I know it’s snowing outside, but soon it’ll get warmer, brighter and springier. Then there will be no excuse for skulking by the fire.
So it’ll be the time of year for taking up a challenge, or it might be if I could be bothered. In previous years I’ve done half marathons, got on my bike or climbed marathons. This year, well, meh. I haven’t got even an ounce of inspiration.
Until now…
My fit friend Fiona Outdoors nudged me in the direction of 5X50 Challenge.
It’s a 50-day fitness challenge. You have to do something energetic every day from the day the clocks go forward for 50 days. That’s March 29 until May 17.
It’s been going a couple of years now and there are lots of ways of achieving the 5X50 challenge.
Co-founder Kelly Mason said: “with five different 5X50 platforms we hope to see even more people benefit from being more active in 2015.”
Launched in 2012, the 5×50 Challenge called on people to do 5km or 30 minutes of exercise every day for 50 consecutive days.
Now Challengers can choose one of the five platforms to complete their 50 days, including:
• The movers: Individual/team/school complete 5k distance by walking, jogging, running, cycling, rowing etc for 50 days
• The added extras: Individual/team/school complete minimum 30 minutes of activity/exercise including the above with addition of yoga, weight training, exercise class etc for 50 days
• The pairs: Two people split the challenge to cover 5k for 50 days between them, so each person does 25 days.
• The teams: Five people cover 1km per day for 50 days by walking, jogging, running, cycling, rowing, swimming etc.
• The builders: Individuals build from five minutes of activity to 50 minutes of activity by the end of the 50-day challenge.
Five charities in 2015
In 2015, the 5×50 Challenge, which is a Scottish charity, will raise funds for five charity partners. These are Macmillan Cancer Support, SAMH, Guide Dogs, Chest, Heart and Stroke (Scotland) and Children 1st.
Raymond Wallace, the other 5×50 founder, said: “The Challenge started off in Scotland as a personal challenge in 2012, to run 5k every day for 50 days.
“Since then it has grown amazingly quickly and with so much enthusiasm from so many people worldwide. Research demonstrates that habits are formed after 21 days, so with the challenge running over 50 days, this makes it much easier for participants to continue beyond the end of the challenge into a new way of life.
“We are very hopeful of a fitter and healthier future for so many more people thanks to 5×50.”
So I’m going to put my trainers on every day for nearly twin months – or at the very least get on the yoga mat. Anyone fancy joining me?
Sign up to the 5X50 Challenge at www.5×50.org
Also see www.facebook.com/5x50challenge and twitter.com/5x50challenge
Goodness! That's quite a commitment! Good luck!