I’ve been on a Virtual ‘Fitness’ Challenge through Cambodia

I have been wanting to post what I’ve been up to for a while but I had so many screenshots to go through (lame excuse but you have no idea). Also needed to explain to all my Words With Friends challengers why I simply disappeared. In a nutshell, I’ve been occupied with traveling the world… virtually, through my Fitbit! So I let all my games run out on several occassions (sorry WWFs).

I stumbled upon this site, the Conqueror Virtual Challenge. Basically and quickly, you “exercise” yourself through various challenges around the world.

Now this is normally not something I would sign up for—Not ever. I’m not a ‘gimmick’ type of gal. But I was intrigued. Especially since many of the feedback mentioned it increased their motivation for their individual fitness goals. I need some motivation after being holed up here for almost two years. (Last month’s North Carolina Convention was the first time I’ve ventured out of our little cocoon here!)

I soon learned that you can hook this app up to many of your devices such as Apple Watch, Underarmour, Garmin and what I have, the Fitbit. And if you don’t have any of those, you can upload your exercises manually. So you can literally join these challenges whether you’re walking, running, cycling, swimming, climbing up stairs or even like me, on my rowing machine (That’s the gist of my routine… I’m either walking or on my rower).

I also liked that I could “invest in a challenge” but choose the time-frame that suited me. AND, under more investigation, you could change that timeframe if something came up. So if you initially chose 10 days to complete 25 miles and “life” happens and you can’t do it? You can go online and give yourself another week, or two or even a month! With no penalty. That I like!

So I decided to sign up for, and explore, Cambodia at $29.95. And I have to admit, I sort of wanted to get that Medal! As a designer, I thought it was gorgeous. I mentioned it to Eric and he just had a confused look—since this isn’t something I would ever do and I think he didn’t want to waste any brain cells figuring out what the whole thing was. He quickly said, “Sure, go ahead. Sounds like fun.”

I have since learned more about the app and how to use it, sync it and “explore.” But this is basically an overview of my first challenge experience. And mostly in screenshots I took on my phone.

To start, I didn’t grab an opening screenshot of my starting point. I did have to upload a pic for my bio and “mile-marker image” and I chose Izzy of course. But I’m about to change that. So basically, I chose Cambodia which was a 20-mile challenge and I selected a goal of 56 days! (lol because I did it in 12. I don’t know what I was thinking!)

Below are some of the numerous screenshots I took during my “virtual exploration” after my steps on my Fitbit were synced. Basically, it syncs at 2 a.m. with my fitbit after the prior day. So I would walk my steps and then the next day, I would wake up and see how far I made it on the journey via the map.

The first few days were great. I would grab my oatmeal in the morning and then virtually “travel” through what I already walked. Now don’t get me wrong. I’ve been to Spain, Mexico, Germany, Italy, England, France, etc. — I know this doesn’t replace the real thing of travelling! But when you’re stuck home due to Covid and other stuff, I think this was exactly what I needed. It also had me go online and do research about the culture and other things. Which is right up my alley because I always love to learn, especially about how others live on this planet. And thoroughly enjoyed zooming in on the friezes, pilasters, ancient artwork… all of it.

I also need to add that YES I know they use GOOGLE earth Street View and I could probably just go and virtually investigate on my own without this CONQUEROR App…. but did I mention the awesomely designed medal you get when you finish???

I eventually discoverd how to naviage a little better after half-way through the challenge. The tiny person is what you select to travel the street view/map you “exercised” the previous day (see image below). The image of Izzy is where I’m at in regards of the twenty-mile challenge I signed up for.

On this particular day, I’m making my way past East Baray and over to the ancient Hindu temple Pre Rup at Angkor. On the image below, the left is the duo-screen of map and image as if I was there (snapshot of my iPhone screen). On the right, I selected the full screen with no map.

Obviously, and on the other side, the google camera explorers hit this place at the most magical time before dusk.

Above, you can also see a green tree on the map that says 20%. That’s another goal I participated in – planting a tree through the Eden Project or the Plastic Bank (will write more later) when I pass that mile marker.

Again, there were so many screenshots I took on my vitual voyage. Couldn’t post them all here. So summarizing for the rest….

You can zoom in and out on your map to see what’s around you as long as you accomplished the miles to get to this point (And yes, you can cheat and jump ahead but why would you do that to yourself?)

The blue lines on the route shows what I already “walked” the days prior. So on this particular day I’m now exploring. And first thing is to check out the Terrace of Elephants!

And then looked for more ancient art…

Eventually I made my way through and was soon finding myself to the end. I often went back to sites that I learned were on my journey that I might not have seen. For this one, I journeyed to the Churning of the Sea of Milk Gallery and then back to the 1000 Buddhas Gallery that I missed (climbing up the stairs with people actually lucky to be there in person).

And then I set out to find the famous Reflecting Pond that I received a postcard about (yes, you get virtual postcards from YOURSELF on your journey). I was a bit proud of myself and excited when I found it ‘virtually’! And I passed by another little doggie on the way.

After I started to learn about the app, I went back a little. Here’s where I started (below). Apparently I was bib number 16129. Screenshotted it at 19.1 miles. You can follow along with your journey at the various milemarkers as seen below, at any time.

Here’s the tree milestone I mentioned earlier. I’m 80% through the journey and got my second tree planting with the Eden Project. You can also see your various activities. I completed the 20-mile challenge within 10 days and over nine “fitness events” which for this one, was ALL walking/steps synced via my Fitbit.

Along your journey you also get virtual postcards sent to you. When I woke up, I would get a notification like the image below, on the left.

And there’s three of the four postcards I got on this journey, which were from myself! That was kind of weird and amusing at the same time. (Note: In my research not all challenges offer street views and not all challenges will supply you with postcards… I’ll keep you posted!) But overall, it was fun to get… and in the most simple way, it did keep me motivated! So after I got my final “finished” notification I confirmed it to get my medal delivered.

In 3 days I got it! (probably fast because I was new – I’ll keep you posted on that too.)

I received notification that my medal was deliverd and I was off of my office chair racing to the mailbox. And it was so pretty!

Full ribbon where I can wear around my neck and for this one, the little Angkor Wat logo on front popped off (via magnets) to reveal more underneath.

Totally happy about this first challenge. So much so, I immediately signed up for another and I’m just about to complete my second one.

Here’s where I started: The Pyramids of Giza. Will write about soon because it was a very different experience than Cambodia but I am still motivated.

If anyone wants to try one of these Virtual Challenges through Conqueror, use this link here and you can get 10% off your first challenge (Disclosure: if you sign up via my link, I get discounts on my future challenge purchases).

I’ve been doing this SOLO but there’s options to join with a TEAM or invite friends and really make it motivational and interactive. If you sign up, please let me know. I would be glad to join your TEAM and we can motivate each other!!

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