Meg, Health Editor

When we launched this walking challenge back in April we were hoping our readers would together log in at least 75,000 miles. Amazingly, we just hit the one million mile mark! Wow. Amazing. I am so proud. And inspired. So much so that I felt the need to go out for a walk today at lunch-time. I hit the sidewalk running, only to be halted by a “real-feel” temperature of 105 degrees. The air was so thick I felt like I could barely take in a deep breath. But I crossed to the shady side of the street and caught a breeze and my pace picked up. I returned to the office a little sweaty but totally energized for the afternoon. Thanks for the inspiration!

Katie, Editorial Assistant

Summer can be grueling in the City so I take every chance I get to escape to my parents house on Cape Cod. Trading in the hot, sticky overly-populated streets of NYC for the breezy wide open beaches of the Cape definitely revs up my motivation to exercise and this past weekend at the Cape was no exception. Walking with a companion is so much more fun than going at it alone- especially when that companion is your best friend! My sister, Christie and I, along with her adorable Boston Terrier puppy (cleverly named Boston) took long barefoot power walks on the beach and let me tell you, that sand really gives a girl a workout! My calves are still sore but it’s that good kind of pain that comes from knowing you stretched your body’s limits. Plus, walking with a friend is a great chance to catch up and stay connected. Of course, we rewarded ourselves for our hard work with a couple margaritas afterwards but, hey, we deserved them! Can’t wait to get back to the beaches and people I love so much just as soon as I can.

Danielle, Assistant Photo Editor

One of my other passions, besides photography, is movie-watching. I can sit on my couch for hours and hours watching movies... One after another, after another, after another. I have even been dubbed the Netflix queen by some of my closest friends. The problem is that as much as I love spending my time curled up on the couch all day with my dog and a bag of Healthy Pop, I know it is not good for my health or well-being, especially when it is so gorgeous outside. It was evident that I had to make a change, but I knew that there was no way I could cut out movies altogether, so I made a deal with myself... I would allow myself to watch some movies as long as I would commit to taking time before and after each movie to take a walk. Since I have started this, I have been surprised at how much better I have been feeling, and how my weekends actually seem longer. My dog is loving the new system too!

Julie, Senior Food Editor

Recently, I went on a week’s vacation to Block Island and then on to Disney World. Unlike usual vacations where I relax on the beach, this one was filled with exercise. On Block Island, I rented a bicycle and my friends and I spent most days covering about 7 to 10 miles into town and back. Once I moved on to Disney World, my days were filled with stroller-pushing mini-marathons with my three nephews, ages 7, 4 and 8-months. Happily, after hoofing it around Orlando for 31/2 days (plus the biking earlier in the week), I returned home to find that I had lost about 21/2 pounds. Now that’s what I call a working vacation!

Stephanie, Associate Editor

This weekend my boyfriend and I traveled to Bermuda. It was amazing that such a short flight (only an hour-and-a-half from New York) could take us to a place that seemed like a world away! We couldn’t get over the turquoise waters, pink sands and friendly natives. We ate loads of fresh fish and enjoyed fruity drinks, but made sure to stay active to compensate for the delicious extra calories. After kayaking, swimming in the Atlantic, taking long walks on the beaches and biking all over the island (no small feat, considering the area’s windy roads and steep hills), I didn’t need to look at my pedometer to know that I’d snuck in plenty of exercise on my “vacation.”

Rachel, Editorial Assistant

Over the past few weeks I have saved some major MONEY! The weather has been consistently warm, so I walk everywhere and the $$ that I used to spend on cabs on those super cold nights when there was no way I could walk to the subway is safe and sound in my bank account. That is until the summer concerts start and then we might have another issue. For now I’m saving money and staying fit!

Anna, Editorial Assistant

This past weekend, I went to visit my parents in New Jersey and ran in an annual town race. The town sponsors a 1-mile fun run and a 4-mile run, and I always used to do the 1-mile growing up. This year, since I am all grown up, I did the 4-mile, and it was a lot of fun! The race course looped through my neighborhood, past my high school, and I saw a lot of friends and neighbors participating. I actually finished the first mile in seven minutes, which is way faster than my normal pace—I think I may have wanted to show off a little bit.

Next week, I’m off to Seattle to work as a volunteer camp counselor for a week—and, as anyone knows, chasing after kids can totally be considered cross-training.