2010 Spring GUWellness Walking Challenge: Move More!: GUWellness: Mind, Body, Soul

Welcome Walkers! It’s time for the 2010 GUWellness Walking Challenge. This year's Challenge will run from June 1-30, and all faculty and staff are encouraged to participate. Each week prizes will be awarded to the top walkers and movers. 

More about The Challenge:

• What is it?
• How can I participate?
• I participated last year, what do I need to do now?
• Bonus Points?!  What are they and how do I get credit for them?
• Prizes!
• Walking Challenge Resource Center
• Walking Challenge FAQs^new

What is it?

• A month long walking challenge in which teams and individuals compete for weekly prizes while increasing physical activity.
   
• Participants will track activity and daily steps by logging on to the American Heart Association’s tracking website, http://startwalkingnow.org. You can use your own pedometer to track steps, pick up a free one, or purchase an "upgraded" pedometer at the May 27th Kick Off Event, 12 - 1 p.m., Copley Lawn.
   
• To encourage widespread participation, including beginners, the number of steps (as logged at http://startwalkingnow.org)  that count towards prizes are limited to 15,000  steps a day averaged over the course of the week. Bonus points will be awarded for structured activities offered throughout the Challenge. 
  

How can I participate?

• Participants can compete as an individual and as part of a team. Teams should have no fewer than three members. Teams must all register under the same team name on the Start website (see below*). 
   
• Get registered in four easy steps:
  
  
  1. Go to http://startwalkingnow.org
  2. Click on Register in the upper right corner of the screen
  3. Complete the form; enter "Georgetown University" under "Company"; if you're part of a team enter your team name under "Dept/Team"; under Preferences select the box that allows your Employer to access your name, team, activity.
  4. If you need to make any changes, you can go to MyStart Tracker and select "Edit My Info."  For example, you can go back in and add Georgetown University as your employer, update your Team Name or click on "Share Info"  (this enters you into the Challenge and allows us to track your step totals)

*If you are on a team, indicate the team name under “Dept/Team” on the registration site to be sure that your steps are added to the team total. Make sure to enter Georgetown University as your employer in order to be eligible for prizes.   Need to download a registration cheat sheet?  Click here.

• Come to the Walking Challenge Kickoff Event on Thursday, May 27, from 12- 1 p.m. on Copley Lawn. 
   
• Wear your pedometer all day, every day to track your steps.
• Also, record activities like yoga, biking, weightlifting, and jogging by indicating the intensity and time or distance (as applicable). The tracking system converts these activities into steps, which will add to your weekly and overall total.
• Record your daily activities at http://startwalkingnow.org
• To record bonus activities, go to go to wellness.georgetown.edu and click on “2010 Walking Challenge Bonus Point Log”

I participated last year, what do I need to do now?

• Log into http://startwalkingnow.org to check/update your information.
• Click on the “Tracker” tab.
• Underneath the “Tracker” tab, select “Edit My Info”.
• Contact Information and Team Name can be found under “Contact Info”.
• Make sure that Georgetown University is listed as your employer, or we have no way of seeing your steps for the challenge.
• To participate in the 2010 Challenge, click on “Share Info” tab*** and confirm that the box next to “Share Info: If checked, your employer will be able to see your name, email address, dept./team name, activities and progress. However, no one will see your health information (weight, height)” is checked.
_{***If this box is not checked, your information will not be recorded for the GUWellness Walking Challenge”.}
 

Bonus Points?!

• By logging on with you NetID, you will be able to report your Bonus activities through the Challenge web page.  
• Bonus Points of 2,000 steps will be awarded for attending GUWellness events, or organizing wellness activities, such as -

o Weekly Walk with Charles DeSantis
o Walking Bootcamp with Ed Ingebretsen
o Yoga
o Coordinate walks for your team  

Prizes!

• Each week the top ten individuals with the most steps/activity will be entered into a lottery to win prizes. Each week's "top ten" earn an extra 2500 points that go toward their team's final total.
   
• Grand Prize winners (both individual and team) will be announced at the conclusion of the Challenge.

Check out the Walking Challenge Resource Center for help converting distance into steps and tips for increasing your steps every day in small ways!