Submitted by: HRS
Purpose: Prepare faculty and staff members to feel ready to take on a 5k race
Duration: Any time of year that is good to be outside and prepare for a 5k race
Details: As part of our Fall wellness activities, our committee decided to put on a 5k as one of our wellness challenges and felt to include students and immediate family with the challenge as well. The committee also put together a step challenge. However, the two events were far apart. After reviewing the two events, it was determined that the step challenge would be better utilized as a preparatory event to the 5k.
“Step Up the Y” was established as the third annual HRS step challenge. We kicked it off by having our Wellness Department help with a presentation on cardio, strength, and some stretching exercises, emphasizing that we have a 5k at the end of the step challenge. The step challenge puts department against department and while it totals out steps, the average steps taken per department are what matter. So, whether a department has only one participant or a dozen, the average steps taken are considered and the highest average by the end wins.
As mentioned above, the point of the Step Up the Y challenge is to not only get people moving, but get them better prepared for the 5k at the end of October. It should be mentioned that step increments earn participants points. Running/participating in the 5k (participants can run/walk/time/serve refreshments/help with the water station/etc.) also earns participants points. The overall winner of both challenges will have earned the highest total number of points from the step challenge and the 5k. In other words, winning the step challenge does not necessarily mean that a participant will win overall, nor will the winner of the 5k necessarily be the overall winner. We want to have all participants feel that they have an equal chance.
Outcomes: Help faculty and staff members get moving and feel that they can accomplish a big race like a 5k!