Global Step Challenge

NYU Takes Nearly 250 Million Total Steps, Columbia Prevails

Over the course of three weeks (October 2-20, 2023), faculty and employees from New York University and Columbia University embarked on a journey towards greater activity and healthier lifestyles by competing in the Global Step Challenge. Both institutions were in a heated race for the highest total steps average.

Congratulations to each participant for your dedication and accomplishments. There is much to celebrate – NYU finished with 243,187,901 total steps! When the final numbers were calculated, NYU’s total average steps were only 40 short of Columbia’s. Congratulations to our Columbia University colleagues on the overall victory.

Additionally, congratulations to team participants from NYU locations and schools/departments who earned recognition in each of the categories below.

Highest Total Steps, Average Total Steps, and Distance

1,192,304: New York, Finance Operations and Treasury
778,480: New York, NYU IT
721,576: New York, Tandon/Langone

Highest Average Total Steps and Distance

56,776: New York, Finance Operations and Treasury
38,924: New York, NYU IT
36,079: New York, Tandon/Langone

Highest Mileage Stepped

502 miles: New York, Finance Operations and Treasury
389 miles: New York, NYU IT
353 miles: New York, Tandon/Langone

Highest Daily Average Minutes

New York, Finance Operations and Treasury
New York, Tisch
New York, Steinhardt

Most Improved Average Daily Steps (first 10 days vs. last 10 days)

311% improvement: New York, Wagner
276% improvement: New York, Tisch
275% improvement: New York, Registrar

a graphic showing Manhattan with NYU and Columbia situated at either end and a footstep tail mark inked between them

Winning Teams

2023 – Columbia Univ.
2022 – Florence
2021 – Abu Dhabi
2020 – New York
2019 – Florence
2018 – New York
2017 – Abu Dhabi
2016 – Abu Dhabi
2015 – Abu Dhabi
2014 – Abu Dhabi
2013 – Abu Dhabi
2012 – Abu Dhabi
2011 – New York

Did you know? The World Health Organization, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and American Heart Foundation recommend a minimum 10,000 steps per day to improve health and reduce risks of chronic disease.

Learn About the 2023 Challenge

Get ready to step up this fall by participating in the first ever NYU vs. Columbia University Global Step Challenge. Over the course of three weeks (October 2-20, 2023), faculty and employees from all NYU locations will form one big team and engage in a spirited contest to determine which university can achieve the highest average step count. Not only will individuals have the chance to compete for the ultimate bragging rights, but together, we'll also foster a healthier and more active community. Let's embrace this friendly competition, and together embark on a journey towards greater activity and healthier lifestyles.

All participants will join as one NYU team and compete against Columbia University to achieve the highest average steps. Honors will be given to the NYU participant with the highest total steps and highest average steps. Honors will also be given to the NYU location with the highest average steps.

Each participant will be automatically enrolled in a target challenge at the same time; the target is to achieve at least 133,000 total steps throughout the challenge. You can also keep your streak going by completing 7,000 steps per day.

Guidelines and Resources

Individuals will have five days to join from the kick-off day, and there will be a three-day grace period to sync their steps at the end of the challenge.
Having zero steps impacts team scores, which are based on average total steps, so sync daily. Users who do not sync at least once every seven days will be removed from the team.
An activity cap of 30,000 steps per day has been added to the team leaderboard, which means that each individual can sync up to 30,000 steps daily.
Stay engaged and sync your steps.

Additional Features

Education: Look for content posted within MoveSpring throughout the challenge. View motivational tips and articles on various health topics.
Team Chat: The team will have its designated chat room to provide support, social chatter, or friendly conversation to engage as a group. Note: Please follow NYU's social media guidelines when chatting.
Team Leaderboard: The university with the highest daily step average will be highlighted on MoveSpring Platform.
Streak: Try to meet a personal step, minute, or distance goal as many days in a row as possible. Each day you complete 7,000 steps keeps your streak going.
Target: Concurrent with the overall challenge, you are encouraged to complete the target goal of 133,000 steps over the 19-day challenge. MoveSpring automatically calculates an ideal daily individual target to help you stay on track.
Notifications: When content is posted by the challenge administrator or someone posts within your team chat, a push notification will appear. You may also receive push notifications to remind you to sync your steps. You can adjust your push notification settings, but we encourage you to leave them turned on.

Important Dates

Sept. 14: Registration Begins
Oct. 2: Challenge Begins
Oct. 6: Final Chance to Join
Oct. 20: Challenge Ends
Oct. 23: Final Chance to Sync Steps

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to participate?

