Week 3 – Health Challenge update!

It’s been an exciting three weeks of the Global Health Challenge. Teams have been competing for the top spot and we’ve seen so many rankings fluctuate, we are far from done! Let’s put these three weeks into perspective. Together, we’ve now taken more than 220 million steps – that’s the equivalent distance of 44% of the distance of Earth to the moon and just over four laps around the Earth!

But more than just a competition, it’s the spirit of camaraderie and wellbeing that is at the heart of the Challenge. We’ve seen teams comes together across the globe, colleagues continents-apart and never having met before – are now team members working towards a single goal…. to get as many steps as possible! Over the course of the Challenge, stayed tuned for stories of resilience, teamwork and cheer on your colleagues and post your stories and photographs here.

So, here’s a look at the current leaderboard.

This week we profile two of the teams currently in the top 5 in the leader board and get to know the team members better.

BENCH WARMERS – from Tahmoor, Australia, currently in first place.

Team Captain – James Supel, aka “Apparent Drill Sargent”

What I enjoyed about the challenge: being able to motivate and help my fellow colleagues in wanting to get active. The challenge itself is a good motivation tool as a team to push each other to become more active and get fit at the same time.

What are you doing to stay fit? Currently I am back doing my local bootcamp training once a week. My morning day consists of a run or a walk for 1 hour. I spend 1 to 1.5 hours on the cross trainer nearly every night followed by a walk.  

Bike riding with the family mainly me running or walking while they ride.

What are you getting out of the Challenge? The last couple of years I had put on some weight and prior to this challenge I started to get back into my training and now I am using this challenge as a tool to lose weight, become more healthy and active, and to encourage my team mates!

Jarrod Schodde:

What I enjoyed about the challenge:  I enjoy being part of a new team walk, and bond and learn new things about our team.

What you are doing for the Health Challenge: Walking with the family, guys at work and solo walks of an afternoon

What you are getting out of participating in the Challenge: improving my general fitness, getting out in thew sun and enjoying the outdoors with my family

Josh Reid:

What I enjoy about the challenge: Being motivated to exercise every morning/afternoon/evening being pushed by “Drill Sargent” and in-house competition with a colleague. By doing this I enjoy being healthier and enjoy doing this with my fellow comrades and family.

What you are doing for the Health Challenge: I’m doing a number of things, such as playing men’s competition tennis (div 1) and filling in for rep sides on regular basis and getting back into playing competitive basketball and swimming in the swim spa. On top of this, are walks with the family and friends around idyllic areas (Thirlmere lakes, Shell cove marina, Kiama, Sydney and Wollongong).

What you are getting out of participating in the Challenge: Becoming a fitter version of myself!

Hamish Vermeulen

What I enjoy about the challenge: Taking the time to mentally re-charge. No better feeling than being fit and healthy.  

What you are doing for the Health Challenge: Walking each afternoon with my work colleagues plus riding my ZWIFT indoor bike with people all around the world.

What you are getting out of participating in the Challenge: Creating a sustainable work/life balance and in turn improving my general well-being.

James Eke

What I enjoy about the challenge: Getting out and enjoying the sunshine

What you are doing for the Health Challenge: Walking the dog and exploring the escarpment

What you are getting out of participating in the Challenge: An improvement in overall wellbeing

From across the pond – we meet the FEET OF FURY – a team from Johnstown, USA, who are currently at an impressive fifth position in the leaderboard.

Feet of Fury include – Team Captain – Jared Griffith, Kerry Plows, Mike Lux, Jim Barber, Nick Teeter.

I am excited to be taking part in the Global Health Challenge this year.  I walk on a daily basis to help with arthritis to ease pain, participating in the Challenge gives me additional incentive to up my activity level.  

– Jared Griffith, team captain

I am participating in the Global Health Challenge because of how good I feel from the increased daily activity.

– Kerry Plows

I want to win in the US and improve on my numbers from last year.

– Mike Lux

Here’s a roundup of week 3 activity from around the world.