VFC Challenges Page

United in Movement Veteran Fitness Challenge Bridge 2 Sports

Challenge #30
Lucky Sleep

Sleep Awareness Week® is in March, so it is time to snuggle up and catch some Zs because you deserve some rest!

This TEAM Challenge is all about catching more Zzzs and feeling better.

**You must wear your Fitbit while you are sleeping to have your data count toward the TEAM TIME ASLEEP total. (Note: Fitbit does not share individual sleep data)

Goal: Improve TEAM TIME ASLEEP Total by 20 minutes from Week 1 to Week 2.

Week 1 We will gather TEAM TIME ASLEEP Data for each team to establish a baseline during week #1, March 17^th to March 23^rd. This will be the weekly TEAM TIME ASLEEP total you will try to beat in week 2.

Week 2 This is “Go Week’ – “Go to Sleep” that is! We will gather TEAM TIME ASLEEP totals for week #2, March 24^th to March 30^th to see which Team was able to improve their TEAM TIME ASLEEP Total by 20 minutes or more during the TEAM TIME ASLEEP Challenge.

Sweet Dreams!

Duration: March 17 – 30, 2023

Challenge #29
Movin‘ & Groovin’

Hearts are everywhere this month!!

Challenge #29 is all about Your Heart(Rate) and Love of Music.

VFCers are challenged to log Active Zone Minutes AND post songs you ‘love’ on the VFC Fitbit community board. They don’t have to be about love, but it would be LOVE-ly if they were.

Duration: February 14 – 27, 2023

Update:
Over 200 PARTICIPANTS sent in 412 SONGS!
Check out the playlist below:

VFC #29 Playist

Challenge #28
MLK Miles Love Kindness

To celebrate the Birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr…and a few of our VFCers as well…Challenge #28 is about Miles, Love and Kindness!

VFCers will be United in Movement while performing Acts of Service and Kindness. Share your Act of Service/Kindness to the VFC Community Board in the Fitbit app and earn a point per day for your post……….feel free to post multiple times per day if you’d like! There are also awards for keeping those steps up while you are spreading kindness.

Duration: January 15 – 28, 2023

Challenge #27
HOLIDAY SURPRISE

Challenge #27 brings us to the 2022 Holiday Season and the anticipation of GIFTS!!! Whether they are all wrapped up in holiday paper or maybe they are other “GIFTS” that we have in our lives.

You will find out what the Challenge Results will be when we “OPEN” the “GIFT” on DECEMBER 25^th!!!!

So……..it could be POSTING THE GIFTS IN YOUR LIFE, STEPS, MILES, ACTIVE ZONE MINUTES, 3^rd THURSDAY VFC ZOOM MEET-UP ATTENDANCE or maybe even SLEEP!!

Duration: December 16 – 25, 2022

Challenge #26
GIVING THANKS

Did you know there is one simple thing that can improve your physical health, mental state, sleep, and relationships?
Expressing gratitude and Giving Thanks.

We thought it was the perfect time during this season of Thanksgiving to focus the VFC Challenge on all the good things in our lives.

This is a two-part challenge. VFCers can choose to do both parts or just one.

PART ONE OF THE CHALLENGE

Post to the Veteran Fitness Challenge Community Board answering ‘I am Giving Thanks for/to__________________’

Come up with something different for every day and feel free to add a picture. I know I am grateful for all the VFC pictures you send from around the country 😊

PART TWO OF THE CHALLENGE

This can be a difficult time of year for getting steps/pushes in with the sun setting earlier, obligations piling up and everything seeming to move faster.

The second part of the challenge is to stay focused on YOUR fitness, keep moving, and push yourself to go “just a little further” every day.

During the 1st week of the Challenge you will set YOUR BASELINE of Average Steps Per Day for that week.…THEN during the 2nd week try to get those average steps up!

Duration: November 17 – 30, 2022

Challenge #25
SPOOKY TRAIL

All VFC athletes will be working together to complete a “virtual” trip to visit Haunted Towns and A-Mazing Corn Mazes all around the United States. See Maps and Locations on Challenge #25 Spooky Trail pdf found at this link.

