Get up, get moving and stay healthy with the Steps to B-Healthy walking program
Healthier students, faculty and staff mean a healthier University.
Sponsors
Thank you to Campus Recreational Services, Binghamton University Dining Services and the Binghamton University Bookstore (Barnes & Noble) for your continued support of our program.
Register and log your steps
Join the Binghamton University group and receive rewards for your dedication and progress. We will be using the Steps to B-Healthy website (see sidebar: Log Your Steps!) to log miles.
Take a walk around your neighborhood. Check out a local park for a walk in the woods. The University has several walking trails on campus. Mileage signs can be found every .2 miles on the yellow and green trails. Download this helpful walking trail map for more details about walking opportunities at Binghamton University.
Sign up
Interested in joining the more than 300 members? All you need to do is email bhealthy@binghamton.edu with the following information:
- Name
- Email Address
- University Department (or Team Name)
Each month, we will ask you to log your total steps for that month in the submission form to the left of this webpage. If you reach the monthly goal, we'll send you rewards and helpful tips to stay motivated.
Are you ready for physical activity?
The following information is for your own benefit and safety.
Physical activity is fun, healthy, and safe for most individuals, however, if you are new to exercise or seldom participate in any physical activity, it is important to determine whether you should seek consultation by a physician before increasing your physical activity. Below are questions from the PAR-Q — a questionnaire designed to determine physical activity readiness for people ages 15-69. If you are older than 69 years old and not physically active, talk to your physician before you start exercising.
PAR-Q: Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire
- Has your doctor ever said that you have a heart condition and that you should only do physical activity recommended by a doctor?
- Do you feel pain in your chest when you do physical activity?
- In the past month, have you had chest pain when you were not doing physical activity?
- Do you lose your balance because of dizziness or do you ever lose consciousness?
- Do you have a bone or joint problem (for example, back, knee or hip) that could be made worse by a change in your physical activity?
- Is your doctor currently prescribing drugs (for example, water pills) for your blood pressure or heart condition?
- Do you know of any other reason why you should not do physical activity?
If you answered yes to any of the questions, it is important to talk with your physician before you become more physically active. If you answered no to all of them, it is likely you are ready to safely begin your exercise regimen.
Source: American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
Goals and prizes
Participants can track daily step counts by using a pedometer*, activity tracker (i.e. Jawbone, Fitbit) or by converting mileage into steps. There are also a number of good apps available for your smartphone to help with counting steps.
In order to be eligible for rewards, participants must submit the month's total steps using the "Log Your Steps" box located on the right-hand side of this page. If you experience any issues please email bhealthy@binghamton.edu.
Please note: only walking and running steps will count for rewards, although participants can log as many other activities as they wish.
There will be twelve monthly contests — some will be personal challenges, others will be a team challenge. To be eligible for monthly rewards, all steps must be sent by the last day of the month. Individual awards will be confirmed via e-mail and mailed to on-campus addresses. Other contest winners will be notified via e-mail.
2023 Monthly Contests
January
250,000 steps during the month (average 8,000/day) and receive a free prize from Campus Recreation.
During the month of January, Steps to B-Healthy Participants walked a total of 19,669,077 steps which is equivalent to about 9,313 miles. What a great way to start off the new year! We had 48 walkers meet the 250,000 step goal and were awarded a from Campus Recreation. Congratulations everyone!
Top Walkers: Stephen Corbisiero (631,877), Crystal Muse, Athletics (525,543), and Kim Mause, Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences (523,154).
February
270,900 steps during the month (average 9,675/day) and be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card from the Binghamton University Bookstore by Barnes & Noble.
38 Steps to B-Healthy walkers met the step goal for February, walking more than 5,910 miles. That's more than 13 million steps -wow! Congratulations to Duane Theleman from the ITS department for winning the $100 gift card to the Binghamton University Bookstore! Keep up the great work everyone!
Top Walkers: Stephen Corbisiero (562,232), Kimberly Maus, Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences (473,409), and Crystal Muse, Athletics (471,954).
March
The team/department with the highest per person average number of steps for the month will earn a catered "Meeting Morsels" event from Binghamton University Dining Services.
Congratulations to the Dynamic Outstanding Striders (DOS) Team who averaged 393,711 steps per person and earned a "Meeting Morsels" event from Binghamton University Dining Services! Overall, Steps to B-Healthy participants walked 20,574,615 steps -more than 9,700 miles!
Top Walkers: Stephen Corbisiero (699,667), Crystal Muse, Athletics (574,306), and Kimberly Maus, Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences (561,065).
April
250,000 steps during the month (average 8,000/day) and receive a free prize from Campus Recreation.
Steps to B-Healthy participants walked more than 10,500 miles during this month (nearly 18 million steps)! 60 walkers met the April goal and received a free prize from Campus Recreation. Keep up all the great work everyone!
Top Walkers: Stephen Corbisiero (612,187), Kimberly Maus, Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences (575,586), and Umur Ciftci, FRI (565,452).
May
Complete 300,000 steps during the month (average 9,675/day) and be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card from Campus Recreational Services good on all memberships, classes and services. Try a membership for the summer, get a personal trainer to jump start your exercise plan or enjoy a fabulous massage!
June
The team/department with the highest per person average number of steps for the month will earn a catered "Meeting Morsels" event from Binghamton University Dining Services.
July
Complete 250,000 steps during the month (average 8,000/day) and receive a free prize from Campus Recreation.
August
Complete 300,000 steps during the month (average 9,677/day) and be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card from Campus Recreational Services good on all memberships, classes and services. Relax after opening with a great massage or feel the burn with a new personal trainer.
September
The team/department with the highest per person average number of steps for the month will earn a catered "Meeting Morsels" event from Binghamton University Dining Services by Sodexo.
October
Complete 250,000 steps during the month (average 8,064/day) and receive a free prize from Campus Recreation.
November
300,000 steps during the month (average 10,000/day) and be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card from the Binghamton University Dining Services by Sodexo.
December
The team/department with the highest per person average number of steps for the month will earn a catered "Meeting Morsels" event from Binghamton University Dining Services by Sodexo.
Team/Department Awards
Members must register for a specific team or department to be eligible for the team awards. Teams must consist of at least three people; there is no maximum. A team/department designation can be adjusted at any time by emailing bhealthy@binghamton.edu with the team designation/name.
Winners will be determined by taking the total number of steps accumulated by all team members during the month and dividing by the total number of team members that submitted steps.
Binghamton University Dining Services will provide "Meeting Morsels" and healthy refreshments to the meeting of your choice (for up to twenty people). Team members will be able to choose from a selection of options on the Meeting Morsel menu like crudites and hummus, fresh fruit platters, yogurt parfaits, homemade energy bars, black bean brownies or make-your-own trail mix options.
Monthly winners will be announced online. Check back and watch our progress!
Resources
The following may be helpful in determining your activity level and help set goals for yourself.
2,000 steps = 1 mile (based on a 2.5 foot stride)
10,000 steps per day = 5 miles
Steps per day Activity level
- < 5,000 Sedentary
- 5,000 - 7,000 Low Active
- 7,500 - 9,900 Somewhat Active
- 10,000 - 12,500 Active
- >12,500 High Active
Developed by C Tudor-Locke and DR Bassett Jr (2004)
Increasing your steps
For most people, increasing your average daily steps each week by 500 per day is a reasonable goal. For example, if you are currently averaging about 5,000 steps a day, your goal for the first week would be 5,500 steps. For week two, your goal would be 6,000 steps each day and so on. Your ultimate goal over time would be to reach 10,000 steps a day (or more!).
