I got home one night in the first week of the competition and was disappointed that I'd only done a bit over 8,500 steps for the day. I decided I wasn't going to bed until I had my 10,000 steps.
As I looked out my kitchen window the Story Bridge all brightly lit up, loomed in front of me and enticed me back to pavement pounding. I popped on my runners and walked across the bridge into the valley to my favourite Gellatti shop. After two scoops of “low fat' gellatti I walked back across the bridge and managed to do over 13,500 steps for the day ..... and the gellatti was a bonus.
Deb – Executive Officer, QLD Government Department
As the leader of my team, I’d like to commend all the members of the team for their effort over the past weeks. With an average age in excess of 45 we are remaining in the top 10 teams for the Department. If we were talking Horse Racing then on Handicap we’d be doing alright. We were challenged by other groups within our Work unit to participate, those challengers seem to have fallen by the way side.
I now leave my husband and children in the morning and walk to the train station. It is about 5 kms and I am challenging myself everyday to get there in a quicker time than the day before. I am really enjoying the exercise and feel a lot better for it. It used to take me 55min and now I am doing it in around about 40 mins.
Stephanie – Senior Supply Officer
Since the mychallenge begun, it has been a eye opener for me. Each week I look forward to reading the mychallenge weekly updates seeing where all the teams are placed, especially where our team is. I am always thinking of ways to increase my steps but at times I'm finding it hard. I have been doing more exercise and I certainly feel better inside and out for doing this. I now walk to the train station most days and I go for evening walks most nights. Our team still has a long way to go but we'll get their. Stay positive and you'll reach your goal.
Kirsty - Executive Support Officer, Technology
I am still updating my book each day – as our team have not got access to the internet it makes it hard for us to keep up to date, however as of yesterday afternoon 1/04/09 my total steps stand at 92,990 – not very much compared to other people but we are making an effort. If I hadn’t started this challenge I would have still been driving to work every day but since I started the car has never moved – I may as well sell it! After all, our team all live here on a small island where everything is in walking distance. Cheers
Alan – QLD Public Servant
I have noticed a difference in people here. When we are waiting for a lift people used to check their phones. Now they pace up and down in the lift foyer so they can build up their step count.
Michael – QLD Public Servant
One of our five teams have paddled their steps around QLD. The four land and water dragon boat training sessions per week have contributed to their mychallenge team maintaining places in the top 10. Two of them celebrated gold and silver success with their local dragon boat club at the recent State titles and look forward to replicating success at the Apr 09 National Titles.
We are working on rolling from the MyChallenge and doing the Relay For Life in Townsville 30-31 May. I don’t think it will be all of us, based on rough stats, we have around 50 staff in the office, the relay team is a 10-15 person team (of walkers/runners, which may include partners/families)
We do have some more people that are going to come and help us with tents, drinks, cheering etc, so we will possibly have approx 50% of people involved on the weekend.
To try to get my steps up for my team in this challenge I have been doing a walk to my letter box every day I am home. Probably doesn't sound like much but it's a half km walk to my letter box! I've started taking my dog for a walk around our yard a couple of times a weekend.
Again, it doesn't sound like much but my yard is 50 acres.
I organised for the fire wells to be opened between levels 8, 13 and 15 of our office so myself and other staff can use them instead of the lifts.
I work for the Project Services Office in Brisbane and I’m part of the mychallenge team.
By Saturday, I should reach the 1,000,000 steps as an individual. I’ve been averaging about 173,000 steps per week for the first 5 weeks. I’ve managed to do this by:
· Running 70-80 km per week at a reasonable pace and intensity.
· Yoga classes 3-4 days per week.
· Swimming twice a week.
· Regular ‘recovery’ walks at lunchtime.
I’ve just reached the grand old age of 50 and have really enjoyed the ‘My Challenge’ program. You and Ford Health are to be congratulated on getting this program up and running. It’s been received really well as evidenced by the number of teams participating. Some of the figures posted by the leading teams are incredible - to say the least!
Hopefully the ten weeks will set up many people to keep on doing exercise and realise how much more they can get out of every day for the rest of their lives.
As a member of the mychallenge Geriatrics team, I would like to nominate team member Bob. From day one Bob has been stepping out. In fact on day one Bob (59) walked from his home to work. As he lives at Bracken Ridge and works in central Brisbane he achieved 23,000 + steps prior to starting work on the first day of mychallenge, and that was by 8.00am.
Bob did not slow down. Bob walks and cycles regularly and his recent achievements include 10 days in New Zealand where he did bush walking, cycling and kayaking. He is currently away for four days doing a charity push bike ride of 100k/day on the Darling Downs. Bob is our oldest team member and a great example to his fellow Geriatrics team and the younger generation at the office.
I just wanted to say thank you to Ford Health for setting up Mychallenge. I have enjoyed the program and will continue to work on my fitness. I would love it if the web site is left in tact so that participants can still do their walk and track their own way around Queensland.
Once again, thank you.
| 