The Spooky Trail Challenge will have EVERYONE working together as one big VETERAN FITNESS CHALLENGE TEAM. Every step/push counts toward getting us around the country. Daily mileage totals will be compiled to track where we are along the Spooky Trail.

Duration: October 18 – October 31, 2022

Challenge #24
SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Our VFC family member, Paula, asked if we would create the September Challenge with suicide prevention as our focus.

Four years ago, Paula lost her son Kyle to suicide. She has fought since that time to shine light and open discussion on this difficult issue that has touched all of our lives in some way.

Having a strong ‘team’, communicating, and giving/getting support from others are so important for our mental health. The first part of Challenge #24 is all about just that.

Award Opportunity #1:

There will be a TEAM PARTICIPATION AWARD for the TEAM with the most Posting Points. You will earn 1 point per day for a post, but you can post as many times as you’d like. ALL ACTIVE Participants from that Team will win an Award!

We welcome your posts on our VFC Community Board in your Fitbit app. Share your stories, memorials, thoughts, ways you care for your mental health, suicide prevention resources, and encouragement for others and your team during Challenge #24. Please add #Challenge24 to your post to earn a point!

Award Opportunity #2:
Twenty-two Veterans a day die by suicide. 22 Veterans a day is 22 TOO MANY!!!

With that in mind as you get your miles this challenge think of ways you can support your military brothers and sisters.

We will enter the names of all VFC members that get 22 Miles (average of about 3.1 miles per day), or more, for BOTH WEEKS of Challenge #24 into a drawing. We will randomly draw 22 names to see who wins an award.

Duration: September 11 – September 24, 2022

Challenge #22 & 23
American the Beautiful National Park Hike

Let’s see this beautiful country on a virtual hike through our national parks. This is a 2 month challenge — there is a lot to see!

Duration: July 18-31 and August 1-14, 2022

wooden hiking bridge going through woods. America the Beautiful National Parks Hike

Challenge #21
Go the EXTRA MILE for JOE

While taking a walk in his hometown, Joe, one of our long-time Veteran Fitness Challenge members, was a victim of gun violence. After being in critical condition and needing surgery, Joe is back home, thankfully.

We decided to dedicate our Challenge this month to those that have been affected by gun violence by stepping up and going the extra mile for those who can’t.

During this 2-week challenge we will GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR JOE who is still recovering from his injury. Prior to being shot, he was averaging about 50 miles a week!!

However you get your miles…walk, push, bike, swim, dance, push mowing the lawn, etc…set a goal to go just a bit further every time and see how many extra miles you can do…LET’S GET THOSE EXTRA MILES!

This Challenge starts on Saturday, June 11^th the same day as the “March For Our Lives” event in Washington, DC and smaller marches all over the country.
June is also ‘Wear Orange’ month honoring the more than 40,000 people who are killed with guns and approximately 85,000 who are shot and wounded every year.

Top 2 Male & Top 2 Female “Mile Getters” from each team will win.

Top 2 Male & Top 2 Female “Posters” from each Team that post a photo of themselves WEARING ORANGE or take a photo of something ORANGE while you’re getting your milesto the VFC COMMUNTIY MESSAGE BOARD will win. (1 point per day for a photo post…….but feel free to post as many times as you’d like)

Duration: June 11 – June 24, 2022

Challenge #20
Get In Your Zone

This month we are groovin’ our way to get those Active Zone Minutes! Turn up your favorite tunes and get ACTIVE.

The top 2 Female and Top 2 Male with the most Total Active Zone Minutes from each team will win.

Also, post your favorite songs to the Veteran Fitness Challenge Message Board. They could be your ‘go-to’ workout jams, motivational songs, meditations, empowering music – anything that gets you moving and centered in your day. Athletes can earn 1 point per day (You can only earn 1 point per day, but you can post as many times per day as you would like) *Clean Versions Only, Please.

Top 2 Female and Top 2 Male “Posters” from each team will also win.

Duration:May 16 – May 29, 2022

Challenge #19
World Health Hike

Around the world in 14 days.

