Ten Thousand

I hope I'm not biting off more than I can chew.

Last year, I pushed myself to complete several physical challenges with my Conqueror Virtual Challenges app and with the Garmin Connect app for my watch. I've spoken about theses challenges at length—some of you might feel that I talk too much about them—but for me, they are great motivators. Whether I'm pretending to be cycling around Cape Breton, Nova Scotia or am marching on the spot, during an office meeting, to reach a step goal, these apps have kept me moving.

My stats as of Dec. 31, 2022

In fact, with the Conqueror app, I covered 9,936 kilometres in 2022, which is 1,944 kilometres more than I completed in 2021, and I took the week between Christmas and New Year's Day off from my virtual challenges.

I could have broken 10,000 kms if I had used my spin bike last week. And I probably even got closer to that number because I haven't been keeping track of my steps in that week.

I'm determined to break 10,000K in 2023.

On Sunday, I started my twelfth virtual challenge, a 2,119-km trek across the Great Barrier Reef. This is my first challenge where the route is almost exclusively over water, so I'm going to have to add a swimming component to my fitness regime, just so I can say I made an attempt to simulate the journey.

It's too bad that I didn't wait until kayaking season to start this one, but oh well...

This challenge starts on Orchid Beach, on Fraser Island (K'gari), and ends at Saunders Reef, near Australia's northeastern-most point, not far from Papua New Guinea. I've given myself 12 weeks to complete this challenge, which means that I must average a little more than 25 kms each day. That shouldn't be so hard, considering I almost always finish my challenges early.

I have two other virtual challenges lined up (they had a Boxing Day sale) and I've given myself an added challenge to cover at least 10,000 kms by December 31, 2023.

Wish me luck!