To think I CAN do this walking challenge in 2026... 7 million steps

[HippopotamusForChristmas]

I'm a pretty regular walker, I did 4.5 million this year. So I'm challenging myself to 7 million for 2026 and there's a £50 bet on this! Just under 135k steps per week.

No more slobby non wash TV Sundays
Walking pad ordered for home... can even use it when I'm in my dressing gown waiting for my hash browns to cook
Going for a 15 minute stroll on lunch breaks
10/15 mile walks on non working days (Fridays and Saturdays. This isn't unusual for me).

This isn't out of reach is it?!

Merry Christmas ❤️

I wouldn’t say out of reach but it is a lot! That about 19k a day - I do that most weekdays as I’m out with my dog for long walks but often DH will do a weekend day and I don’t walk nearly as much on holiday etc I’d find it hard to catch up if I had a slow day!

Crikey! Very best of luck @HippopotamusForChristmas !
I probably manage 10,000 steps a day, I definitely couldn’t do double 😁

I walk maybe 5x/week and walk 6-7 miles each time. That’s like 12-15k steps (according to my phone, I don’t have a counter). To get to 7m steps I’d need to be walking 8-9 miles a day, every single day of the year. So no, not doable imo.

Right, that'll be £50 from you un all!

I’ve done 5.8 million this year, I’d like to make 6, but I don’t think I will.

I don’t think I could do 7, but if I won the lottery and dient have to work I’d certainly give it a go. I think 6 would be a more realistic challenge!

Yes it’s doable. I do more than that each year and I just walk as much as possible. Brushing your teeth? Step! Chatting on the phone? Step! I’m quite fidgety and hate sitting down for a long time. If somewhere is walkable, I’ll leave the car behind.

Go for it!

I'm actually glad these are the responses I thought some people would be saying "pah that's nothing I smash 50k steps per hour!" You know what this place can be like.

The Challenge is set... 7 million steps in 2026 and I'm even buying a lovely little book to write my weekly numbers in. Sometimes the app can be a little sticky.

Wish me luck 🙏

It’s consistency that I find difficult. I could happily do 30k steps per day but that takes hours I don’t have. Do you have a job involving a lot of walking (or a dog?!)

Of course it's doable, I can clock up 20k just pottering about at home.

I've never thought to check how many I do per year, just checked my app and so far I've done just over 8.3 million and that's with being bed bound with a disc prolapse. Guess I'll take a punt for 10 mil next year.

Doable but a challenge!
i do between 10-12,000 on an average day - always have an hours walk either before work, my lunch hour or evening and then walk as much as I can anyway. Don’t really run anymore but swim and do other non step based exercises - for me it’s a time issue that I don’t get more steps in because i
prioritise other types of exercises which I find more beneficial for my needs. But I love walking and do as much as I can.
good luck with your mission!

Just how big is your home?

🤣

I hadn’t really thought too much about what my yearly steps would total, but according to my Garmin, your target is do-able. Apparently I’ve been averaging 150k steps per week since I got my Garmin. I’d say approx half of my steps each week are ‘normal life’ walking to get to places, etc. and half are purposeful faster walks (with the occasional/maybe once a week walking in front of the TV in an evening).

I’m also very aware that fitness trackers aren’t completely accurate, but they give a rough idea.

Good luck with your challenge! Will you update us with your progress?

@OffTheHookNow just a standard 3 bed grey ex council box. About 100m²

No I have an office job but I move around a lot. No dog but also no kids and single, work four days a week and free most work evenings after 5pm. Weekends are usually my own to play with

I'd recommend going hard in summer. I do a min 20k steps a day normally but in may/June this year it was closer to 30k daily. This gives you some wriggle room for the days when it's chucking it down or your travelling etc. It's definitely doable within a fairly normal routine. I definitely don't go crazy. It's about what 4 hours walking a day? Something like that.

Definitely! I'm a 6am weekend person in Spring so I can get an hour or two done in the mornings, come back for breakfast and bed and then recover... get another walk done in the afternoon.

I have high hopes for the walking pad really helping me out. Even a 20 minute blast on that will add up if I commit myself to do enough of them!

I'm all over this.

If it helps for reference, I do a 2 hour walk in the afternoon whilst toddler is napping. All other steps are just getting around. I also run 4 times a week. I don't track my steps inside, so it's more in reality. You don't have to do a great deal, but be consistent. If you can squeeze in two long walks in the summer and a day's hike once a fortnight, you'll be laughing.

So Monday to Friday your main walk will be a 15 min stroll?

I am struggling to see how you will remotely hit this target

Takes about an hour for 5000 steps
10 miles takes about 3 to 4 hours so 20,000 at best on your off days

135,000 per week is an average of 19,000 a day

if yiu want to do most of them in two days that would be say 60,000 each day

the most I managed was around 50k in a day occasionally in the summertime - when the days are long

so not likely o would say

I did over 5 million this year but the time it would take to get that to 7.5 would be disruptive - unless you run?

No. Fridays are a non working day for me and the 15 minute stroll is just an extra thing when I'm in the office. All other input has already been explained.

Just checked and I do about 5m a year, but I am a runner which definitely keeps my step count high, particularly when marathon training. 7m is going to be a challenge but it sounds like that's what you're looking for.

I'm on 6.2m so far this year, last year was 6.7m. Looking back at my data it's January's that let me down. It's just so dark and grotty out there the first few weeks of the year.

I want to crack 7m now too 🤔.

It IS a challenge but we can do this if we're committed. All those little bursts will add up as long as I am super active on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. My fitness watch won't be coming off in 2026 other than when I'm asleep or showering. I also have two European breaks booked that will be exploring trips rather than beachy types and a couple of day trips to London.

Great idea! I've just checked and I've done 7.3 million this year. That's via fitbit though so includes pottering at home....I run a bit, and try to walk wherever I can. I live in London so even when I use public transport, it adds up. We don't have a car and I rarely go in one. The thing I find makes a difference is when on holiday, or with a busy day, is to get out first thing for a walk or a run if possible, just 30 mins My daily target is 13k and I only really miss that if ill.