2012 in 2012

Earlier this week I wrote about how I was finding the idea of training for the MoonWalk quite daunting. I was worried about how I was going to get into a routine, how I was going to find time to train properly, and how I was going to focus my training to make sure I could do the MoonWalk in the suggested six hours as well as enjoy the event.  While I have taken part in events like this before my training as always been flawed, and I was really hoping that in 2012 I could be different – somehow rekindle some of that love and motivation for regular training that I had when I was a teenager and in my early 20s.

A friend of mine (@shellmoby) has come up with an interesting idea which will get me training now as well as keep me going even after the MoonWalk has finished. It comes from the Gold Challenge for which you have to “travel” 2012 km in time for the start of the Olympics in July this year. Michelle suggested a 2012 in 2012 version of the challenge, where I walk, run or cycle (etc) 2012 km between 1st January and 31st December 2012.

We did a bit of maths on the 2012 km and worked it out as 1250.5 miles in old money – which in turn works out as 24 miles a week or 3.42 miles a day (366 days this year don’t forget). I can currently walk 4 miles in an hour so this challenge would effectively be asking for one hour a day every day for the year. That’s a lot of hours, way more than I spend doing exercise at the moment.  But that’s the point right?

I like a challenge and was immediately very tempted. But I honestly doubt my ability to achieve it. It would certainly give me focus to my training for the MoonWalk, and would give me something to aim for during the whole year rather than just until May.  If the miles also have to be completed outdoors, adding another element of difficulty to the challenge, it will also help with my “get outdoors” resolution. This isn’t a small task. I would have no choice but to focus on this at the expense of other things (like being a slob).  Just what I need.

So…

My 2012 in 2012 Challenge

• I will do 2012 km in 2012 – 1250.2 miles.
• I will include miles I have walked, hiked, jogged or cycled. As many miles as possible should be completed outdoors to fit in with my “get outdoors” resolution. The gym is allowed though.
• I will include all “on purpose” activities. Wandering around town at lunch time won’t count, but cycling to work will (might encourage me to actually use my bike for work!).
• This is not a “distance a day” challenge but a “distance in a year” one. This means that I might do 50 miles one week (yea, right!) and none the next. But hopefully will mean I will continue to train all year.
• I will track my miles on RunKeeper (as I use this to track my exercise anyway). If I hike off road and use the OS Map app instead I will transfer that into RunKeeper afterwards in the interest of keeping all the miles in the same place.

So far in 2012 I’ve clocked up an appalling 8.22 miles (13.22 km) over on RunKeeper – that is the walk I did on Tuesday afternoon which sparked my The Enormity of the Challenge post and a walk yesterday when I got in from work. I have walked a fair bit in my lunch breaks, but I’ve agreed that wandering doesn’t count as it’s not exercise. I will have to remember to set the app going and march with purpose in my lunch break instead!  I’ve got an awful long way to go (literally) and guess I’m already way behind seeing as it’s a week into the year already, but I’m willing to give it a really good try.  Only 1998.78 km to go!

I’ll obviously keep you updated here and over on twitter with (hashtags #2012in2012 and #getoutdoors).

Thanks Michelle for the idea – I hope I can write some success stories about how well it’s going and one eventually saying I’ve done it!  Anyone else want in on the challenge?

Right… I’m off out for a walk!

Oh, and if you’re feeling generous and would like to sponsor me to do the Walk the Walk London MoonWalk (which may well help motivate my training!!) please visit my fundraising page.  Thank you.