History of the 100 Day Challenge

This all started with a gesture of kindness. While working an event in Key West, Florida in January of 2010 I managed to throw my back out. It was so bad that I ended up in two different emergency rooms trying to get some relief.

Months went by and the pain, while lessened, never truly went away. I could walk, some, but couldn’t run at all. It was the first time in nearly 20 years of running that I had an injury that prevented me from running.

In early May of 2010 I dislocated the cuboid  joint in my foot. I didn’t realize what I had done until September of 2010. Between the back pain and the dislocated joint my running fell off to zero and my walking wasn’t much better.

I needed to do something to get motivated. I knew that by making a public declaration I would be more inclined to stick with it so I challenged myself, and the folks who follow me on Facebook [Twitter wasn’t a factor then] to move intentionally for 30 minutes for the first 100 days of 2011. In no time thousands of people all over the world were taking the challenge.

One thing I learned right away was that I couldn’t run every day. I also learned that with my travel schedule it was going to be much easier to walk than run. So, my activity of choice became walking. And much to my surprise I discovered I really liked to walk.

I walked in the cities where I was working, I walked in the woods behind my house, I hiked with a backpack, I snowshoed, and more. I was moving, intentionally, at least 30 minutes every day. And so were lots of others.

On day 101 I woke up and knew what I had to do. I went for a walk. I walked the day after that and every day for the entire year. 365 days. No fudging. No excuses. No kidding.

Like so many others, circumstances intervened and I wasn’t able to complete another year in 2012. I did, however, train for and walk the VA Beach 1/2 marathon; the first race of that distance in which I had participated for over 5 years.

It can be done. I know it can because I’ve done it twice. And I’m going to do it again. I invite you to join me.