Step Challenge
Sign up today and join colleagues across the University challenging themselves to get out, get active and move more!
The step challenge runs from Monday 30 January – Sunday 5 February 2023 and is available for all University staff and PGR students. Those registering will be randomly assigned to a team of six colleagues, competing against other participating groups to cover the furthest distance/accumulate the most steps in a week. We are committed to making the step challenge inclusive. People of all abilities are welcome and there are alternative methods to measure and track movement.
How the Step Challenge works
- Following registration you will be invited to join the lively Step Challenge Teams channel.
- Once you have been allocated to your group, decide what your team name will be.
- The challenge begins on Monday 30 January at 00:00. From that point onward, team members will log their steps/distance in our challenge form throughout the week. We encourage you to submit a daily total of steps/distance covered at the end of each day.
- Throughout the week participants can upload their challenge selfies, photos and words of encouragement to others on the Teams channel.
- The challenge finishes on Sunday 5 February at 23.59. The team accumulating the most steps/covering the furthest distance overall wins the challenge. The winners will be revealed on Monday 6 February.
The benefits of taking part
- At a time of year when it can be difficult to motivate yourself to get outside in the cold and dark, this is a great opportunity to meet people and find encouragement from your teammates as you work towards your activity goals.
- Improve your health and wellbeing – regular physical activity is associated with numerous health benefits such as improved cardiovascular health, immune function, mood and energy.
- Contribute to your weekly activity levels recommended by the NHS.
Measuring your steps/distance
Most smartphones have an inbuilt fitness app that will measure your steps/calculate your distance when you are carrying your device, for example Health (iOS only) and Google Fit (iOS and Android).
The following apps, available on iOS and Android, are also free to download:
- Pacer: step counter and distance tracker
- Fitbit: step counter (you do not need a Fitbit device to use the Fitbit app)
- MapMyWalk: tracks your journey and displays your route on a map. Records various stats including step count and distance
- StepsApp: step counter, records wheelchair pushes when paired with an Apple watch
If you do not have access to technology that supports any of the above apps, you can use the desktop Google Map Pedometer to record your route which will then be calcuated into distance.
Earn bonus points
There are bonuses available to keep you motivated and get your team to the finish line. There are 3 photo categories where you can earn extra points:
- Photo of a spring flower
- Photo of an animal/wildlife
- Photo of a stone architectural feature (buildings, bridges, churches etc)
3000 steps will be awarded to the winner of best photo in each category, 2000 steps will be awarded for second place in each photo category, and 1000 steps will be awarded for third place in each photo category.
Register your interest
Sign up by completing our short online form. The deadline to register is 5:00pm on Thursday 26 January.
Contact us
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us:
Greg Hull | Health and Wellbeing Officer | g.d.hull@leeds.ac.uk
Rosanna Pinder | Health and Wellbeing Co-ordinator | r.r.pinder@leeds.ac.uk