Walking Challenge Ignites Competitive Streak
No one was more surprised than Tina Landin that she walked 385 miles in the “217 Challenge,” a Macon on the Move walking program that ran through the month of October in 2025.
“I’ve always tried to exercise and be active on my own,” said the 39-year-old radiation therapist with Memorial Cancer Care in Decatur. “My coworkers encouraged me to join the challenge at the last minute to get a T-shirt.”
Participants in Macon on the Move walking challenges track their cumulative miles using the free Pacer app. Once the app is loaded onto a cellphone or smartwatch, the program logs steps. Those who log ten or more miles receive a “217 Challenge” T-shirt.
“Walking even a few minutes every day is enough to improve your health,” said DMH community health consultant Sonja Chargois. “We love how the challenge motivated Tina to such an incredible accomplishment, but the main goal is to encourage people to walk more to enjoy the physical and mental health benefits.”
Tina hit the ten-mile T-shirt goal on the first day, walking 12.4 miles. And then, kind of like Forrest Gump, she just kept walking … 385 miles total in October. For those keeping track at home, that averages out to about 28,685 steps a day!
She mainly walked outdoors with a favorite destination being the walking trails around Lake Shelbyville. While the walking challenges aren’t designed as a competition, Tina became motivated by the idea of walking more miles than anyone else.
“I decided to knock out the 10 miles on the first day, not thinking it would be difficult,” she said. “Then I saw someone named Gina was listed at #1 on the app and not far ahead of me. So I wanted to be listed as #1 along with her.”
Her coworkers loved how competitive Tina became as the month wore on, especially because her emoji on the app was the “ZZZ” sleepy one because she’s not a morning person. Gina, her unknown friendly competition, always logged her miles first thing, so Tina had daily motivation to keep up.
She would get home from work at 4:30 p.m. and change into walking clothes. Then she would head outdoors and walk until she logged the 12.4 miles, some days until 10:30 at night!
“I kept trying, even with blisters on every single one of my toes,” she said. “It definitely was a challenge although it did get easier toward the end of the month, and I felt like I had more energy as a result.”
Tina doesn’t have a bucket list, but she plans to take the Mindful Miles spring challenge in May. She is, after all, the reigning walking champion of Macon on the Move.
Want to take the Mindful Miles Challenge this May?
Memorial Health invites the community to join our regional walking challenge with kick-off parties at each hospital location on April 30. Walk 50 miles or more in May – anywhere, anytime and earn a free T-shirt. Just track your miles using the free Pacer app.
For more information:
- Decatur: email chargois.sonja@mhsil.com
- Jacksonville: email peak.claire@mhsil.com
- Lincoln: email mccain.molly@mhsil.com
- Springfield: email cossyleon.galia@mhsil.com
- Taylorville: email boulanger.jay@mhsil.com