In honor of World Health Day (April 7th) the VFC is ‘traveling’ to some of the most amazing hikes around the globe. Each day, the group will attempt to complete the trail before jet setting to a new destination.

1	Torres del Paine W Circuit	Patagonia, Chile
2	Inca Trail	Peru
3	Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim	Arizona
4	Everest Base Camp Trek	Nepal
5	Fitz Roy Trek	Patagonia, Argentina
6	Trek to Petra	Jordan
7	Yosemite Grand Traverse	California
8	Bays of Fires	Tasmania, Australia
9	Long Range Traverse	Newfoundland, Canada
10	Queen Charlotte Track	New Zealand
11	Kalalau Trail	Kauai, Hawaii
12	Croagh Patrick	Ireland
13	West Coast Trail	British Columbia, Canada
14	Tour du Mont Blanc	France/Italy/Switzerland

Duration: April 11 – 24, 2022

Challenge #18
March GLADness

What do you get when you combine the two best parts of March – feeling LUCKY for all the good things in your life AND the heart-pumping competition of MARCH MADNESS?

You get Bridge II Sports Veteran Fitness Challenge – MARCH GLADNESS!

Veteran athletes will be logging as many miles as possible with their Fitbits as females vs. males compete on the literal ‘road’ to the championship.

To keep that emotional heart strong too, athletes can earn a point each day for a post in the VFC Fitbit community message board sharing what they are GLAD for.

Duration: March 19 – 27, 2022

Challenge #17
Team Sleep Challenge

Being healthy isn’t all about getting those steps in.
It is also about sleep, rest days and mindfulness.

We will be sharing tips on how to get better sleep.
And practicing mindfulness through meditation, yoga and other methods.

This is a TEAM Challenge (Fitbit does not share individual sleep data)

**VFC Athletes must wear Fitbits while sleeping to have data count toward the TEAM total.

Goal: Improve team sleep total by 20 minutes over 3 weeks

Week 1 We will gather Team Time Asleep Data for each team to establish a baseline. (and to get used to wearing our Fitbit while asleep)

Week 2 ‘Practice’ week’ to see if/how athletes can improve their Team Time Asleep totals from the week before.

Week 3 “Go Week’ – “Go to sleep’ that is! We will gather Team Time Asleep totals for the week to see how teams rank in the TEAM Sleep Challenge.

Duration: February 7 – 27, 2022

VFC Challenge #17 Sleep and Mindfulness with dates

Challenge #16
Keep Steppin‘ and Pushin’

Keep On Steppin’ and Pushin’!

VFC Athletes – Challenge yourselves to do more in 2022.

The Top 2 Female and Top 2 Male from Each Team with The Highest INDIVIDUAL Increase of Steps/Pushes from Week 1 (January 17-23) to Week 2 (January 24-30) will WIN a VFC prize!

AND……Top 2 Female and Top 2 Male with the most POSTS on the VFC Community Message Board will also win a prize. You can post a photo, share your workout, share your favorite workout song, or send a Message to say “HELLO” to our VFC Group.

Duration: January 17 – 30, 2022

Challenge #15
Tis’ The Season

Tis’ the season. to be…ACTIVE!

As the end of the year approaches with festivities and distractions galore VFC athletes can stay on track with our last challenge of 2021.

Teams will compete for the HIGHEST CUMULATIVE DAILY AVERAGE STEPS from December 17^th to December 31^st. All participating members of the top team will win a prize.

The top 2 Females and Top 2 Males from the non-winning teams will win a prize as well!

This is a Fitbit run Challenge that will have TEAM MESSAGING available during the challenge in your Fitbit app.

To ‘spice’ up the challenge we are going to be celebrating the ‘National Days of…” every day!
Have fun, be festive, and snap a photo to add to our VFC Fitbit Community Board.

Date		National Day
17-Dec	Ugly Sweater Day
18-Dec	Wreaths Across America Day
19-Dec	Look for an Evergreen Day
20-Dec	Go Caroling Day
21-Dec	Bah Humbug Day
22-Dec	Cookie Exchange Day
23-Dec	Christmas Movie Marathon Day
24-Dec	Egg Nog Day
25-Dec	Christmas Day
26-Dec	Kwanzaa
27-Dec	Make Cut-Out Snowflakes Day
28-Dec	Call a Friend Day
29-Dec	Pepper Pot Day
30-Dec	Resolution Planning Day
31-Dec	NEW YEAR’S EVE!!

