I find exercise machines terribly boring, so I usually act as if I’m walking or biking to a destination. This might mean following a trail in a guidebook or moving up I-95 to the next state, for example. In addition to tracking my distance, I also read or watch videos about the locations I am imaginarily passing through.
For the last number of months, I’ve been signing up for virtual marathons online. Typically, this means paying some money to participate and receiving the opportunity to enter my distances and method of travel on a dashboard, a map, sometimes a Google Street View option, and sometimes interesting information about the area emailed to me. Most of the online options are set up so that you can make distance with a team or by yourself, can see only your progress or other people’s progress as well, and some have extras like t-shirts or tchotchkes available. All of them have finishers’ medals of varying degrees of artistic execution. You receive these when you finish a course.
I’ve enjoyed these virtual challenges, especially when street view is available. I’ve looked at several actual walks, such as the Inca Trail, the Ring of Kerry, and Hadrian’s Wall, with the idea that someday I might like to walk them for real. The virtual locations get me to exercise more, such that I’m over 8 million steps for 2020.
I’ve been using The Conqueror because I like the routes and medals, but I’m looking for additional options. If you’re using an online exercise challenge of any sort, please post a link and description here, as well as a note about what you like or dislike about that company’s options. Thanks.