March Steps Madness

When I think of March, two things come to mind:

First, the old saying, “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.” It means that the weather at the beginning of the month can still be a little…wild. But, by the end of the month, it’s a lot tamer. Maybe even warm and cuddly. And after a winter of snowfalls and frigid temperatures that led to so many snow days for my kid (and so many days on the treadmill for me), I am so ready for those lamb-like spring days. I’m ready for more outdoor walks that don’t require heavy layers and hats and gloves.

Second, March also makes me think of March Madness—the annual NCAA basketball championships that always kept my friends’ dads glued to the TV during spring break trips. This time of year, college hoops fans are working on their brackets and putting in their PTO requests, so they won’t miss a minute of the action.

So, for March, we’re combining the excitement of the coming of spring with the energy of March Madness into a walking challenge that will help you keep your momentum going all month long!

What Is March Steps Madness?

Because March Madness is all about the brackets, this month’s challenge is a bracket-style walking challenge to help you increase your daily step goal as you move from one round to the next.

As always, this month’s challenge is more about boosting your own activity level—and staying consistent—than about competing against others. But, since March Madness is also all about the competition, you could absolutely make this month’s challenge a competition. Get your friends, your family, or your walking buddies to join in—and see who can complete the entire challenge.

Just keep in mind that the end goal isn’t really beating your friends; it’s about building strength, endurance, and consistency.

How It Works

Each round lasts seven days. With each new round, your daily step goal increases. By giving each round a full week, you’ll have time to get used to those extra steps before adding more.

Any steps count toward the challenge! If the weather is more lamb-like, you can head outside and breathe in that fresh spring air. If not, you can hop on the treadmill, do some laps on an indoor track, or hit the mall. Anything goes!

I’ve got a suggested step count for each week, but this is your challenge—so feel free to increase or decrease the numbers, based on your current fitness levels.

Round 1: The Opening Round

5,000 steps per day

Walking 5,000 steps per day comes with so many health benefits. It can reduce stress and your risk of heart disease. And it just feels good to get up and move (especially on those lamb-like March days).

For this round, we’re just focusing on consistency. Don’t worry about how fast you’re going—and don’t try to push for more steps if you’re not ready. Just focus on showing up and moving every day.

Round 2: Sweet 16

6,000 steps per day

You’ve made it through the opening round. You’ve gotten used to moving every day. For our second round, we’re adding just 1,000 steps (or around a half mile) a day. This week, try parking a little farther away—or adding in a quick evening stroll to enjoy the coming of spring.

Round 3: Elite 8

7,500 steps per day

We’re making a bigger jump this week, adding another 1,500 daily steps. But we’re building habits—and endurance—this week. As you continue to add more steps to your daily total, you may find some creative ways to get more steps during the day. I also recommend fitting in one longer walk sometime this week. Take a look at the weather forecast, and pick a nice day to get outside—or, if it’s going to be miserable all week, plan a trip to the mall for a walk.

Round 4: Final Four

9,000 steps per day

At this point in the March Madness tournament, we’re doing to the best of the best—the teams that take on every challenge and fight their way through. And that’s where we are in our March Steps Madness, too. You’ve been building up your steps every week. You’ve taken the challenge and stuck with it. And while a lot of people would have given up by now, you’re still here, getting those steps.

This week, challenge yourself. Push yourself to walk a little more. But remember to listen to your body, too. If you need to take a break, take a break. If you need to break up your goal into smaller chunks, break it up. Just don’t give up. You’ve got this!

Championship Round

10,000 steps (or any big, outrageous goal) for one big day

You’ve been building up all month long. You’ve been increasing your step count. You’ve been staying consistent. Now give yourself one big goal for the day to show yourself how far you’ve come! It may be be one big walk (just pick a day when you have a little extra time). Or it can be a couple of different walks, to break it up a bit. But, whatever the case, once you finish, celebrate how far you’ve come this month! You may not get a trophy or a championship ring, but you deserve to be celebrated for your hard work and dedication!

Add a Little Extra Fun

Want to add a little extra excitement (and motivation) to this month’s challenge? Here are some ideas:

– End of round bonus: Once you complete a round, treat yourself! Pick up your favorite coffee at the end of the week. Take some time to sit and read a book. Or get some fun new walking gear (like some cushy socks or a fun hat).

– Mix it up with themes: Doing the same thing day after day can become monotonous. Keep things interesting with theme days. You can listen to a motivational podcast or book on Motivation Monday. You can go somewhere different on New Trail Tuesday. You can walk with a friend on Social Saturday. If you keep it fun, you’re more likely to keep it up!

– Track your progress: Use the image here or create your own to track your weekly goals and keep track of your weekly step totals. When you finish, you’ll be amazed by how far you’ve gone!

Ready to join the challenge? Start by choosing your goal for each round. I’ve offered some suggestions, but choose numbers that are best for you. Need to start a little easier—or push yourself more? That’s totally fine! Choose goals that work for your own personal journey. And feel free to adjust each week, too. If you set a goal of 5,000 steps for Round 1 and 6,000 for Round 2—but you find that you’re hitting 6,000 steps without even trying, bump up your goal (and pat yourself on the back)! Remember: this challenge is about consistency and growth—however that looks for you!

Be sure to share your progress throughout the month! Let us know how you’re doing by tagging Will Walk for Coffee and using hashtags #WillWalkForCoffeeChallenge and #MarchStepsMadness

Now get out there and take home the championship title!