Kia ora koutou,
The Library has entered a team into the 10,000 steps challenge again this year. You may remember last year when we recorded our steps over a six-week period and managed to come out on top of the leader board for UC, narrowly beating the UC Pasifika team. I invite you to join the effort this year, where you can record your steps or other activity towards the goal of 10,000 steps a day.
What is the 10,000 steps challenge?
10,000 steps is an Australasian University Health Challenge, which encourages NZ and Australian universities to compete in tracking physical activity over a period of 6 weeks. This year the competition runs Aug 31 – Oct 11, with 18 universities entered (6 NZ teams). The goal is to complete 10,000 steps each day for the six week period. It sounds daunting, but it is surprising how quickly steps add up over a day as you walk around the workplace, up and down stairs, and around campus.
What if I can’t do that many steps per day?
It doesn’t matter! All steps are useful for health benefits and for increasing our total. Some days will be filled with more steps than other days.
How do I count my steps?
- Fit-Bits, Garmin products, or similar fitness trackers
- Smart watches
- Your Smartphone
Find the device that suits your lifestyle best before the event launch on August 31. If you want you can also download the 10,000 steps app to help upload your steps via your mobile device.
Where do I sign up?
- Using Firefox or MS Edge, go to the 10,000 steps website: https://www.10000steps.org.au/ and click sign up using your UC email (or log in if you participated last year)
- Follow the instructions (if you were on last year’s team click previous participant)
- Join UC’s team
- Bookmark the webpage so you can find it easily
- Let me know you’ve joined and I will add you to the Library team
- From Aug 31 to Oct 11 track your steps using the dashboard on the web – use the + on the dashboard.
NOTE: There is a section for health goals asking for body measurements, which I found very off-putting! This section is entirely optional and private.
We only have a week before the competition starts, so enter now! I will be in touch with more details about daily walks and other activities soon.
If you need help signing up, or have any questions, let me know: extension 93882, or sara.roberts@canterbury.ac.nz
The UC Rec Centre has a website with resources available here: https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/ucreccentre/uc-recsport-app/rec–sport-challenges/10000-steps-challenge-2020/