Step Off!

The World Vision International Walking Challenge is over!

For the 30 days of November, I stepped briskly about DC and other places (like Richmond – pictured), pitting myself against all walking challengers.

What did I get for my efforts? A 2nd place finish and victory for my monthly goal!

 

November Goal: Finish with 500,000 total steps.

Result: Success!

I walked 683,584 total steps in fact. Or an average of 22,786 steps per day. Try it, it’s not easy. Also, I had to step up my game during the last week, since the person in 3rd was gunning for me, using the notorious ‘training for a marathon’ scheme. Nope, didn’t work.

 

Walking Challenge Top 5
1st = 772,883 steps*
2nd (Me) = 683,584
3rd = 663,644
4th = 613,308
5th = 602,601

* I understand the 1st place person put a treadmill to good use. I did not. I was outside, in the fresh air, hiking or exploring.

My Daily Breakdown

• 30,000+ steps in a day (8 times)
• 20,000+ (11)
• 15,000+ (7)
• 10,000+ (3)
• Sub-10,000 (1)

 

I also made a second goal, about helping Capital Bikeshare move their bikes around the city or some such.

November Goal #2: Finish with 500 total Bike Angel points.

Result: Failure! Epic! 347 points total.

I basically quit this goal with a week left in November because I traveled to Charlotte and Richmond. But up to that point, I was definitely in the conversation for reaching this goal as well, on a pace of 15 points per day (I would’ve needed a pace of 16.67 points per day).

Now step out and walk!

500,000 for November 2018: Steps

November is World Vision International’s 2nd annual Walking Challenge.

Last year I finished 3rd overall with 644,051 steps in 42 days (it ran from 8/21 to 10/1/17). The 1st and 2nd place finishers were FAR, FAR ahead of me (200,000 and 100,000 more steps respectively).

Last year my average was 15,335 steps per day. Not too bad…but let’s up the game and go for an average of 16,667 steps per day to reach 500,000 in 30 days!

 

Goal for November: Finish with 500,000 total steps.

 

Also, I’ve been participating in the Capital Bikeshare Bike Angels program, and in the first three months finished #5, #5 and #4 in the overall points rankings (for the whole city!).

My last point total was 253 in October, so let’s double it and set my November goal to 500 points!

 

Second Goal for November: Finish with 500 total Bike Angel points.

 

It is on!

372 for July-August 2017: Miles, Miles, Miles!

I haven’t been putting too many monthly goals together the last year or so, so I suspect this will be a real treat for you. Finally doing another one! The wait must have been excruciating.

This goal is dead simple.

New Places, and Other Inspiring Palavers

Victory!

My goal in October and November was to visit a ton of new places. And I did it! So I say. Chalk one up to persistence.

I went to a fair number of new places in DC, mostly restaurants, and I discovered many more new places in Chennai (India), Manila (Philippines), New Orleans (LA), Montauk (NY) and Frederick (MD). I traveled a lot…I explored a lot. So now I’m resting a lot while I write.

October/November Goal: Visit 32 new places (70% have to be in DC)

Result: 32 reached and plenty more!

• 23+ in DC
• 9+ elsewhere

New places in DC:

1. Fathom – A nice space for a wedding.
2. Radiator – A nice bar for an after wedding party.
3. The Haymaker Bar – Updated space (formerly The Atlas Room) on H St NE. Not a huge fan.
4. Seoul Spice – Korean tacos, if you like.
5. BKK Cookshop – Decent Thai food.
6. REI – The new flagship store! Your outdoor gear fix is here!
7. La Colombe (at REI) – Coffee with your outdoor gear!
8. Walmart (on H Street) – I finally went inside. And now life continues.
9. HalfSmoke – If you want a half smoke, hit Ben’s or Meats & Foods.
10. Library of Congress Tunnel – Went on a private tour…secret things happen down there. Very bookish secret things.
11. Sonoma – UW reception with wine and sliders.
12. Smoked and Stacked – Good sandwich with DC prices!
13. Kahlil Gibran Memorial Garden – A poet, and you didn’t even know it.
14. Spanish Steps – Supposed to look like the famous steps in Rome. Okay.
15. Soho Tea & Coffee – Coffee they have, did not confirm the tea.
16. Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop – The Bobbie because it was close to Thanksgiving!
17. Zero Milestone – Just a thing to commemorate the center of the city.
18. Renwich Gallery – Very cool art museum brought to you by the letter ‘S’ (for Smithsonian). Surprised it took me this long.
19. Thip Khao – Laotian food. I avoided the ‘Jungle Menu’ but could be convinced next time.
20. All Purpose Pizzeria – Oh yeah, they do pizza here. Try it.
21. Peirce Mill fireplace – For starting fires in Rock Creek Park post-hike.
22. Donburi – Curry katsudon. Katsudon with curry.
23. On Rye – Reubens with a some sort of bread!

Just a sampling of the new places I visited while traveling. I whittled it down…

1. People’s Palace – (Manila, Philippines) A cool Thai restaurant in the heart of the trendy Greenbelt Park (in Makati).
2. SM Mall of Asia – (Manila, Philippines) The second largest shopping mall in the world! And by mall standards (which I try to avoid if possible), it was a good one. Manila loves malls. Loves them!
3. Ente Keralam – (Chennai, India) Serving food from Kerala, they love coconuts. It seemed like everything was peppered with coconuts. Most of it was good, all of it was interesting.
4. Cane & Table – (New Orleans, LA) A boozy brunch to start the day before the real weekend drinking starts.
5. Mercedes-Benz Superdome – (New Orleans, LA) Seattle Seahawks lost to the New Orleans Saints, but it was still fun.
6. Courtyard Brewery – (New Orleans, LA) Post-game beer sipping.
7. Montauk Brewery – (Montauk, Long Island, NY) A brewery at the end of the Earth.
8. Goldberg’s Bagels – (Montauk, Long Island, NY) Needed bagel sammies at the end of the Earth.
9. Sabor De Cuba – (Frederick, MD) Tasty cuban food right in the middle of Frederick’s downtown.

Peace out!

Kerala food in India

 

32 for October/November: New Places

No goals for me this year? Well, this will only be the second time I’ve done my monthly Random Goal in 2016, so I guess not!

My last goal in July was to run 36 miles. Hahaha, I only managed to run 15. Good job!

Over the next two months, I’m going to try a bunch of new things.

There are quite a few new restaurants in DC and a bunch of places I’ve been meaning to visit for the first time, like museums and whatnot.

I also have a bit of travel coming up, to the Philippines and India, and maybe 1-2 other places!

But the main point of the goal is to go to new places in DC, so let’s say 70% of them have to be in DC. Yes?

 

October/November Goal: Visit 32 new places (70% have to be in DC)

 

36 for July: Miles Running

I haven’t done a single Random Goal this year!

Boo, me.

So why not try a goal I have no chance of completing? As mentioned in previous posts, whenever I do a running goal *poof* fail.

But in October I’ll be running the Army Ten-Miler for the third time. In August, I’ll be doing a backpacking trip in Colorado. And I want to run an 8K or 10K sometime before October.

So, the point, I need to train. I need to run baby. Run like Forrest.

It’s already July 7th, so only 24 days left.

July Goal: Run 36 miles

It is on.