Aside from working on WordPress.com and their other products, one of the priorities of Automattic is keeping their employees healthy. With that, the company recently came up with an idea for Worldwide WordPress 5K which will allow Automatticians (employees of Automattic) to run/walk together for 5K (3.1 miles) on the same day and be able to exercise together as a company even though they’re from different places across the globe.
The folks from Automattic are not only concerned about their personal health but also with that of WordPress users. That’s why they’re inviting all WordPress.com and self-hosted WordPress (WordPress.org) users to join them in their Worldwide WP 5K.
Here are more details from the official blog post:
WHAT IT IS: A 5k run/walk (approximately 3.1 miles). You can run, walk, or skip. It’s up to you. There’s no time limit and there’s just one requirement: that you participate! [Updated: You can do it inside or outside, on a treadmill or on a track, or even do a swim or a bike ride instead of running/walking – just get moving!]
It’s roughly equal to:
- 3.1 miles
- 12 laps around a track
- approximately 6000-7500 steps
- approximately 50-60 minutes of brisk walking
WHEN: We’re all busy, but we want you to participate, so we’re giving you some flexibility, too. The WWWP5k is set for Sunday, April 10th, but you can do your walk anytime from April 4th -10th (you’ve got a week to fit it in). Just post about it and use the tag “wwwp5k” so we can find you (and for a chance to be Freshly Pressed). :)
WHO: Anyone who’s ever used or loved WordPress (and your families and friends, too).
HOW: You’re welcome to blog your entire route and your preparation (videoblog, perhaps?) but above all we’d love to see where you are and how you’re completing your 5k. Give us a picture of you and what you see when you cross the finish line and tell us your location as you complete your 5k with the rest of the world.
I think that it’s a very cool idea, especially for Automattic to invite bloggers, specifically WordPress users to participate in this event. Staying healthy should be a priority for bloggers and we shouldn’t just focus on making money online, increasing traffic, improving writing skills, improving site performance, search engine optimization, etc.
Although it officially starts on Sunday, April 10th, you can start today, tomorrow or anytime this week as long as you complete the 5K. Personally, I plan to participate in Automattic’s Worldwide WP 5K or WWWP5K by running on the treadmill tomorrow for 50-60 minutes. If I can’t complete it by tomorrow, I’ll continue it the next day.
What do you think of Automattic’s Worldwide WordPress 5K? Do you plan on joining this event? If so, how (run, walk, swim) and where (track, park, treadmill) are you going to do your 5K?
[image source: flickr.com/photos/josiahmackenzie]
