Completed 100 day journey - reflection on the Global Challenge

Phew! The Library Stampers have completed the 100 day Global Challenge so time to soak those aching feet in a big bowl of water and contemplate our achievements over a nice cuppa.

Collectively we covered 3,356 miles by walking, swimming or cycling and we arrived at our final location of Warsaw in Poland…which has the world’s tallest four faced clock tower!

Along the way we completed several mini challenges for example taking 75,000, 100,000 or 125,000 steps in 5 days. Several of our team even completed over 1 million steps each and as a team we completed over 7 million steps; that’s a lot of walking!

Reflecting back on the Challenge, it was fun to be part of a team and to give and receive encouragement from others. It definitely raised awareness of how much (or how little) exercise/walking some of us were doing each day however sometimes it was quite a challenge to fit in walking into each day. So, the experience in three words? Motivating, challenging, fun.

Where do we go from here? Find a balance between exercise, work and personal commitments so that fitness and general wellbeing are increased and to do less sofa surfing!

Half Time in the Global Challenge!

We’re now half way through the 100 day 2017 Global Challenge and The Library Stampers have been ‘stepping out’ and building up the step count; 4,266,884 steps to date. It’s about time for a short rest and a cup of tea to contemplate the journey so far, and to give ourselves a little pat on the back.

The team have (virtually) walked across America to Canada, then back down and admired the Statue of Liberty, sunbathed in Cuba, hung out with the Sloths in the Amazon Jungle, took in the view from Table Mountain in Cape Town and have now reached the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. 

Along the way we have been collecting more virtual trophies for setting and beating personal bests, completing mini challenges set by the Global Challenge organisation and setting personal step milestones such as 500,000 steps. We are also in the Trust's top 10 most improved teams.

The last 50 days have made us more aware of how much (or how little exercise) we do each day and how it can be tricky fitting it in between the daily commute and a desk job.

The Global Challenge is also about general health and wellbeing and provides useful information, hints and tips on improving nutrition, mindfulness and sleep quality.  We may be tired but we're looking forward to the next 50 days!

The Library Stampers are back!

After a break last year, the Trust has submitted another selection of teams to the 2017 Global Corporate Challenge and once again the Library Service has answered the call.

The Library Stampers are a team made up of people from all the library sites and contains some staff who completed the challenge in 2015 and some who are completely new to it.

The Global Corporate Challenge sees teams from across the world measuring their physical activity for 100 days which is translated into progress on a virtual trip across the globe.

Starting at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the Library Stampers are taking a virtual walk across the Americas. By day 28 the team has crisscrossed the US and Canada, and made it to Santiago de Cuba, having done over 2,236,300 steps

With a higher than average daily step count, for both the competition and our Trust, the team are making great progress on their world virtual tour, winning (virtual) trophies, increasing their daily amount of exercise (and beginning to wear holes in the library floors...).