FALL PLAN: HOUSE CUP CHALLENGE

Earned Runs HOUSE CUP CHALLENGE 2017 sticker. Taken by PKSenagore September 18, 2017.

BACK TO SCHOOL: EARNED RUNS HOUSE CUP CHALLENGE
Now that summer is officially over  and the ‘academic’ year has begun you might think Earned Runs Challenges have come to an end.  Not exactly.  For those not excited about training for a goal race this fall, we’re offering a new PERSONAL customizable competition that might be fun to try, the HOUSE CUP.
 
At Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry of fictional Harry Potter book series fame, the HOUSE CUP was an award presented to one of the four student houses at the finish of the academic year.  Griffindore, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin all competed for this trophy.  It was won by earning the most total points, which were added and subtracted over the months school was in session for the various good deeds and misdeeds, respectively, of its members.
 
“While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn you house points, while any rule-breaking will lose points.  At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honour.”  Professor Minerva McGonagall thus explained the point system.
 
Earned Runs will help you create a customized PERSONAL HOUSE CUP competition, to provide an incentive to adopt some needed health and fitness habits.
 
Materials needed for the HOUSE CUP CHALLENGE;
(one set for each participant or team)
1) Coins or tokens (Hogwarts used precious gems; Earned Runs is using dimes)
2) Two containers, preferably clear to make changes in content levels easily visible
3) Custom rules and duration/days the competition will run when rules are in effect.
4) Chart of point awards
5) Honesty & Commitment
6) Optional: Earned Runs bib or calendar to mark days
 
Instructions:
2 Containers: a starter container and the HOUSE CUP (decoration is optional).
 
Tokens: Place all the coins/tokens in the starter container.  Move coins/tokens from the starter to the HOUSE CUP container as you complete daily tasks to which points were assigned.  To start the competition each participant/team must accrue sufficient points to have enough tokens to subtract as the days go by. Move coins back from the HOUSE CUP container to the starter container to SUBTRACT points.  A participant/team that enters into ‘negative’ token territory drops out of the challenge.
 
Point chart: Assign positive (+) points to habits or activities to be encouraged; negative for those to be avoided.  Greater value should be assigned according to the importance of adopting (+)/eliminating (-) the activity. See the sample Earned Runs system and make changes if you decide to borrow the basic rules.
 
Rules: Identify a time period over which you will be holding the competition. Add a few extra days or so to allow for unexpected issues that may temporarily prevent good faith participation.  Calculate approximately how many total tokens and tokens per day or week you will need to add to the Cup to achieve your goal.  Check that the number of daily/weekly points to be won is reasonable, even if there are occasional subtractions.
 
MY PERSONAL HOUSE CUP CHALLENGE will be available as an example of what you might design for yourself.  I was a bit nervous about starting it and failing too soon so I ran a trial run in the month of September and made adjustments.  It's not going to be easy. During the trial I was tempted to cheat every day! The assigned positive (+) tasks are actions I have difficulty with!  

Having to report progress and results in this blog is a daunting prospect, but I plan to persevere;  I want to win the $100!!!

If you would like to encourage yourself to adopt certain fitness habits consider designing your own personal HOUSE CUP CHALLENGE.  Share with us if you do, to help inspire others.  
 
RUN HAPPY!

IF you REQUEST bibs, you can also request free HOUSE CUP stickers! Those with bibs can also request them . 
 
http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/House_Cup
 
2017_house_cup_challenge_points_and_rules_my_personal_challenge.pdf 
 
my personal tally chart