Last week, CVCA finished up its second annual fitness challenge. The goal this year was to walk 50,000 steps/week for eight weeks (or you would still win if you accumulated 400,000 steps). Roughly speaking, 10,000 steps is about 5-6 miles (of walking). CVCA gave everyone that participated a pedometer and let the steps come fast and furious. If you reached the goal, you could choose to get $100 toward your HSA (Health Savings Account), or you could get a $75 gift certificate to your choice of several area stores or malls.

I participated again this year. It does not require me to change my habits to reach the goal. My job has me walking 4,000-10,000 steps/day, and then I run another 3.7 miles/day (about 7400 steps by an allowed 2000 steps/mile conversion for running). So, I managed to avoid injury and sickness during the eight weeks and managed to rack up about 580,000 steps.

Last year when I made goal, I was responsible and choose the $100 toward my HSA. Not this year! Since Mer and I are limited to going out only when we have gift certificates, I’m choosing the $75 gift certificate to Chapel Hill Mall, where there is a Ruby Tuesday and a food court that includes a Dairy Queen. There is a certain wonderful irony in walking the equivalent of 300 miles in order to get the means to eat out. Date nights will be coming soon!