How does this look exercise challenge?

[ronandannette]

The OP clearly says 32 miles a day.

It was in the context of the points count when she was calling the points "miles". If you look at the system she's laid out, it would be possible to log 32 "miles" (or points) per day if you did two hours rigorous working out in the gym (15 points/miles per hour) and walked two actual miles or ran a half an actual mile.

 

[focusondisney]

It was in the context of the points count when she was calling the points "miles". If you look at the system she's laid out, it would be possible to log 32 "miles" (or points) per day if you did two hours rigorous working out in the gym (15 points/miles per hour) and walked two actual miles or ran a half an actual mile.

Thanks for explaining the logic. So 8 hours of work; plus some commute time; 2 hours of rigorous working out; another half hour or more of walking; in addition to taking care of their own families & personal business. Every day, for a month because someone at work issued a challenge? I still think most people will be laughing & not participating.

 

[ronandannette]

Thanks for explaining the logic. So 8 hours of work; plus some commute time; 2 hours of rigorous working out; another half hour or more of walking; in addition to taking care of their own families & personal business. Every day, for a month because someone at work issued a challenge? I still think most people will be laughing & not participating.

I sure would. I'm still a little baffled at what this project is trying to achieve. I don't think there's a snowball's chance that anyone who isn't already prioritizing fitness would be motivated to try this weird and waaaaaay overly ambitious scheme.

 

[disneychrista]

If you are trying to motivate those who are not currently exercising a realistic goal might be 30 minutes (of their choice) 3 times a week. Anything over that would be a nonstarter for most people.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

What the OP proposes sounds like a crossfit type thing meaning just rearing right out of the gate and is targeted towards hard core exercisers really. People just started out would look at it as a overly complicated too much at once and give up before they've even started.

Looking at the OP's posts they said they are addicted to exercise (they have a thread they created about it), love their peloton but they also came from an exercising history (just not as much) in their past. This explains their comments related to it not being hard; they've forgotten how it is for people not presently exercising or those who are not in that high gear.

I get the impression the OP is probably excited about the peloton and all and I think they more just want to engage with people who are just as much into higher types of exercising. I don't think suggesting a challenge at work is really appropriate any more after looking into things further.

OP just ask if anyone at work is into exercising a lot and get with them, create a buddy group where y'all can talk shop, compare, do whatever without bringing in other employees who aren't into it. You sound excited that you're able to do a lot of exercise but most people can't, don't want to, or have their own things going on that are at that high of a level.

 

[monsterkitty]

Thanks for explaining the logic. So 8 hours of work; plus some commute time; 2 hours of rigorous working out; another half hour or more of walking; in addition to taking care of their own families & personal business. Every day, for a month because someone at work issued a challenge? I still think most people will be laughing & not participating.

That was what my day was like when I was training for full Ironman races. I was at school from 6:30-4:15. While DH drove us home, I would eat a sandwich in the car. I would change and then go train. Looking back at this week in 2015, just my Tuesday was this:

4,500 meter swim (swim time was 1:15 but total time in the pool with rests was probably 1:45).
Shower, change, drive home and get on my bike on the trainer for an hour bike
30 min core.

I usually ate dinner around 9 while I grade papers.

Very few people in a work place will do this. I didn't the challenges the second year because my training schedule was way more than anyone else and it wasn't fair to them. No sane person would work all day, commute, take care of family, and also train 3 hours every night. That doesn't include long runs, swims, and 5 hour bikes I did on the weekends.

OP, keep it easy. Let people decide what they want to do and go on minutes, not distance. I can tell you swimming 2 miles takes a lot more time and energy than running 2 miles. Reward for time.

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

Honestly, perhaps you aren't the best person to organize this challenge if you are this defensive already. If the goal is just to motivate people to move, this isn't the way. And while you continue to state that walking isn't the only option, for a lot of people that's the most convenient and accessible form of daily exercise. I don't belong to a gym. I don't run. But if there was a reasonable walking challenge at work I would participate. Fitness superstars don't need your "awards" to encourage movement. They have already prioritized it in their life. I'd bail on this "challenge" immediately and roll my eyes at whoever thought it up.

 

[goofytinkerbell]

1

 

[AaronB]

My workplace did challenges like this, and quickly learned you cannot do anything that gives awards for someone with the most hours/points. You either had people straight out cheating, with ridiculous amounts of miles/points, or the conversion of different activities made no sense. For example, during one myself and couple colleagues were training for a marathon, doing 40-50 miles of running a week, and somehow people doing a few 45 minute bike rides or elliptical sessions were ahead of us.

The only one that our workplace found that worked was to set a weekly goal, a popular guideline was something like 150-200 minutes of moderate exercise per week (usually meaning a brisk walk or greater level of effort for anyone between 18-64). If you hit that goal, you were put in a drawing for the week for a prize (like a $10 gift card or something). For people like me, who already worked out, we had a chance at a prize; and, for others it set the motivation to be active and get into the drawing.

Ultimately, don't over complicate it with what activity does what, or these miles equal this and those miles equal that. People will just get frustrated and not bother. The important part is just getting people to be active, however they can get it done.