July Motivation for Adventure!
The July Challenge is all about spice — adding some cayenne pepper to your daily living! After 6 months of monthly challenges that involved primarily daily training tasks tied in to meeting a larger goal for the month, this month’s challenge is about getting OUT of your comfort zone and shaking things up on at least 3 special occasions.
There are 3 adventures to complete in this challenge:
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- one multi-hour big adventure
- one weekday micro adventure
- one spontaneous adventure
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There are two objectives for the month 1) complete each of the 3 out-of-comfort-zone challenges and 2) bring someone along on at least one of the adventures.
1. Example multi-hour big adventures
Long bike ride on a new route, trail run in the mountains, swim across a lake, out-and-back paddle to a new destination or on a new body of water, hike/climb a new peak, complete an obstacle course race, hike up and sleep on top of a mountain, create and finish your own improvised obstacle course race…
If you are regularly doing outdoor adventures, then it’s going to take some extra effort this month to push outside your comfort zone. Now is the time to make that effort. Longer duration? More elevation? New route? Super early start? Your goal is to find whatever pushes your limits and go to that space this month. One big effort in July and you’ve completed this component of the challenge!
2. Example weekday micro adventures
This is an activity you don’t normally do on a weekday (e.g., hike, mountain bike, open water swim, etc.). This may require a super-early start or sneaking an adventure into your lunch break.
How about waking up at 4AM to hike before work, or hiking TO work? Maybe a late night swim or bike ride during your lunch break? Running / kayaking / cycling your commute? You could improvise a sprint triathlon, hit the climbing gym or your local crag for a hard bouldering session when it’s empty during the day, or take the afternoon off and go whitewater rafting or tandem paragliding. Maybe a July midweek morning is the perfect time for your 1st skydive, first time wake boarding or first time skating on a longboard.
And no, if you’ve got a summertime regular evening bike ride, morning run, or post-work SUP — these don’t count for the challenge. Switch it up though (timing, location, distance, intensity, etc.) and you’re on. Duration isn’t as important as breaking out of your normal pattern for this time of year. In a way, this makes your micro adventure more of a Habanero pepper — super intense, but all that’s needed is a little bit!
3. Example spontaneous adventures
This type of adventure is organized only on the day of (or night before), with as little planning as possible. This can be a run in a hard summer rain, improvised outdoor workout in the mud, swim with street clothes on, signing up for a last minute archery lesson, having a friend teach you some Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, biking to work, hiking or running where you select your route on the fly, adding on some extra hills and unknown paths to any outdoor activity, etc. Just make sure it’s as spontaneous as safely possible for the chosen activity. Anything counts that you wouldn’t have done otherwise if you weren’t being extra adventure-minded this month!
How to Join
Just ask to join this closed Facebook Group — for support and accountability. The support group on Facebook brings friendly and supportive people together from around the world.
Once you’re in, feel free to add any friends who want to join.
It’s not required that you post on the group, or even join it in the first place. It’s more fun and motivational in a community though!
By the way, this whole thing is FREE — just good people coming together to support each other.
Secondary Challenge
This month’s secondary challenge is simply to bring someone along on at least one of the adventures!
Helpful Tools & Ideas
Reminder and Accountability Apps: I use the iPhone app called Productive to remind me and keep accountable during our challenges. There are others as well. These apps are excellent for accountability.
FAQ
May I join late? What is the deadline? You may join any time you want, including late in the month. Really? Sure. It’s more fun to join closer to the start of the month. If you discover the challenge later in the month though and can complete the 3 challenges, then please go for it and join us!
How do I join if I’m not on Facebook? Just say I’m in out loud 3 times, and you’ll be in! If you want to connect the dots and receive a virtual high-five, feel free to also drop me a note at [email protected] or say hi on other social media channels (links in footer).
May I join the challenge, but start my own Facebook group for my gym, club, friends or community? Sure. I’d love to see you in the global group, so how about both?
I hope you join us!
— Coach Jeff