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All Trekkers:

Who can enter?

Anyone can sign up for our virtual challenge. You must be affiliated with Tufts University to be eligible for prizes. (See Terms and Conditions below for more details).

What is a “virtual challenge”?

You compete online - on the honor system - to log your exercise in a given day. Members of the Tufts Marathon Team have committed to exercise as one of the basic principles of a healthy lifestyle, and active Tufts Trekkers share their enthusiasm for physical activity. Daily exercise is part of a healthy lifestyle, so we thought it would be fun to construct a challenge online and make our destination Talloires, as it is a Tufts satellite campus nestled in the beautiful French High Alps. It's virtual because you'll participate without seeing the other contestants involved - AND although you will exercise, you won't actually walk, run, row or bike to Talloires from Medford.

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Why Medford to Talloires?

Medford to Talloires, with some side trips along the way, gives us an opportunity to reflect on the history, beauty, and traditions of Tufts University and its multiple campuses. The Tufts European Center is actually a former Priory, part of a Benedictine monastery that was founded in the 11th century. This extraordinary building lends itself beautifully to study, contemplation, reflection and exploration. Besides, can you imagine exercising for 30, 45, 60 or more minutes each day without a destination? Please have a look at your route to see the possibilities.

What is the Tufts University Healthy @ Tufts initiative?

The Healthy @ Tufts initiative is a work-site campaign to promote a culture of wellness. Leading a healthy lifestyle can empower you every day and have an effect on everything you do. This program is sponsored by the Tufts University Human Resources Benefits Office, Fallon Community Health Plan, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan.

Goal setting: how much time am I committing to?

Trekkers can choose one of five goals to complete their 100 day personal challenge.
Remember that every minute can count: walking up stairs between meetings could give you 15 minutes each day.

1. Trek Direct: If you can average 30 minutes per day, you'll be in Talloires fit enough to do some local climbing above the Tufts European Center. The virtual route for this choice will take you to the New England campuses and then a short R&R before you head abroad. At journey's end you should be joined by everyone as we meet again in France.
2. Trek Delite is for that group of the Tufts community which has the opportunity to take on more than the Direct route but can't imagine averaging an hour each day. The route shares some destinations in common with all the others, offering a good sampling of Tufts in the World. 45 minutes per day.
3. Trek Distractions for those with even more time. Enter and complete an hour per day of walking, running, rowing or biking the shared path through New England. And while you will end up at the Tufts European Center with everyone else in April, along the way the additional time will allow a few “side trips” through other continents.
4. Trek Distinctive, 90 minutes per day, for the very ambitious Trekker that realizes an hour a day isn't quite enough but 2 hours is simply much too much. More side trips, more sightseeing, and a great feeling for completing a significant challenge.
5. Trek DeLongWay is the ultimate challenge. Your goal will require 2 hours per day of total exercise to reach the French Alps via long detours spanning the globe. Yet, in 2012 as it was in 2011, the beginning and end of your journey will be an experience shared with the other thousand or so Trekkers when we all converge in April.

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I've never done anything like this. Can I still join the Trek?

Absolutely! No previous experience is required. Our trekkers have a variety of backgrounds and athletic ability - some have "trekked" before and others have never run, walked, or rowed a mile. Evidence over the past two years shows some remarkably positive effects from any exercise at any intensity. The body adapts to challenges.

I don't live near Boston. Can I still participate?

Of course you can participate! After all, this is a virtual contest. Find a buddy to train with, or sponsor someone else as a way of promoting healthy intra-team competition. You can also stay connected by posting messages on our "Trekker Message Board."
 
If you want to organize a walk, run, bike, or row in your area and there are other trekkers nearby, then, by all means, yes! We will be looking for captains in certain areas who would be willing to set a time, a meeting place, and post announcements for other participants in the area. If you would like to be a captain for your neck of the woods, send us an email.

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I'm ready to join! How do I sign up?

