December 28, 2007

The Presidential Challenge

By Stan Dyer

Now is the time of year that many people start thinking about New Year's Resolutions. Among the list of Resolutions that are popular year after year is the one to exercise more. Whether it is to lose weight, get in shape, or just to be healthier, many people put exercise on their short lists of things to resolve to do more of during the New Year. Although it was not as a Resolution to start the New Year, I did something similar last year I wanted to share with readers. It is the President's Challenge.

When I was young, I was not tremendously gifted athletically. Oh, I had some talent, but it seemed I was always just a bit too small, a bit too slow or a bit too weak. The Presidential Physical Fitness Award confirmed that every single year. Even in High School when I was a team captain in two sports and in a lot better shape than I am now, I was still not good enough to win that award. No matter how much I tried, I could not even come close. Imagine my surprise when I learned they revamped the award and changed the name to the Presidential Challenge.

The new award is geared less toward comparing oneself with set standards and more toward encouraging people just to get up and move. There are different programs aimed at the various age groups from kids all the way to adults. People who take the challenge receive points for every physical activity they do, and, when they accumulate enough points, they win awards. It sounded interesting, so I went to the website to check it out.

I discovered I could accumulate points for many of the activities I already to. Simple, everyday things like walking, running, and even yard work all have point values. When I signed up, I was given a page to log in my activities. On that page, I log the day I performed the activity, the type of activity it was, the intensity and the duration. When I enter in my numbers, the website determines a point value and starts keeping tally of my numbers. I started logging in my numbers some time last April and, before long, I hit my first milestone.

As soon as I reached only 20,000 points, I was notified that I earned a "Bronze" award. I was excited. I finally won a Presidential Fitness Award complete with a T-shirt and the familiar emblem. I also discovered that I could earn the "Silver" award by adding just 25,000 more points and raising my total to 45,000. I was motivated. In a matter of a few months, I accomplished something I never could do before and I had both the Bronze and the Silver. The next stop was the "Gold". The Gold comes at 80,000, but, heck, I already had 45,000. If I just kept doing what I was doing a few more months, not only would I have the Bronze and Silver, I would have the ultimate Gold, just like an Olympic athlete, almost. OK, so it is not that great, but I have to admit that it was very motivational for a man of my age who does not make it to gym class all that often. I was unprepared for the surprise that came when I completed the Gold award and discovered what comes next.

I thought Gold was it. I thought that was the ultimate award. In fewer than six months, I went from 0 points all the way to 80,000 and received every award on the way. What could be next? Platinum. Another level? Ok. The first three were not that tough and the point level increased a bit for each, so I thought maybe I would have to reach something like 150,000 points to receive the Platinum. Huh-uh. Platinum is awarded at 500,000 points! My jaw dropped to the floor.

I did the math and, if I continue my present level of activity, it will take around four years to reach Platinum. That's almost like earning a College Degree. Well, I was working out before the Challenge and I will probably keep working out until my body doesn't work right anymore, so I decided to keep on with the Challenge. To date, I am at 150, 456 points with only 349,544 to go!

The Presidential Challenge accomplished its goal. The idea is to motivate people to exercise more and to stick with it long enough to realize long-term benefits. I suppose they believe that if they can motivate a person to stick with it the six months or so needed to earn the Gold, then he or she will be motivated to stick with it for life. Oh, by the way, even though people earn awards along the way, the awards are not "given" away; winners have to purchase them from the on-line store. The awards do not cost much, ($8.00 for a white or grey T-shirt) and the benefits of staying active are well worth it. It is especially attractive for schools that are abandoning their athletic programs and want some type of inexpensive, after-school activity for students. It is a good idea, but just be prepared for the shock after completing the Gold.

If you or your group would like to get involved in this program, visit: www.presidentschallenge.org.

The site has all the information to get you started. As for me, I'll just keep plugging away at my Platinum award just to see what comes next. Maybe it is "Double Platinum" for 1,000,000 points! That should carry me well into retirement.