Monash Sport News

ACCTIVE 10,000 Steps Coast-to-Coast Challenge

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Please note that these responses are directed at questions that Monash participants in the ACCTIVE challenge might have. The 10000steps.org.au website is excellent in answering lots of generic questions and is a must visit site.

Q1. Do I have to be physically located on the Caulfield campus to be able to join in the ACCTIVE 10,000 Steps Coast-to-Coast Challenge?

No. While the Challenge has been initiated from the Caulfield campus any member of the Monash University community is welcome to join up and participate in the challenge.

Q2. What's the time commitment that registering for this challenge involves?

All you need to do is to commit to walking an average of 10,000 steps per day for 50 days. That might sound a lot but it's amazing how many steps you walk in a day up and down stairs, to and from the car park/ railway station, between offices. It's possible that you might walk more steps at the weekend than on a weekday. You might also decide to go for a walk at lunchtime either as an individual or with members of your team but it's really up to you as to how you can complete the Challenge's average number of 10,000 steps per day.

Q3. How do I register as a participant?

First of all we recommend that you read the information on the 10,000 steps website (10000steps.org.au) and/or ask one of the ACCTIVE group about the challenge. Once you've decided to take up the 10000 steps challenge you need to do TWO things.

Firstly, register your interest in the ACCTIVE 10,000 Steps Coast-to-Coast Challenge with either your team captain (if you have one) or with Christel Kent (who can be contacted on ext. 31000) and pay your $15 registration fee. The registration fee gets you the ACCTIVE Monash showbag (including the much sought after, limited edition ACCTIVE T Shirt).

Secondly, you will then need to register as an individual with the 10,000 Steps program itself. Again you can do it online via the website. We've found that registration and entry to the website is easier via the Internet Explorer browser. Follow the prompts – it's fairly painless, takes less than 3 minutes and involves no money- unless you decide to buy a pedometer online! For further information about pedometers, refer to Q9.

Q4. When does the challenge start and how long does it go for?

The inaugural ACCTIVE 10,000 Steps Coast-to-Coast Challenge was launched at Caulfield campus on Wednesday 27th October 2004 by the Vice-Chancellor and President of Monash University, Professor Richard Larkins, with an official starting date of Sunday 31st October.

For the next 50 days teams of approximately 10 will then aim to each average 10,000 steps per day with a view to completing 5 million steps between them over the 50 days- that equates to the team walking from Byron Bay (New South Wales) to Carnarvon (Western Australia).

The inaugural ACCTIVE Challenge will finish on Sunday 19th December 2004 with the winning ACCTIVE team and winning individual totals announced by Tuesday 21st December. (Refer to Q7 also).

Q5. What if I join the challenge after the starting date?

No problems. ACCTIVE steppers can join in at any time on the journey. The steps to register are the same as in Q3 "How do I register as a Participant". You won't have to start the journey back at Byron Bay. You will commence from wherever your team is on the 'virtual' journey.

Q6. Do I have to find a team of 9 other people before I can register?

If you haven't got a team we will help you find one! Just call Christel (ext. 31000) and she will take your registration details and put you in touch with a group of other like minded colleagues.

Q7. If I am in a team of more than 10 people how will the Winner of the Team Challenge be determined?

Just by participating in the ACCTIVE 10,000 Steps Coast-to-Coast Challenge you are already a winner!

Some of the teams have more than ten team members participating. That's great as the more people participating in the Challenge the better and if it suits the team having more than ten members no worries.

However, the ACCTIVE 10,000 Steps Coast-to-Coast Challenge does have a team award (and an individual award). For the purposes of the team part of the Coast-to-Coast Challenge, the award will be based on teams having ten members participating. The organizing committee has decided that the formula to determine the Team step totals will be the average number of steps per team member multiplied by 10 to bring all the teams onto a level playing field.

For instance Team One with 11 members walks 5.4 million steps over the 50 days and Team Two with 10 members manages 5 million steps. If the Team Challenge was based on total steps walked Team One would win. However, with the Team Challenge based on teams of ten participating Team One's averaged total number of steps walked would be 4.9 million- Team One's average number of steps per team member is 490,000 (5.4 million steps walked divided by eleven team members).

Team Two's total is 5 million (5 million divided by ten team members is 500,000). On this equalization calculation Team Two will "win" the mantle of champion team!

Might sound a bit complicated but the ACCTIVE organizing committee has the Team Challenge calculation under control! As ever the decision of the ACCTIVE organizing committee will be final. The important thing for teams to consider is that to be successful in the Team Challenge all team members need to walk as many steps as they can and for each team member to register those steps!

Q8. What happens if I reach Carnarvon before the 50 days is up?

This is a fifty day walk, and the winning team will be the one to do the most steps in 50 days. For teams that reach Carnarvon in less than fifty days (and we know that will be most of you!), you will then commence the walk back to Byron Bay (won't it be good to go past teams still heading for Carnarvon).

Q9. Do other forms of physical activity such as swimming and cycling count towards the total number of steps I do in a day?

The 10,000 Steps program recognizes and encourages people to cross train and do different types of exercise such as swimming and cycling. Where a pedometer can't be used for accuracy or practical purposes, for instance it's difficult to wear a pedometer in the pool, the 10,000 Steps recommends a formula to convert your physical activity into steps.

As per the 10000steps.org.au website the exercise to steps conversion formula is:

10 minutes of moderate exercise = 1,000 steps (definition of moderate intensity exercise is still being able to hold a conversation - might be difficult to do that under water though!)

10 minutes of high intensity exercise = 2,000 steps (definition of high intensity is absolutely knackered/ can't hold a conversation/not enough breath left to blow out a candle etc).

Q10. What equipment do I need to start?

Aside from some comfortable walking shoes and a water bottle the key thing you will need is a pedometer- a little gadget that clips onto your clothes and measures the number of steps you walk per day.

Pedometers vary in price from about $12.00 at Coles Supermarkets through to whatever your credit card will stand. They are also currently available in specially marked packs of Coco Pops Breakfast "Cereal"! Our advice is to go to the 10000steps.org.au website and check out the information on what to look for in a pedometer as it's very clearly a case of you get what you pay for.

Two types of OMRON pedometer are available immediately from the Monash Sport Fitness Gym at Caulfield. The mid-range one is $18.50 and a slightly better one is a very reasonable $33.00 (chemists' price for the same version is around $42.00) Monash Sport also offers a free lesson in using the pedometer and will set up the pedometer for you if required, free delivery to your (office) door and a commitment to replace the pedometer if it breaks down. For more details on the Monash Sport pedometer offer contact Gareth Rayner on ext 32358.