NYU faculty and employees globally have the opportunity to participate. (NYU Langone and NYU School of Medicine faculty and employees are not eligible to participate.)

What if I don't have a fitness tracker or pedometer?

Most smartphones can track your steps with Apple Health or Google Fit.

How will my information be shared?

Deidentified, anonymous, aggregate data may be shared with NYU's wellness program administrator and an NYU faculty researcher and used solely for research purposes to advance science.

How to Register

How to Register as a Participant

1. Please avoid creating a duplicate MoveSpring account by following the instructions that best apply to you:

Existing users (with the app): Click the challenge link to be placed into the challenge. Forgot your password? Select Forgot Password or view the help article.
Existing users (who deleted the app): Click the challenge link to download the app and then Log in to your account. Forgot your password? Select Forgot Password or view the help article.
New to MoveSpring?: Click the challenge link to download the app and sign up to create a new account. Note that your chosen username will be visible to other users. You’ll automatically be added into the challenge after signing up. Complete the registration questions and then connect a device.

2. Enter or confirm our organization code (not case sensitive): NYULIVESMART and follow the prompts.

Important: Sync your steps. Don't forget to open your device's app regularly (such as FitBit or Apple Health) to sync your steps to MoveSpring. We recommend doing this at least once every three days to make sure your steps transfer.

Need Help Getting Set Up or During the Challenge?

View MoveSpring's Troubleshooting dashboard or contact MoveSpring Customer Support for help with setup or other issues.

Comments from past participants

"This was a positive, collaborative and motivating challenge. It created a good talking point within the team and I really enjoyed being a part of it."

"Thank you for coordinating this health challenge! My second pedometer broke during the last week and I finally gave up counting, but I walk to and from work daily and rarely ride the subway or bus, so I feel confident I’m doing as much walking as I can. Plus, this week the elevator in our apt building broke and may be out of service for months! We live on the 5th floor. We are getting plenty of exercise, especially my 4 yr old!"

"I am giving up the stationary bicycle for the month (no steps counted there) and instead substituting other cardio activities. Also, as I try to take the stairs as much as possible but hating going up past the endless floors before the 2nd floor, I am taking the elevator only to the 2nd floor and walking from there and getting off the elevator two floors below the floor that I live on (confuses the neighbors a bit, though)."

"Our pup is also enjoying the walking program. She has benefitted greatly."

"I love the NYU Global Walking Contest! This program has pushed me to walk a little more each day, take the stairs and generally be more aware of my physical activity. I also appreciated the connection with our Global site and the collegial competition. That said, I hope we (NYU New York) walk away with the trophy!"

"I used to run one mile each morning, but due to the fact that I was participating in the global walking contest, I thought that I would push the envelope. I am now running three miles a day, feeling great and intend on bringing the trophy home to New York!"

"It is 6,842 miles from New York City to Abu Dhabi. That is roughly 14,368,200 steps. Collectively, we have walked back and forth both global sites, with extra steps to spare for sight-seeing!"

"I am glad I signed up for this contest. I run 4 - 5 times a week but fail to cross-train, do warm-ups and cool-downs. For this contest, I get up earlier to walk a mile before and after a run. I walk to and from Port Authority to 721 Broadway to log in more steps. At lunch, I take the stairs instead of the elevator. The contest is definitely helping me train for a 15K race on December 17. I am running faster and longer on weekends."

"I've been trying to lose weight and get in shape without success for years. Exercising has always been a chore. I never knew how I was doing, or never saw the results as I've seen this past month. I have more energy and I feel lighter. I used to complain about my knees hurting, as I climbed up or walked down stairs/steps. I feel like a new younger person. I can now run up and down steps without feeling winded. Thank you for giving me the incentive to walk daily and keep in shape. I'm sorry the walk is coming to an end, but I will not stop walking. I've started recording my steps on Facebook. When I began walking, my goal was to walk 10000 steps (5 miles) a day. Although it was hard in the beginning to reach that goal, I was very excited when I made it. My next goal is 10 miles. I almost made it yesterday; I walked 7.5 miles. It is hard to reach these goals away from the gym, but contantly moving when at home, work, or waiting for the train helps me towards accomplishing my goal. Thank you. A very satisfied walker."

"I took my walking to a whole other level in Europe. During our winter break, I went to Italy and France and walked 11-18.5 miles/day. I busted my walking goal wide open."