Sweatheart Challenge

Do you have what it takes?

by Allison Grande

Tuesday February 7, 2006

One inevitability of Valentine’s Day is that candy hearts, hugs and kisses will be in wide-spread circulation. Of course, this candy will inevitably find its way into your possession somehow and you will inevitably be forced to consume this candy because as much as you try to avoid it, no one can resist the allure of these sweet treats.

However, there is something that you can do to fight back: participate in the annual Sweatheart Challenge at the Campbell Sports Center.

Beginning on Wednesday, Feb. 8, this seven day event will challenge competitors to use a variety of machines in the Fitness Center in order to complete a marathon amount of miles during the course of one week. If a competitor can complete 26.2 miles before 10p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 14, he or she will receive a T-shirt to mark his or her accomplishment.

According to the event’s coordinator, Kristy Mackiewicz, in the past anywhere from 30 to 45 people have participated in this challenge. Although only the top 36 finishers receive shirts, Mackiewicz said that normally everyone who is able to complete the 26.2 mile distance gets a T-shirt. This year, the shirts will be given out at a brief reception held at the Sports Center on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m.

In order to participate in this challenge, all you have to do is sign up at the Fitness Center in the Sports Center. Because this challenge spans an entire week, it is more than possible for you to make up for lost time if you miss the first day of the event.

Fitness Assistants will be at the Fitness Center all week to help you record your progress, explain the special "Bonus Days" throughout the week, and clarify the specific requirements for gaining your miles.

By the time you complete this challenge at the end of the week, any chocolate you consume on Valentine’s Day will definitely be well earned!