Walking is one of my favorite activities. I’ve learned a lot as a walker, including the fact that you cannot exercise/walk your way out of a bad diet. I walked twenty to 25 miles a week and never lost a pound because I love food. If anything, I walked so that I wouldn’t gain weight, not to lose weight. In 2014, a friend, Schree Rawles, invited me to participate in 30 day challenge to log 2 miles a day consistently for 30 days. She directed me to a Facebook group, and even then, I still thought it was just a few friends from high school. The 30 RUNS IN 30 DAYS group is made up of people from all of the world who consistently log 2 miles or more every day for 30 days. The group’s founder Joshua Pressley, joins us today to speak about the group, their quarterly challenge, and why it works for a wide variety of folks
I asked Pressley how and why he started the group. He speaks about the recommended amount of daily exercise being 20 - 30 minutes. The average person can complete a mile in 15 - 20 minutes. The two-mile goal averages 30 minutes of movement. Pressley also and speaks about the adage that it takes 21 days to develop a habit. His thought was to combine the two needs in a 30-day challenge.
The quarterly Challenge takes place in February, May, August and October each year. I shared that every challenge starts with a large number of participants and the accountability list are shared on days 5, 10, 15 and 30. I asked Pressley if there has ever been a challenge where all those that started finished and he said “no.” Each challenge ends with fewer participants, often schedules or health challenges might interfere.
Each challenge ends with a t-shirt whose purchase supports a nonprofit entity. The great thing about the challenge is the folks who continue afterward in a separate group called 30 RUNS in 30 DAYS Strivers. While this groups doesn’t have the same type accountability it is a place to keep walking.
For more information about founder Joshua Pressley
To Join the 30 Runs in 30 Days Challenge