Duration: December 17 – 30, 2021

Challenge #14
WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR?

Did you know there is one simple thing that you can do to improve your physical health, mental state, sleep, and relationships? Expressing gratitude!

During this season of giving thanks let’s focus on all the good things in our lives.

This is a two-part challenge. VFC athletes can choose to do both parts or just one. Athletes who are active and syncing during the Challenge are automatically entered.

Challenge #1: Earn one point every day for posting what you are thankful for in the VFC Community Fitbit feed.

Challenge #2: stay focused on your fitness, keep moving, and push yourself to go just a little further every day.
Athletes can calculate their average daily steps during the first week of the challenge and then work to increase that average in the second week.

DURATION: November 17 – 30, 2021

Challenge #13
VFC SPOOKY TRAIL

VFC athletes will all be working together to complete a trip to visit Haunted Towns and A-Mazing Corn Mazes all around the United States.

The Spooky Trail Challenge will be EVERYONE working together as one big VETERAN FITNESS CHALLENGE TEAM. Every step counts toward getting us around the country.

DURATION: October 18 -31, 2021

Challenge #12
UNITED IN MOVEMENT TEAM RACE

A special challenge as we celebrate the 1-year anniversary of the Bridge II Sports Veteran Fitness Challenge program.

In the spririt of camaraderie and working together TEAMS will compete in this steps challenge.

Every day of the challenge, each team’s daily steps will be collected and averaged. Those daily averages will be added to create an overall total score. The team with the highest step score wins.

DURATION: September 13 -26, 2021

Challenge #11
TAKE ON THE VFC DREAM TEAM

V-F-C! V-F-C! V-F-C!
We’ve got the RED, WHITE & BLUE spirit in full-force for the upcoming Veteran Fitness Challenge #11, August 25 to 31!

Participants will take on the most competitive members of the Bridge II Sports and VFC Coaching DREAM TEAM one at a time in a day-long steps or active minutes Fitbit challenge.

VFC Athletes— Can you take home the gold everyday?

Duration: August 25 – August 31. 2021

Challenge #10
AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

Turn up the Chuck Berry ‘cause we are BACK IN THE USA for Veteran Fitness Challenge #10!

What better way to celebrate AMERICA than by visiting our beautiful and diverse national parks from coast to coast and north to south.

For 5 weeks, VFC athletes will be hiking a route taking them around the whole country ‘visiting’ 47 different national parks along the way.

There will be plenty to see on the hike with fun facts, photos and updates about the parks as we pass through posted in our VFC Community FitBit feed by Bridge II Sports staff. Athletes are encouraged to post photos of their own ‘real life’ visits and share memories of any of the parks on the list or give a shout-out when we travel through their state!

Athletes will work collectively to complete each of the 5 legs of the 15,000 mile trip- one leg starting each Saturday. We will be adding up cumulative DAILY MILES of ALL participants to make it to our next destination (NO TEAMS this time).

So get out there and start moving…and make sure to sync your Fitbit so EVERY MILE COUNTS.

Duration: June 12 – July 16, 2021

Challenge #9
JOURNEY THROUGH ASIA

This is a TEAM CHALLENGE – stay connected and motivated with your teammates in the ‘Your Team’ section of the FitBit app. You’ll be able to chat and message with your teammates during this challenge.

GOAL: We trekked South America back in November- let’s head around the world and see the sights in ASIA!
This is a Fitbit challenge that will unlock new maps, landmarks, and cool stuff along the way.

Here is how steps are calculated:

Every day of the challenge, each team’s daily steps will be collected and averaged. Those daily averages will be added to create an overall total score. Those who haven’t contributed any steps in a given day will not be included in their team’s average for that day.
The team with the highest TOTAL step score wins.
(TOTAL step score = team average day 1 + team average day 2 +….. + team average day 30)

Keep on moving all challenge long!

