PTO Fitness Fall Challenge - "Hike" the Appalachian Trail

The "Hike" the Appalachian Trail Challenge is a FREE virtual health and fitness challenge open to PTO Fitness Center members, USPTO Employees, and their families/friends. The challenge runs from October 16 - November 30, 2022. Compete as a team of 3 or individual. As a participant you do not need to be a member of the PTO Fitness Center to join the challenge unless you want to take advantage of the miles that can be earned by attending group exercise classes. To take part in our group exercise classes as a non member, a complimentary 2 week trial is available on our Mindbody website. After 2 weeks, non members may purchase a 3 month trial membership to participate in group exercise classes from the PTO Fitness Center. All group exercise points must come from attending in-club group exercise classes and/or PTO Fitness Center's virtual live stream classes.

• Complete a 230 mile Virtual Hike on the Appalachian Trail through the mountains of Virginia.
• Form a team of up to 3 people or hike on your own.
• Earn "Stars" for completing goals and milestones, such as hiking a consecutive number of days, hiking specified distances, and finishing the challenge.
• Use a GPS enabled app to track your miles and time, then log them in your results. 
• Earn bonus miles for attending PTO Fitness group exercises classes. Thirty minute classes are 2 miles, 45 minute classes are 2.5 miles, one hour classes are 3 miles.
• Earn bonus miles for completing a healthy habit.
• Earn miles from biking, every 4 biking miles equals 1 hiking mile.

Challenge Rules
1. Participants must walk, run, or bike for miles to complete the Appalachian Trail. We are not accepting conversions for step counts, swimming, or other similar activities. Use a GPS enabled app, tracker, or treadmill.

2. Participants can log group exercise classes if they are completed using the PTO Fitness Center's group exercise program. 
Email ptofitness@pro-fitclubs.com for a complimentary 14 day trial if you are not a member of the fitness center. 
30 minute classes = 2 miles / 45 minute classes = 2.5 miles, and one hour classes = 3 miles.

3. Participants must log distance AND time on all activities except for HEALTHY HABITS. Healthy habits = 0.5 miles up to 2 habits (1 mile) per day. Leave a comment in the log for each healthy habit. A list of habits will be sent Monday10/16 in the instructions email. Also they are listed below. 

4. Participants may use bike miles by conversion of 4 bike miles = 1 mile.

5. The challenge distance required for the Appalachian Trail is 230 miles on the map. Teams and individuals may log more than 230 miles. Results and awards will be determined by:
First team to finish the hike ($50.00 gift card to REI or Amazon, one card each team member) 
First individual to finish the hike ($50.00 gift card to REI or Amazon)
Team with most miles ($25.00 gift card for Google Play or Amazon, one card each team member)
Individual with most miles ($25.00 gift card to Google Play or Amazon)
One prize per participant. If the participant wins in a team category, they may not also win in an individual category, and vice versa. The award will go to the next person with the best time or most distance.
Teams and individual winners must reach 230 miles within the challenge time frame in order to be considered the first to the destination.
Results will be reviewed between December 2nd and 3rd to ensure all results are correct. Results will also be reviewed weekly. Activity logs are based upon the honor system, please be honorable and don't cheat, we know you won't.

If an error is found in the log, the challenge director will contact the team or individual to correct the error. IMPORTANT - Teams and individuals who experience errors in the log PLEASE email PTOFitness@pro-fitclubs.com with the name and error, include the date and time of the error. Direction will be provided by the challenge director for correction of the error and update to the log. Please DO NOT log activities multiple times in the RESULTS to fix the error.

LIST of HEALTHY HABITS - 2 per day
Glass of water to start the day.
Eat protein at each meal.
Replace one sugary snack with a fruit.
Step outside for 2 minutes.
One Random act of Kindness.
Meditate / breathe focus for 2 minutes.
Electronics off 30 minutes before bed.
2-minute Stretch Break.
Journal 1 thing you are grateful for.  

Email PTOFitness@pro-fitclubs.com for questions and help. Follow our Challenge on Facebook by searching PTO Fitness Center, like and follow!