As the old saying goes – You can’t keep a good thing down, we are finally back with the next edition of the GOQii Trail Challenge! Thanks to the pandemic, it’s been almost 2 years since we challenged you to take this 50km journey with us where we explored something more than just nature.
We explored hardships, camaraderie, teamwork, motivation, inner strength, fortitude and most importantly, through the many stories that emerged from the GOQii Trail Challenge, we not only observed the beauty that nature held, but we observed ourselves deeply and discovered something new about ourselves!
How The Trail Can Help You Discover Yourself?
While we can throw in a couple of adjectives that might strike an emotion, there’s nothing in the world that hits home harder than real life experiences.
One of our participants had never even done a trek, let alone a 50km trailwalk that requires a decent amount of preparation and training. In fact, she decided to take the challenge to prove her colleagues wrong – all of whom believed that she’d give up halfway. As the journey began, she realized that it’s not an easy feat.
Pooja as she approached the finish line
Her partner gave up and while this participant thought she’d be alone, she discovered that GOQii is not just a brand but a family, as no one is alone on the trail. Another participant who had been walking solo, paired up with her and motivated her to reach the finish line. She said that every participant she encountered only motivated her to push herself. Somewhere, she believed that she couldn’t complete the trail but as she reached the finish line, in all that awe and surprise, she found a new sense of pride and confidence! You can read Pooja’s heroic journey here.
Shankar Sabadi walking with a makeshift splint
Speaking of heroic journeys, here’s one that taught us a lot about fortitude, determination and not giving up in the face of adversity. Despite encountering a severe injury on the trail, Shankar Sabadi managed to complete the 50km trail using a makeshift splint for his broken arm. His determination to complete the challenge was overwhelming, even for us. He exemplified what it means to not give up and push forward, no matter what.
Sanket Bhirud (L) along with Anusha Subramanian (R)
The previous trailwalk wasn’t just about the struggle of able-bodied people but we also had a participant who had a disability. Being blind, Sanket Bhirud was accompanied by Anusha Subramanian as they raised awareness about inclusion of disabled people in the outdoors. We learned here that no matter who you are or what your circumstances, with enough determination, strong will and good teamwork, you can overcome any hurdle or barrier.
These are just a few stories from the GOQii Trail Challenge. While walking in the lap of nature, having to rely on your teammates and fellow walkers for support or even crossing a river, you might discover something about yourself that you never did before. It’s not just a trail walk, it’s about finding yourself!
A Few Other Reasons Why You Should Participate
Apart from discovering yourself, you can take the GOQii Trail Challenge to:
- Challenge the capabilities of your body and test your mental strength
- Connect with mother nature on a deeper level
- Enjoy a break in the heart of nature, away from the hustle and bustle of the city
- Meet and interact with like-minded people
- Strike out the “achieve the impossible” target of your checklist for the year
How Can You Participate In the GOQii Trail Challenge 2022?
Anyone can participate in this event, as long as they are above 18 years of age. ELITE GOQii Players and past participants are eligible for a special offer on this year’s registration fee.
The 50 km nature trail is in Mandangad, a village situated at the extreme north of Ratnagiri District in Maharashtra, approximately 4 hours from Mumbai. The journey to Mandangad will begin on Friday, 9th December, from the GOQii office in Mumbai by bus. The 50km trailwalk will be held on Saturday, 10th December 2022. We will return to the GOQii Mumbai office on Sunday, 11th December by 4.00 PM.
You can register as a single participant or as a team of 2. Please visit www.goqii.com/gtc for more details!
We hope to see you this year at the GOQii Trail Challenge 2022 as you #DiscoverYourTrail
#BeTheForce
Most of us have this desirable goal of losing fat but, when asked to act on it, we have a fixed set of excuses ready – No time! Too tough for me! Too boring to repeat the same pattern, etc. It’s time to ditch these excuses and rev up workouts which consume less time, can be done easily and are not monotonous. We suggest going for Interval Training!
It’s quite possible to take interval training to many levels. The length and speed of each high-intensity interval solely depend upon our strength and capacity. To get better with it, we need to make sure we push our body way past our comfort zone each time we do it. Remember, not to rush into strenuous exercise before our body is ready, to avoid injury. Ensure a good warm-up session before starting with it, and end it with stretches.
With the weather being unpredictable, stepping outdoors to get a good workout or a run might be practically impossible, especially if you’re not a fan of running in the rain. Don’t be disappointed! Where there’s a will, there’s a way! Don’t skip your workout routine just because the weather isn’t in your favour. Here are some indoor exercises you can perform from the convenience of your home.
A simple exercise that works fantastically on the core, lower back and Glute muscles Begin with lying in the prone position, with your arms stretched, raise your hands and legs 4-5 inches above the ground, hold for 10-15secs, then come back to the beginner position. Repeat the procedure for 3-5 reps.
A great core exercise concentrating majorly on the oblique muscles. Great way to tone the abs while burning calories. Start with lying in a plank position, then move your right leg front and back as though climbing a mountain, following the same procedure with your left leg. Try to do it as fast as you can for 60 secs. Follow it with 5 reps of 60 secs each.
Start with lying down in a prone position. Place your arms with your palms facing the floor shoulder-width apart. Bend elbows and Upper body to do a Push-up. Repeat the push-ups for 10-12 reps. Do at least 3 sets of 10-12 reps each.
Begin with a standing position, torso upright. Keep your feet hip-width apart. Bend down as if you are sitting on a chair with your arms extended. Do the exercise for 15-20 reps. Repeat it for 3-5sets of 15-20 reps each.
No exercise routine is complete without a crunch. Begin the exercise in a supine position, with your knees bent in a 90-degree angle and feet firmly on the floor. Place your hands behind your head so that the thumbs are behind your ears. Curl the upper body up, to crunch your abdomen. Repeat it for 15-20 reps. Try to do 3 sets of 15-20 reps each. This is one of the best and simple exercises to help in toning the abdominal muscles.
