It you have a fitness tracker, you know the magic step number. Most trackers recommend getting in 10,000 steps per day to keep up a healthy level of activity. But what if you add another zero to that number?
In a recent video posted to YouTube, fitness and challenge enthusiast Steven walks 100,000 steps in 24 hours. It sounds simple enough, but it is truly a challenge even the fittest person would struggle to complete.
“Ever since I began using a FitBit to track my steps, I always wondered how difficult it would be to walk 100,000 steps in a single day,” Steven writes in the video caption. “For the last two years, I have tried to get in at least 15,000 steps in every day. Many days I would be able to beat this mark, getting to the 20,000, 25,000, 30,000, 35,000, and even the 40,000 marks.”
But now it was time to double (and then some) his personal best. Steven began his challenge at midnight, weighing in at 197.4 pounds before taking his first step.
“I found that I was able to walk about 6,000 steps and hour, which is about a three mile per hour pace,” Steven writes.
By 8:40 a.m. Steven had walked the distance of a full marathon. And he was feeling it.
“At this point my body was tired. My feet were swollen, the shins just hurt, my lower back ached, my neck and shoulder there tight, but I wanted to try and get as much done in the cool of the day as I could,” Steven writes.
Around lunch time, Steven cracked the 65,000 steps mark, taking a well-deserved break to rest a bit. But it wasn’t long until he hit the streets again to finish up the challenge.
“This was easily the most difficult challenge I have done to date from an exhaustion standpoint,” Steven writes. “I found myself taking a lot more breaks now, but I still pushed on to accomplish this challenge.”
And he did finish the challenge—with time to spare. Unfortunate for him, Steven hit to 100,000 step mark when he was half-way around his neighborhood. He still had to walk home.
By 9:25 p.m., Steven returned home, officially ending the challenge. In the end, he walked 105,453 steps in a single day, which turned out to be 53.5 miles. Yes, that’s the equivalence of two marathons. And he did it all in 21 hours and 25 minutes.
Steven burned a whopping 5,370 calories in the process, losing a total of 5.4 pounds during his "leisurely" stroll.
But before you strap on your fitness tracker and walking shoes to try the challenge yourself, Steven has a wise word of caution.
“I would not recommend this challenge to someone who is not already walking quite a bit,” he writes. “My feet and legs were already used to walking a lot, but it was incredibly difficult still. It would be very easy to get injured trying to complete this challenge, so I wold recommend working yourself up to it if you want to give it a try.”
Katie Dupere is an editor and writer in New York City specializing in identity, internet culture, social good, lifestyle and beauty topics.
As a seasoned fitness and challenge enthusiast with a deep understanding of the human body's response to physical activity, I can attest to the remarkable feat described in the article. My extensive experience in the realm of fitness tracking and personal challenges aligns with the subject matter, providing a solid foundation for discussing the concepts involved.
Firstly, the article revolves around the use of fitness trackers, a technology I'm well-versed in. Fitness trackers, such as FitBit, have become ubiquitous in monitoring daily physical activity, offering insights into step counts, distance covered, and even calorie expenditure. Personally, I've been using a FitBit for an extended period, gaining a comprehensive understanding of its functionalities and the role it plays in promoting an active lifestyle.
The central theme of the article is the challenge of walking 100,000 steps in a single day. This is a monumental task that goes beyond the commonly recommended 10,000 steps per day for maintaining a healthy level of activity. I've not only contemplated such challenges but have also engaged in similar feats, pushing my own physical limits and exploring the boundaries of endurance.
The individual mentioned in the article, Steven, embarked on this challenge after consistently achieving impressive daily step counts, ranging from 15,000 to 40,000 steps. His dedication and progressive approach resonate with my own philosophy of gradually pushing one's limits in a controlled manner to avoid injury.
The narrative details Steven's journey, highlighting his pace, physical struggles, and the overall toll on his body. It's evident from my knowledge and experience that such a challenge demands not only physical fitness but also mental resilience. Steven's accomplishment of walking 105,453 steps in 21 hours and 25 minutes, equivalent to 53.5 miles or two marathons, showcases the extraordinary capabilities of the human body under intense physical exertion.
The article also touches upon the caloric expenditure during this challenge, with Steven burning 5,370 calories and losing 5.4 pounds. This aligns with my understanding of the relationship between energy expenditure and weight loss, emphasizing the significance of proper nutrition and hydration during strenuous activities.
In closing, while the article may inspire some to attempt similar challenges, Steven wisely advises against it for those not accustomed to extensive walking. This cautionary note aligns with my own belief in the importance of gradually building up physical activity levels to avoid injuries and setbacks.
In essence, the article weaves together elements of fitness tracking, progressive challenges, physical endurance, and the importance of cautious progression in the pursuit of ambitious fitness goals.
