EA SPORTS Active 5K Challenge… Getting my rear in gear!

I found out about the EA SPORTS Active 5K Challenge on Twitter earlier this month.

Basically, the purpose is to take your exercise routine to the next level by training for a 5K using EA SPORTS Active for the Wii. No specific race, just one in your community that’s being held between October 17th and November 15th of this year.

I’ve walked my share of 5Ks, but never run one, so I decided to sign up and make that my goal. The question was which one? I’ve done the Turkey Trot in DC before, but that’s not until Thanksgiving, so I had to search for something sooner. When I saw the list of races in the DC Metro area, “Get Your Rear in Gear” stuck out to me because of its clever name. When I clicked on its homepage for more information, I got it. It’s an event run by the Colon Cancer Coalition to raise funds and increase awareness about this terrible disease.

I teared up. This was meant to be. My aunt Annie lost her fight with colon cancer just 6 weeks ago.

So I registered for the run and also signed up to become an EA SPORTS Active 5K Challenge Community Leader. As a Community Leader, I’ll be leading a group of challengers through the 5K, keep them motivated, host training sessions, and write about my experience. We’ll all get team t-shirts to wear during the run, and I’ll receive a complimentary copy of the new More Workouts program (coming out in November), as a thank you. I named my team Joie de Vivre, in memory of my aunt, who was so full of life!

Check out the list of Community Leaders and see if there’s a 5K being organized in your city! Email the leader in your area and then sign up: easportsactive5kchallenge.eventbrite.com to officially be included in the challenge. If you’d like to donate to my fundraising efforts, I’d greatly appreciate it! You can do so by visiting my donation page.

I’m traveling this week, so I’ll officially start training on Saturday. That will give me 6 weeks to get in running shape! Now all I need is a few good team members to join me. There’s a training schedule on the EA SPORTS Active website to use as a guide with a 4-week program for those that want to run/walk the 5K and another for those that would like to run the entire distance (me!). Each workout is about 20-30 minutes in length and alternates between workouts on the Wii and jogs/walks outside. To make it a 6-week program, I’ve added one week of easy intensity workouts and an extra week of medium intensity. I’ve already loaded the workout into my Wii. It includes a little bit of cardio and a whole lot of lower body exercises. The great thing is that I can totally customize it if there’s something that’s not working for me, or if I find it to be too easy. That’s what I love about EA SPORTS Active. That and the fact that it’s helped me lose 20 pounds since August! If you don’t have a Wii already, now might be the right time to get your hands on a console, since the price just dropped by $50 yesterday.

I have a copy of EA SPORTS Active to give away so that one of my readers can join me on this challenge! To enter, please leave a relevant comment. I’d love a little motivation. ;)

For extra entries:

  • Blog about this giveaway, linking back to this post.
  • Subscribe to my feed (or let me know if you already do).
  • Follow me on Twitter (@OhMariana) and tweet about this giveaway: I want to ‘get my rear in gear’ with #EASActive! Win a copy from @ohMariana – http://bit.ly/1RfflI
  • Grab my button (at the bottom of the page) and link to me in your sidebar or blog roll.
  • Become a fan of Riding With No Hands on Facebook (or tell me if you are already!)

Contest ends: Monday, October 12th, 2009 11:59 pm EST. US entries only. Leave a separate comment for each entry & a valid email address/blog URL. Winner, chosen at random, has 3 days to claim their prize.

Related Posts with Thumbnails

348 Comments

  1. Email subscriber!

  2. I follow you on Twitter and ‘Tweeted’ this giveaway!

    Twitter User ID: LT38

    Tweet:

    http://twitter.com/LT38/status/4789549314

  3. Facebook Fan!

    LeAndrew W. Taylor

  4. AWESOME!

    Thanks for the great giveaway offering!

    This is just what I need to ‘jump-start’ or should I say ‘re-jump-start!’ my daily fitness routine!

    Please, include me in your drawing!

    Thanks again and good luck to all!

  5. Kmorghan /

    Good luck training for the 5K! When I was younger I ran several of them, for various good causes, and they are a lot of fun and extremely motivating.

    As for me, I need to get EA Sports Active. I had to take several months off from my regular workout routine due to an injury and I’m having a hard time getting started in the exercise habit again. I’ve already got the Wii and I’ve heard good things about the game.

  6. Danielle G. /

    After years of failed attempts, I have recently lost 25 pounds and still have 15 to go. I am at a standstill right now and maybe this is just the thing I need to kick my body back into gear and lose the rest of this weight once and for all. Plus, we are getting a Wii for our kids (and ourselves) for Christmas, so this would be a perfect addition! Thank you so much for the chance to win!

  7. Danielle G. /

    I became a fan on facebook!

  8. Danielle G. /

    I subscribe!

