Exercise is good for the soul. It’s good for both your mental and physical health. It allows you to sweat out toxins and fills you with endorphins, which bring feelings of happiness and accomplishment. While most of us are unable to go to gyms, group fitness classes or hike our favourite trials, The North Face Blue Mountain is challenging you to a 5 week Staying Fit at Home Series.
Over the next 5 weeks, The North Face and Blue Mountain will be asking you to complete a series of challenges each week. At the end of each week, a prize will be awarded to the person who inspired us the most. You don’t have to be the fittest to win. You could be at the top of the leaderboard, overcoming personal obstacles, forging new milestones etc. We just want to see everyone getting active and moving from the comfort of their homes.
Don’t worry, you’re not in this alone. Our Social Media and Sponsorship Coordinator, Melissa, will be leading the charge and participating in each of the challenges alongside you and sharing the groups’ journey along the way.
Want to join? It’s as easy as 1,2,3.
- Join the Strava Group
- Post your photos and log your challenges in the discussion pages of the group
- Show us your weekly progress by tagging one story per challenge at @bluemtnresort, @thenorthface and hashtag #TNFBlueCollective
The challenge begins on May 25th 2020 and ends June 28 2020 at 11:50pm. We will announce the challenges contest winners at the end of each week. This contest is only open to residents of Ontario who are 18 years and older.
Before we start this challenge there are a few things you should have handy! The first being a good pair of running shoes. Fun fact about your footwear – even if they are in pristine condition because they’re indoor shoes they wear out. You replace your tires on your car every 80,000km or so – your running shoes are no different. You should replace them every 400-800km walked that is roughly 6-8 months if you run 5km 3-4 times a week, a year to a year and half if you are less than that. I cannot stress enough how important this is. I have been using my old gym shoes for almost two years, after each run my ankles and knees ached, and my shins felt awful. Even though this is an uncertain time I wanted to make sure I’d stick to running so I invested in a new pair of shoes.
I am no expert in this field and embarrassingly enough usually pick my footwear based on colour combinations and if they are esthetically pleasing to the eye. As I’ve never really been a ‘runner’ I put my hand up and asked for help. Since this is The North Face Challenge, I asked the experts what would be best for me. I have flat feet, am prone to shin splints, and I’ve had knee surgery for a meniscus repair and ACL tear. The fantastic team at The North Face suggested I try the Flight Trinity Shoes. They are responsive (which I hope means they’ll help me be less clumsy), have excellent cushioning and they are lightweight. We’ll its been two weeks of running with them three-four times a week and I can honestly say they are game changing. I didn’t realize how tired my old shoes were until the first few steps, I could really feel the cushioning under the balls of my feat taking a lot of pressure off my knees. They are super light and flexible, which means my feet don’t get as sweaty or move around in them. One feature that is pretty neat is the gusseted tongue, which means it’s completely connected at all contact points to the shoe. I run on the Georgian trail in Collingwood, which had a mixed surface of sidewalks, gravel, dirt and wood chips. I’d usually find a stowaway or two in my shoes by the end of my journey – and sometimes have to stop halfway through. Not anymore!
Set yourself up for success over the next 5 weeks, and before you know it – these practices will become a normal routine. Take the week and access your gear, if you’re shoes look tired or you can’t remember the when you actually bought them – it might be a good time to replace them. What else will you need for the challenge?
Find something you can use for weights. It can be soup cans, water bottles, water jugs, paint cans, wine bottles or rocks. If you don’t have any of those, grab a few stones or books and throw them into a backpack for some extra weight.
You’ll need a yoga mat, or towel – which provides a nice clean place for some at home exercises.
A good attitude, and ready to participate. We’re asking you to share your progress in the Strava group by posting to the discussion board. Give kudos to those who have posted, and be encouraging. Remember there will be good days and bad. Somedays it will be easy, and others it will feel near impossible. Just keep your chin up, and know that we’re all supporting you through this!
I can’t wait to join you over the next 5 weeks and see how we all progress! Stay tuned for Monday when we announce the first challenge, and the first prize to be won!
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Subject to the Official Rules available at https://www.bluemountain.ca/terms-and-conditions/social-contest-rules. The Challenge is void outside of the eligible territories (as detailed in Official Rules) and where prohibited or restricted by law. Challenge entry periods are: (1) May 25, 2020 from 9:30:00 a.m. Eastern Time (“ET”) through 9:00:00 p.m. ET on May 31, 2020; (2) June 1, 2020 from 9:30:00 a.m. ET through 9:00:00 p.m. ET on June 7, 2020; (3) June 8, 2020 from 9:30:00 a.m. ET through 9:00:00 p.m. on June 15, 2020; (4) June 16, 2020 from 9:30:00 a.m. ET through 9:00:00 p.m. on June 21, 2020; and (5) June 22, 2020 from 9:30:00 a.m. ET through 9:00:00 p.m. on June 28, 2020. LIMIT: One (1) entry per person or address (physical or email) per entry period. Prizes consist of (1) one The North Face Base Camp Duffel (small) (estimated retail CDN$139.99; (2) one The North Face Fanorak 2.0 Jacket (estimated retail CDN$109); (3) one The North Face Dryzzle Jacket (estimated retail CDN$279.99); (4) one pair of The North Face Ultra Fastpack Shoes (estimated retail CDN$189.99); and (5) one The North Face Hyperlayer T-Shirt and Hat (estimated retail CDN$84.98).
For the full contest rules and regulations please click here
