do 10k steps a day but pull a hamstring and decide to do minimal walking (2k steps a day), then all you have to do is change your goal.

[Baltoscott]

STEPtember 5

15K steps/day	5/30
50 Floors/day 20 times	5/20
1 pushup/day 2/30	5/30
14 non-weight gym days	1/14
9 weight-lifting days	3/9
post 3 scavenger hunt pics	1/3
Sleep 6+ hours 12 days or more during the month	2/12
Weight loss of 2-4 lbs (Sept 2 = 162.3 on TW)

I've lowered my weight-lifting days (originally 12) to 9 for this month.  I had not really counted the available days when I made my goals this month, or decided what I was going to do for my planned two weeks rest from weights starting next week.  I don't want to get out of the habit of going to the gym and I've now decided on some physical therapy-type exercises, some stretches, and some swims I'll do during the break, so I've added the category of "non-weight gym days." 

[Jotex]

Stomping STEPcember 5

20 x 13,000 steps — 3/20

20 x 40 jumping jacks — 3/20

3 x scavenger hunt photos — 1/3

BONUS *** getting to 20,000 steps — 0

[WendyB]

STEPtcember 5

Steps: Goal right now is 10000 5/30 This will increase as I go
Boxing 30 days: 5/30
Bike 2 times 30 days: 5/30
Weights 12 days: 2/30

Wall Push ups 30 days:  5/30
250 Steps per hour 4/30 

Lose 3 Pounds 0/3
Post Scavenger hunt photos 3/3

[CatLover74]

STEPtember 5

10,000 steps on at least 15 days of the month  -  3/15.

15,000 steps on at least 5 days of the month  -  0/5.

4 walks along the foreshore of my local beach  -  0/4.

7 hours sleep on at least 15 days of the month  -  4/15.

10 wall push ups on at least 20 days of the month  -  4/20.

Scavenger hunt pictures  -  2/3.

[SunsetRunner]

Day six of thirty stomps:

• At least 5000 steps every day: 6/30
• At least 7000 steps on two days each week: 0/8; 0/4
• By the end of the month, have the 28-day average at 7000 steps: Average = 6806 -> 6648 (Need to get this back up.)
• 2 km walk or longer - ten in the month (can include running): 0/10
• At least 6 hours of sleep on 20 days a month: 4/20.
• 3 scavenger pics: 0/3.

It's been pouring rain plus I didn't get enough sleep, so I figure another light day won't hurt 🙂

[NellyG]

 6 September

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                   5/20            

Swim 2x per week                                         2/2      2/8                             

Dance 6 hours a week                                  4.5/6     4.5/24                           

One Interval walk or bike ride per week     2/1     2/4

Post 3 Scavenger Hunt Pictures                  3/3    

The manholes around here really are pretty boring, but we have these tile mosaics in the sidewalks that are much more interesting!

[Jotex]

Stomping STEPcember 6

20 x 13,000 steps — 4/20

20 x 40 jumping jacks — 4/20

3 x scavenger hunt photos — 1/3

BONUS *** getting to 20,000 steps — 0

Nice mosaics @NellyG!

[WendyB]

STEPtcember 6

Steps: Goal right now is 10000 6/30 This will increase as I go
Boxing 30 days: 6/30
Bike 2 times 30 days: 6/30
Weights 12 days: 2/30

Wall Push ups 30 days:  6/30
250 Steps per hour 5/30 

Lose 3 Pounds .5/3
Post Scavenger hunt photos 3/3

@NellyGThose are pretty. Never seen ones like that before

[Baltoscott]

I like the mosaics @Nelly.  You find all kinds of interesting things when you look down.

[Baltoscott]

STEPtember 6

15K steps/day	6/30
50 Floors/day 20 times	6/20
1 pushup/day 2/30	6/30
14 non-weight gym days	2/14
9 weight-lifting days	3/9
post 3 scavenger hunt pics	1/3
Sleep 6+ hours 12 days or more during the month	2/12
Weight loss of 2-4 lbs (Sept 2 = 162.3 on TW)

[CatLover74]

STEPtember 6

10,000 steps on at least 15 days of the month  -  3/15.

15,000 steps on at least 5 days of the month  -  0/5.

4 walks along the foreshore of my local beach  -  0/4.