  9. Christal /

    It is wonderful you can do something in memory of your aunt

  10. ky2here /

    I’m a runner – I’d suggest buddying with someone who runs regularly. 5K is a very attainable goal. The most frightening thing for many people is when they breath laboredly at about 5-6 blocks. It’s helpful to have a buddy to help you learn to guage your ‘second wind’.

  11. ky2here /

    Following on twitter as ky2here, here’s a tweet: http://twitter.com/ky2here/status/4792228193

  12. “Get your rear in gear” is just priceless for the Colon Cancer Coalition & I agree, it was fated that you found it at this time in your life.

    We have a Wii & my kids love it – I love that they get up to bowl, golf & play tennis!

    I’ve been eyeing up the EA Active Sports for a while but haven’t yet made room in the budget. It would be a nice addition to my workouts!

    Best wishes for your training & your event.
    I look forward to seeing how things go as your try out this program & to see how your 5k ends up!

    Lynn

  13. amy delong /

    good luck for the 5k,stick to your workout!

    ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com

  14. Jennifer Goble /

    I am very exited about adding this new tool my fitness arsonal.

  15. Leslie D. /

    I’m very sorry about your Aunt Annie. I hope that your training is going well, and you get in the best shape ever so you can motivate and keep your people’s rears in gear! Thanks so much!

  16. This looks like it would be a fun way to get a good workout.

    shawn113(at)hotmail(dot)com

  17. I’d love to try this. I put on some weight after quitting smoking and I’d LOVE to get my rear in gear too!
    Cori Westphal´s last blog ..Skoy Cloth Winners! My ComLuv Profile

  18. I’m a subscriber.
    Cori Westphal´s last blog ..Skoy Cloth Winners! My ComLuv Profile

  19. I’m a FB fan: Cori Eckstrom Westphal
    Cori Westphal´s last blog ..Skoy Cloth Winners! My ComLuv Profile

  20. shirley /

    would love to win this for our wii, bowling is getting old..

  21. This looks like a fun way to exercise!
    Chrysa ´s last blog ..Free Texas Tech Backpack for High School Students My ComLuv Profile

  22. I’m a Facebook fan.
    Chrysa´s last blog ..Free Texas Tech Backpack for High School Students My ComLuv Profile

  23. Set realistic goals and work to improve practice race times. Good luck and thank you!

  24. Geoff K /

    Congrats on your weight loss, and continued good luck! I invested in a Wii and Wii Fit earlier this year, and it’s really helped me stay on track for my fitness goals — I love how it lets you track your daily progress and “unlock” more and more activities and workouts as you achieve more and more. I’ve also heard great things about the EA Sports Active, and I’m grateful for the chance to win a copy! My biggest means of staying motivated is to forgive myself for bad days, when I don’t work out or eat things I shouldn’t — I immediately hit the “reset” button the next morning and get right back on track rather than dwell on my lapse. Thanks!

  25. Geoff K /

    I subscribe to your feed in google reader.

  26. Geoff K /

    I’m following you on twitter (@guettel78), and I tweeted: http://twitter.com/guettel78/status/4800825970

  27. Geoff K /

    I added your button to my sidebar: http://slavetoacademia.blogspot.com/

  28. Geoff K /

    I became a facebook fan: Geoff K

  29. I would so love to get my rear in gear! hehe

  30. I would love to join you, great giveaway!

  31. Im a subscriber.
    Jazzy´s last blog ..Molly Stuff Jewelry & Prints Giveaway! My ComLuv Profile

  32. Angela Gaffke /

    I have a hard time getting motivated but I think this would do the trick. Thanks!

  33. Good luck! I have never walked or run anything organized, so kudos to you! Keep up the great work ;) sbcashortie (at) hotmail (dot) com
    Becca´s last blog ..Book Review: The Dangerous Days of Daniel X My ComLuv Profile

  34. I became your fan on Facebook as Becca Okaneko
    Becca´s last blog ..Book Review: The Dangerous Days of Daniel X My ComLuv Profile

  35. I became an email subscriber.
    Becca´s last blog ..Book Review: The Dangerous Days of Daniel X My ComLuv Profile

  36. I am following you on twitter (I am sbshortie) and I tweeted the contest at http://twitter.com/sbshortie/status/4803394849
    Becca´s last blog ..Book Review: The Dangerous Days of Daniel X My ComLuv Profile

  37. R Hicks /

    ea sports has lots of great products. I am sure you will easily swing the 5k. Best of luck!

  38. R Hicks /

    already subscribe via email and rss

    ardy22 at earthlink dot net

  39. R Hicks /

    follow on twitter and tweeted

    http://twitter.com/Ardy22/status/4803657980

  40. R Hicks /

    already facebook fan

    rich hicks