Events
Zen Squirrel Virtual Running Challenge
Description
The 6th Annual Zen Squirrel Running Challenge returns this February. Continue those New Year goals with this healthy and fun personal challenge that will motivate you to RUN or WALK MORE in February.
The goal for this challenge is simple - run or walk anywhere and accumulate at least 28 total miles, over multiple efforts, during February. Want to do more? No problem, you can surpass 28 miles and complete as many miles as you can during the 28 days of February.
For each activity, track your distance, input your data to the online platform (super simple - see recording your miles), and watch your progress grow over the month-long event.
You can participate as an individual and also on a team of up to 10 people. Make it social - gather your friends (from anywhere), form a team, and see how many miles you can accumulate together. You could win awards!
In addition to an awesome personal challenge and a month of motivation to RUN or WALK MORE, your registration includes:
- Sweet swag (soft/comfy short or long sleeve tee or hoodie upgrade, a beautiful medal, and warm head wrap/neck gaiter)
- Digital badges for reaching milestones (more info HERE)
- A chance to win randomly drawn prizes during the challenge (drawings on Day 10, Day 20, and Day 28).
- Opportunity to earn extra swag by completing the EVERY DAY CHALLENGE, finishing in the top five (individuals and teams), and referring other participants.
- $3/participant donation to the National Breast Center Foundation to support their mission of removing barriers that prevent women and men from getting proper screening, diagnosis, treatment, and education about breast cancer. A GREAT CAUSE!
Join the Challenge and GET ZEN this February!
Included Swag
All participants receive sweet Zen Squirrel swag - soft/comfy short or long sleeve tee or hoodie upgrade for an extra $25, a head wrap/neck gaiter, and a beautiful 3.5" medal (large/hefty) that doubles as a drink coaster. Shipping is included. All swag will be shipped at the conclusion of the challenge.
Earn Extra Swag
Earn extra swag in the following ways:
- CONSISTENCY: Earn a Zen Squirrel head wrap (with different design) by completing the EVERY DAY CHALLENGE - log at least one activity each day in February.
- HEALTHY COMPETITION: Earn a pair of Zen Squirrel running gloves if you are one of the top five individual and top five teams with the most accumulated miles (all team members will receive gloves). A little healthy competition is a fun and motivating way to push yourself even more!
- REFERRAL REWARDS: Earn a Zen Squirrel Pom Hat if you REFER ONE RUNNER, a Zen Squirrel Car Seat Cover if you REFER THREE RUNNERS, and $25 cash back for EVERY FIVE RUNNERS that you refer. To qualify for these referral rewards, the new runners must use your unique referral link. This referral link is included in your confirmation email, emailed to you the day after you register, and embedded in the social share buttons at the end of the registration process. Plenty of ways to invite your friends and earn rewards.
- BONUS CHALLENGES: Earn extra surprise Zen Squirrel swag by completing bonus challenges introduced on Day 10 and Day 20 (sent to you via email). This swag may include items such as Zen Squirrel beanies, additional head wraps, stickers, etc.
All extra earned swag will be sent with included swag items at the conclusion of the event. Shipping is included.
Charity Partner
With the Zen Squirrel Running Challenge, we are raising funds and awareness for the National Breast Center Foundation to support their mission of removing barriers that prevent women and men from getting proper screening, diagnosis, treatment, and education about breast cancer. $3/challenge participant will be donated to this worthy cause. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation, of any size, during registration. THANK YOU!
HOW THE CHALLENGE WORKS
- Sign up!
- Recruit your family, friends, and coworkers and form a team of up to 10 participants (if you like). Participating as a team is super fun and provides even more motivation to run or walk more in February. Plus, you can earn additional swag if your friends use your referral link (which will be sent to you - see referral rewards above for more info).
- Run and Track: Run (or walk) anywhere at any time from 2/1-2/28 with the goal of accumulating at least 28 miles (28 miles is the default but you can change your goals in the online platform). Take as many runs as you need to reach your mileage goal. Track each run on your GPS device, watch, phone, map, measuring wheel, odometer, etc.
- Record Your Miles: From your device or computer, log into your profile on runsignup.com and click on the results tab. After each run, record your distance into the online platform (THIS IS SUPER SIMPLE - just follow these directions). You may also record your elapsed time, elevation gain, and any comments about each run. Results must be posted by February 28th @ 11:59pm (Hawaii – Aleutian Standard Time), which is 4:59am Eastern Standard Time on March 1st.
- Follow Your Progress: Each run's progress is added to the totals of all earlier runs to make up your one month total. After each run, watch the progress bar grow as you get closer to your goal. Throughout the event, you will earn digital badges for achieving milestones such as accumulated miles, overall # of runs/walks completed, and consecutive days running/walking. At the end of February, download your digital finisher certificate with your stats.
- Share (optional): Post photos from your runs on the runsignup platform (super easy). You may win a prize!
- Celebrate/Giveaways: We will randomly select winners of giveaways on 2/10 and 2/20 - keep an eye out for an email with the winners. And, on March 1st, we will send a final email wrapping up the event, awarding prizes, and drawing the final giveaway winners. Giveaways and prizes include nice stuff like running gear/accessories and zen squirrel swag. All participants will be automatically included in the giveaway drawings. Giveaways and prizes will be mailed to the winners along with their swag at the conclusion of the event.
Challenge Contact Info
If you have any questions about this Challenge, click the button below.
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