[caption id="attachment_7390" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="25,068 + 12,500 (manually added for spin class) = 37,568 steps!"]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/P8280023.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-7390" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/P8280023-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>[/caption]

Remember way back when I took my first step in <strong><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?s=global+corporate+challenge" target="_blank">The Global Corporate Challenge</a></strong>?  My mission that I chose to accept:  to clock at least 10,000 steps per day while motivating my team to do the same.

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I'm one of those hummingbird type of people who rarely sits still (except to write blog posts and sleep), so I thought this would be a breeze.

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On days that I workout, the goal is easily within reach .  On days when I skip a workout or telecommute, it's more of a challenge.  On days where it's 116 degrees during the day and a mere 111 at 7:30 at night (dog walking hour), our usual long dog walk is cut short, and I'm marching in place while brushing my teeth to clock extra steps.  Laugh at me if you must.

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The Global Corporate Challenge Powers that Be sent out an email announcing that the weekend of August 27-28th was Beat Your Personal Best Weekend.

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My current Personal Best at that time:  37,027 steps.  <a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?s=70s+party" target="_blank"><strong>This occurred when I visited Chicago in July on business.</strong> </a> At the end of a long, sedentary conference day, I convinced Britt to join me in an impromptu exploration of downtown Chicago.  We clocked many steps while hoofing it from our hotel to Lake Michigan and back.  We also took a short detour.  (i.e.  A wrong turn on the way back.  I was excitedly jabbering about our late afternoon discoveries and missed our turn back to the hotel.)

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The day concluded with 3 hours of non-stop dancing at the 70s party.

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Beating 37,027 steps was going to be a challenge all right.  Up until 10 p.m. on the evening of August 28th, I didn't think that I was going to make it.  Melody, in her sweet Melody way, even said, "There's no shame in not reaching it.  You've still given an amazing effort today."  At that time, I was around 27,000 steps.

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Rewind to the morning.  I set my alarm on a SATURDAY, walked Bella in a mere 95 degrees at 7:15 a.m., and arrived at spin class at 7:45 a.m.  Spin class = 12,500 steps.

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I LOATHE the mall, but I needed facial cleanser and powder.  I specifically held out until Saturday and parked at the other end of the mall, so that I would have to walk to the other end to pick up my goods at Nordies.

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Little Miss B enjoyed another short walk at 7:15 p.m. in a blustery (I am OVER the dust storms!) 105 degrees.

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Step count:  Approximately 20,000.  Argh.

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At 8 p.m. I met Melody out for an evening of Country &amp; Western dancing.

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<span style="color: #800080; font-size: large;"><strong>I danced my way to 37,568 steps at midnight!!!</strong></span>

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