Kilometer: a metric unit or length equal to 1000 meters - Merriam Webster
As part of my initial blog subject, I set out to conquer my fear of stairs. In January, I participated in the Kohl's Step Up for Kids and climbed 40 flights of stairs housed in Chicago's AON building. Of course, as one thing tends to lead to another, mastering my self imposed stair challenge got me to thinking about participating in other events. So then, I took on the self challenge to participate in 1 event per month, I figured what's 12 events? While most of the events I am hoping to participate in are 5K walk/runs, some are bicycle rides that will add extra mileage to my sneakers. And then of course, the more I got involved in finding my 11 extra events, the more I found beyond the initial 11 that I wanted to participate in! All that said, I started wondering just how far will I go? So here's the math...
One mile equals 1.609344 kilometers.
A 5K event is exactly 3.10685596 miles.
20 flights of stairs is (about) equal to 1 mile (or 1.609344 kilometers).
October: AIDS 5K = 3.10685596 miles With all these numbers, by the end of the year, if I participate (God willing) in all my proposed events, I will have gone roughly 80.1 miles or 50 kilometers for charity! I won't attempt to calculate the money spent on registration fees for these events, but I can already see next year's challenge for myself will be to go farther then 80 miles and aim for 100! I created links to all the events above, so hopefully if you're in the Chicago area you'll join me! All this talk about distance made me think of the places I will go, so I leave you with this:
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go. You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you’ll be the best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest..."
- The Places You Will Go: Dr. Seuss -
I just found another 5K I want to participate in - the Walter Payton "Sweetness" 5K at:
ReplyDeletewww.Payton34.com
I can't wait! This one is a special one for me as my family and I grew up on the ultimate '85 Bears team and loved Walter Payton. The fact that we have the same last name (just spelled different) helps a little too! What an amazing role model and man, I can't wait to help support his foundation!
Holy moly. How do you do it? I'm trying to learn how to run a mile within 10 minutes- a 5k seems so far away!
ReplyDeleteHa! Michelle in a Shell - I am built for comfort not speed!!! I am working my way up to running a full 5K, but right now jog (think snail's pace) and walk them. (Yet)another goal is to RUN a full 5K by year's end... Hang in there, and remember, you can go twice as far as you think you can!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is fantastic, Lynn! What a great way to get involved in volunteer work and commit to your own health and well-being at the same time. I've always wondered what people saw in the whole "training for a 5K" thing - but this appeals to me. Hope it goes really well for you and that you raise a ton of money for your chosen charities!
ReplyDeleteHolly Jahangiri
It's All a Matter of Perspective