Duration: May 1 – 30, 2021

Challenge #8
FIT WITH PHOTOS 2.0

We loved seeing your faces so much, we thought we’d do it again!

This is an INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGE.

GOAL: Earn up to 2 points EVERY day
1 point for getting over 8,000 steps
and another 1 point for posting a photo of YOU getting your steps in the VFC Fitbit Community Feed

Duration: April 12 – 25, 2021

Challenge #7
TEAM SLEEP CHALLENGE

Being healthy isn’t all about getting those steps in.
In March VFC athletes are challenged to increase their healthy rest.

Goal: Improve sleep by 20 minutes over 3 weeks

This is a TEAM Challenge

Week 1 we will gather Team Time Asleep Data for each team to establish a baseline.

Week 2 will be ‘Practice’ week’ to see if/how athletes can improve their Team Time Asleep totals from the week before.

Week 3 This is “Go Week’ – “Go to sleep’ that is! We will gather Team Time Asleep totals for the week to see how your team ranks in the TEAM Sleep Challenge.

Duration: March 7 – 27, 2021

Veteran Fitness Challenge Number 7 Catch Those Zzzz Team Sleep Challenge

Challenge #6
WHO’S THE BOSS?

Our volunteer VFC Team Coaches + Kathy & Katharine are challenging our VFC Athletes to a head-to-head challenge.
Every day for a week VFC athletes will square off against a different ‘Boss’ to see if they can beat the boss in total steps or active minutes (depending on the day’s challenge).

GOAL:
A VFC athlete earn one point for EACH DAY that he/she beats the boss

There is potential to earn 7 points during the challenge

Duration: February 14 – 20, 2021

How-To Instructions: Who’s The Boss? in Fitbit app

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Challenge #5
FIT WITH PHOTOS

Start the new year off right AND show everybody how it’s done with this INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGE.

GOAL: Earn up to 2 points EVERY day
1 point for getting over 8,000 steps
and another 1 point for posting a photo of YOU getting your steps in the VFC Fitbit Community Feed

There is potential to earn 28 points during the challenge

Duration: January 4 – 17, 2021

Challenge #4
ACTIVE TEAM MINUTES

This is a TEAM CHALLENGE – stay connected and motivated with your teammates in the ‘Your Team’ section of the FitBit app.

GOAL: Let’s fight these shorter, colder December days by staying active! Get as many active minutes as you can to add to your team’s grand total.

Duration: December 7 – 20, 2020

Challenge #3
TREK ACROSS SOUTH AMERICA

This is a TEAM CHALLENGE – stay connected and motivated with your teammates in the ‘Your Team’ section of the FitBit app.

GOAL: While the weather is cooling down here, things are heating up in South America!
Let’s take a vacation!
This is a Fitbit challenge that will unlock new maps, landmarks, and cool stuff along the way.

Here is how steps are calculated:

Keep on moving all challenge long!

Duration: November 1- 24, 2020

graphic of cartoon toucan. text reads: Welcome to Trek Across South America November 1 to 24

Challenge #2
THE ROAD TO SLEEPY HOLLOW

We are ALL working together on this one (no teams).
GOAL: In the spooky spirit of the season, our goal is to get from
Bridge II Sports (Durham, NC) to Sleepy Hollow, NY.
Distance: 544 miles

Progress will be posted once a day in the Fitbit VFC Community feed
along with some history of this classic American ghost tale and some
‘sight-seeing’ stops along the way.

Duration: October 19 – 23, 2020

Illustration of headless horseman riding on back of horse holding pumpkin head. Text reads Veteran Fitness Challenge #2 The Road to Sleepy Hollow. Goal: 544 miles October 19-23 Bridge 2 Sports

Challenge #1
BEAT BRIDGE II SPORTS

All TEAMS compete to see if they can beat
Bridge II Sports Staff Team in
AVERAGE ACTIVE MINUTES

Duration: September 21 – 30, 2020

RESOURCES AND TROUBLESHOOTING

Fitbit® Getting Started Guide (PDF)
Fitbit® Support:
- 844-5-FITBIT (844-534-8248)
- help.fitbit.com/cwsupport