The twelfth annual Schuyler Steps Out community walking challenge has wrapped up with a new winner, as well as awards for Most Improved and Most Valuable Walkers.
Last year’s second place winner, the “Muscle Bound SPINsters” of Grand Prix Fitness in Montour Falls walked and spun their way to first place this year.
Grand Prix Fitness took the lead in Week 4 and increased their steps week to week to hold onto first place. The 16 member team totaled 15.6 million steps, averaging 17,491 steps per person per day.
Last year’s third place winner was perennial top finisher, the Wacky Walkers of Watkins Glen High School. After a rocky start, this 10 member team turned in enough consistently high step totals to finally take over 2nd place in Week 8. They walked a total of 8.9 million steps, averaging 15,887 steps per person per day.
The Humane Society – last year’s champion and a tough competitor in the program since 2011, finished in third place. The Humane Society team started out in first place, then held onto 2nd until the final week. With 16 walkers, they totaled 13.8 million steps, averaging 15,421 steps per person per day.
Nominated by their teammates, the Most Improved Award is going to Sonya Conover of Team Glenora, and the MVP Award is going to Ian Murphy of Schuyler Hospital’s Pharmacy Team.
Conover kept her team captain motivated through the whole program, walking on breaks and lunch. She also dropped a size!”
Murphy stepped up his game as time went on, making him more productive and helping him build muscle.
In all, participating teams tallied 184.9 million total steps, or over 51.6 thousand miles – the equivalent of 2 trips around the Earth. An average of 286 people from 13 teams participated in the 8-week program, developed to get people up and active in the late winter and early spring.
The program is sponsored by Schuyler Hospital and Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.
For more information on the Schuyler Steps Out program, contact Michelle Benjamin, Director of Community Relations at (607) 210-1950 or go to www.schuylerhospital.org