WE CAN'T BEE-LIEVE IT!

Miles for Wellness Challenge 31 is over halfway through, and each team should be proud of the work they've done. Participating state employees walked a total of 257,189 miles in weeks 3 and 4 of the challenge!

Want a visual reference for how far your team has walked? Remember, there are maps online charting each team's course along a virtual, cross-country trek to towns with pollinator-inspired names. From Bugscuffle and Bee to Clover and Daisy, refer to our points of interest guide to explore each stop along the trail.

REMINDER

If you missed the deadline to submit your team's steps, simply report your numbers for weeks 1-6 during the next reporting period, Monday, April 21-Wednesday, April 23.

BIONIC HARE

1st: HSBIA Product Pushers

Captain: Brook Clements

Dept. of Health and Human Services

Total Steps: 7,167,735

2nd: BCAS Road Warriors 1

Captain: Jennie Vaughn

UNC Chapel Hill

Total Steps: 5,416,091

3rd: Burden of Proof

Captain: Maria Hernandez

Administrative Office of the Courts/Judicial

Total Steps: 5,061,068

HARE

1st: Team Clark

Captain: Ashley Clark

Wake County Public Schools

Total Steps: 2,799,102

2nd: Steps to Excellence

Captain: Catherine Gihlstorf

UNC Chapel Hill

Total Steps: 2,794,422

3rd: Walkanator's III

Captain: Zack Ledwell

Dept. of Commerce

Total Steps: 2,781,864

SUPER HARE

1st: Atkins Collect'n Miles

Captain: Stephanie Collins

UNC Charlotte

Total Steps: 4,197,369

2nd: My dog didn't have a name...

Captain: Bevan Kirley

UNC Chapel Hill

Total Steps: 4,156,904

3rd: The Walk Pack

Captain: Nora Milley

NC State University

Total Steps: 4,130,215

TORTOISE

1st: Not Fast, Just Furious - Bowman

Captain: Lauren Bowman

Administrative Office of the Courts/Judicial

Total Steps: 2,238,208

2nd: Titans

Captain: Estaban Soto

NC Community Colleges

Total Steps: 2,236,493

3rd: Whee Bee Walking

Captain: Jacob Edwards

Western Carolina University

Total Steps: 2,229,834

HOW DIVISIONS ARE DETERMINED

Divisions are determined based on the average number of steps per week, per member, so teams compete against like-performing, similarly active teams throughout the challenge. To find the average steps for each division, refer to the FAQ section on our website.

HOW RANKINGS ARE DETERMINED

Rankings within a division are based on a team's total number of steps. Miles for Wellness is designed to promote teamwork and team building, so it's ideal to recruit a full team of 10 to increase the likelihood of winning within a division. Teams of less than 10 shouldn't be discouraged — there's always a way to improve! Many small but mighty teams strive to move up to a higher division or overcome full teams within their division. And remember, as long as you're building habits that promote daily physical activity, you're reaping the benefits of the challenge.

Congratulations to our current leaders! Click the button below to find out how your team measures up.

No matter where your team landed on the leaderboard, there's nothing sweeter than knowing so many state employees are improving their health together.

BELOW ARE EXCITING HIGHLIGHTS:

• "I have started using the greatest part of my lunch hour stretching and running at our Veteran's Memorial Park here at our courthouse three to four days a week. It is nice taking in the sun and using this time to get more natural vitamin D from the sun and get a little boost of energy for the afternoon. I have made this a habit and look forward to running." - Michelle Burgess, Harnett Steppers from Administrative Office of the Courts/Judicial

• Captain of Team Dine & Dash, Lynice Barnes, from Dept. of Health and Human Services has been encouraging her team to use their 15-minute breaks as opportunities to walk. She's found it's easy to get at least half of a mile in and listening to a podcast or making a call during the walk makes the time fly by!

• One member of WANDERING, captained by Jennifer Zwetsloot from Appalachian State University, has started jogging back home after work and even got their daughter in on the fun as they ran together on the greenway.

• "Our team members report moving a lot more and having more energy. One team member has even lost 6 pounds since the challenge started. It has brought us closer together as a team overall." - Liandra Wheeler, Mind over Miles from Dept. of Adult Correction

BI-WEEKLY REPORTING FORM

Submit your team's steps for each check-in and the final deadline using the bi-weekly reporting form. Note that the link to the form will remain the same throughout the duration of the challenge.

The reporting periods for each check-in are:

• Weeks 1-6: Monday, April 21-Wednesday, April 23
• Weeks 1-8 (Final Submission): Monday, May 5-Wednesday, May 7

TRAIL FACTS

Check out the points of interest guide here to learn more about each pollinator-inspired town your team will explore along this virtual adventure.

NEED MORE INFO?

Each communication we send captains is filled with valuable information to help you make the most of Miles for Wellness. Find past emails online on the Challenge 31 page so a cluttered inbox won't stop you from bee-ing the best captain you can bee.

Still can't find the answer you're looking for? Email milesforwellness@nc.gov.