I’m gonna be…

Can I just say that I feel exposed?

It’s one thing to join a challenge where only you can see your progress. It’s a whole different ball game when everyone in the challenge can see exactly what you’re doing. That level of accountability is intense, and way more than I anticipated.

The challenge? A daily steps competition with my sorority’s chapter. The competitiveness of black women is unmatched I tell you. Who the heck clears 24,000 steps before lunch?

Not. Fucking. Me… but I digress.

There’s a warped vanity infused into the challenge. If you don’t hit the mark, everyone sees it. If you don’t, let the internal berating begin. It’s a little nerve-wracking and hella intimidating.

Now that I’ve started, there’s no retreat.

I don’t want to be the person who joins and then backs out after two weeks. I don’t want to be that sister—the one who leaves because she doesn’t think she can hack it. But I also don’t want to perpetually reside in the bottom 10 out of 30 participants.

This challenge is set up to push me. I’ve been given a partner, a Soror I don’t really know but that’s the point. To take one step at a time while getting to know someone new along the way.

So, I’m walking for the season of Lent. I’m walking and fellowshipping and embracing a welcomed change in my status quo – camaraderie.

The challenge runs through the month of May. Pretty fitting as it’s also my birthday month.  My personal goal is to hit 10,000 steps a day consistently. Ideally, I’d like to work my way up to 15,000. It’ll only help with my fitness journey. More steps certainly can’t hurt.

That said, I’m not trying to be the overachiever clocking in 30,000 steps a day. I’m convinced that some of my sisters are walking all day. I aspire to retire and walk like that. But right now, ain’t no way.

Ain’t. No. Way.

You’d have to be on a treadmill for 3.5 hours to pull off 30,000 steps. I did the breakdown (because, of course, I did). On average, you move about 1,000 steps every 7 to 10 minutes. That’s 6,000 steps per hour. So, to hit 30,000? That’s five hours of walking. Five.

The devil is a liar.

It’s not happening.

Now, I could break it down and do 10 minutes every two hours throughout the day. That would add up. If I’m awake for 16 hours (because let’s be real, I’m not only awake for 12), I could make it work.

Hmmm… to be continued.