Go to the Sign Up page. If you have any questions, contact Tufts Director of Rowing Gary Caldwell at gary.caldwell@tufts.edu.

How do I edit an entry in my logbook?

Once you have signed up for the Trek, just Login. This will take you to the LogBook where you can add your activity and hours. If you want to then go back and change the activity and/or number of hours, don't worry - you can even delete the entry if you made a mistake on the date.

Suppose I want to add a photo to my page?

To add or change your photo, or to update any of your contact information, Login and then go to "My Page", where you will see an "Edit Profile" button. One of the options on the attached form allows you to upload a JPG photo (maximum size is 8KB) for display on your page.

What happens if I don't think I can finish my personal challenge?

Like any one of us hasn't started an exercise routine and not completed it? What happens is you'll have our sympathy and we'll probably try to nudge you back into participating. And there are prizes to be awarded throughout the challenge; by staying involved you increase your odds of winning.

What if I don't walk, run, bike or row? Can I still participate?

Exercise substitutions are okay by us. Frankly, we wish we could give you extra credit if you were to take a hike up an actual Talloires mountain on one of the many breathtaking trails. No matter what activity you do, just log your time and choose "Other" if you don't see an appropriate category. By the way, we can create categories as we go along – just ask!

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How can walking, rowing, running or biking earn the same distance?

Because this isn't a race in the traditional sense. We based the programming of our Virtual Challenge on time. It isn't so much what we do but that we just do it. In the end all qualified participants are in the same pool for the drawing of the Castle Hill Grand Prize.

How are prize winners determined? When will I know who wins what?

Grand Prize Castle Hill #1 and weekly prizes: A random draw will decide winners, with each participant's number of chances determined as follows -- every participant receives one entry for signing up and an additional entry for each hour of activity logged (up to a maximum of 180 hours) throughout the Trek. When we do a drawing, the total number of chances is equal to the sum of the number of participants plus the total number of hours logged to that time.
 
Grand Prize Castle Hill #2: Only those participants who have reached Talloires are eligible for this Grand Prize. Drawing rules are the same as for other prizes once all eligible participants are confirmed.
 
Keep checking back on this site. Prize winners will be posted soon after each drawing is made throughout the trek. The Grand Prize winners will be announced after April 12, 2012.

Are prizes only for U.S. residents?

Yes, although the challenge is available to anyone who wants to sign up, prizes are only for U.S. residents.

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Entry Terms and Conditions:

What are the official entry terms and conditions?

The following terms apply to the 2012 Trek to Talloires Challenge:

1. Every participant starts with one chance of winning prizes in each random drawing held throughout the duration of the game. Trekkers earn an additional chance for each hour of activity (up to a maximum of 200), which increases their odds as they go along. Winners will be posted on this site after each drawing and a full list of winners will be available after April 12, 2012.
2. Prize winners must be affiliated with Tufts University as faculty, staff, students, alumni, and/or Tufts parents (of a current or former student) and be U.S. residents.
3. Grand Prize winner(s) must also be 21 years of age or older.
4. Each Grand Prize Castle Hill is available on dates mutually agreeable to the prize winner and The Castle Hill Inn and Resort. The award is not transferable, nor is it redeemable for cash.
5. No substitution for the Grand Prize Castle Hill winner(s) is allowed.
6. Grand Prize Castle Hill winner(s) are subject to state and federal taxes for the retail value of the trip to Newport and will sign a tax form before being allowed to travel.

GENERAL CONDITIONS: Void where prohibited by law. All federal, state and local laws/regulations apply. No cash redemption, substitution or transfer of prize permitted. All federal, state and local taxes are the sole responsibility of the winner. Winner will be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility/liability and a publicity release form (as permitted by law), prior to prize being claimed. Acceptance of prize constitutes permission for sponsors and their agencies to use winner's name/likeness for advertising and trade purposes without further compensation.

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