7 hours sleep on at least 15 days of the month  -  5/15.

10 wall push ups on at least 20 days of the month  -  4/20.

Scavenger hunt pictures  -  2/3.

Missed my step goal by 110 steps.  I've been laid low with a shocker of a headache since late yesterday afternoon.  If I'd only been able to keep myself out of bed for another 15 minutes, rather than being out for the night by 5:30pm, I may have got to my 10,000.

[SunsetRunner]

Day seven of thirty stomps:

• At least 5000 steps every day: 7/30
• At least 7000 steps on two days each week: 1/8; 0.5/4
• By the end of the month, have the 28-day average at 7000 steps: Average = 6806 -> 6601 (I've just realised this only goes to the previous day. It will increase 🙂)
• 2 km walk or longer - ten in the month (can include running): 1/10
• At least 6 hours of sleep on 20 days a month: 5/20.
• 3 scavenger pics: 0/3. - I've taken some to post over the weekend.

[SunsetRunner]

Here are the first of the scavenger photos. Pretty ordinary covers in our town, aren't they 🙂

[NellyG]

@SunsetRunner very similar to what we have around here, but yours look in better condition!

The Mosaics were added to the sidewalks maybe 7 or 8 years ago. They seem to relate tonthe buildings near them (eg religous theme near the church, a cup and saucer near a cafe) or are just random. I think one of the schools had the kids making them, then they were set into the paving when they repaved the city centre sidewalks. I think they have some other significance (maybe marking a historical trail or something similar, but I cant remember exactly what it was). I like them anyway!

10,000 steps a day for 20 days                  6/20            

Swim 2x per week                                         2/2      2/8                             

Dance 6 hours a week                                  6.5/6     6.5/24                           

One Interval walk or bike ride per week     2/1     2/4

Post 3 Scavenger Hunt Pictures                  3/3    

[SunsetRunner]

Our town is not very old @NellyG. It was built in the 1940s and 1950s for people constructing the local hydro scheme. I'm thinking about going to the local historical society to try to figure out which is the oldest building. The oldest community building still standing is probably the "mess hall" (as it was then), though it's changed a bit. The community centre is a couple of years newer but, as far as I know, hasn't been changed much, so I may opt for that.

I don't think we have anything to compare to your terrific mosaics. We do get some lovely views all around, though 🙂

[Heather-S]

Results as of STEPcember 6th:

• At least 10,000 steps every day: 6/30
• At least 15,000 steps three days each week: 4/12 | 1/4
• At least 20,000 steps one day per week: 0/4
• 3 scavenger pics: 0/3.
• Lose 2lbs: 0/2

Yesterday (the 6th), I woke up with a sore throat.  I also had two job interviews and it rained heavily in the late afternoon, so I was lucky to get my 10K steps by walking around the house and doing some housework, but I decided not to push it since I was feeling under the weather.  I made sure to have soup and load up on vitamin C and I feel better today.  The rain yesterday afternoon meant no dog walk with my husband.  I was going to walk the dogs this morning, but we had more rain.  

I think I'll probably go to the gym just to walk on the treadmill.  This dreary weather makes me want to sleep all day!  So I should head out to the gym in a little while to get some steps in because walking around my house or stepping in place in front of the TV gets boring.

[Jotex]

Stomping STEPcember 7

20 x 13,000 steps — 5/20

20 x 40 jumping jacks — 5/20

3 x scavenger hunt photos — 1/3

BONUS *** getting to 20,000 steps — 0

[WendyB]

STEPcember 7

Steps: Goal right now is 10000 6/30 This will increase as I go
Boxing 30 days: 7/30
Bike 2 times 30 days: 7/30
Weights 12 days: 3/30

Wall Push ups 30 days:  7/30
250 Steps per hour 6/30 

Lose 3 Pounds .5/3
Post Scavenger hunt photos 3/3

[WendyB]

I thought this theater would be older. But it was built in 1926

[CatLover74]

STEPtember 7

10,000 steps on at least 15 days of the month  -  3/15.

15,000 steps on at least 5 days of the month  -  0/5.

4 walks along the foreshore of my local beach  -  0/4.

7 hours sleep on at least 15 days of the month  -  6/15.

10 wall push ups on at least 20 days of the month  -  4/20.

Scavenger hunt pictures  -  2/3.