Still chugging along

I'm still working on some of the Nike+ challenges. Right now, there is a beginner challenge to run 50 miles before Christmas. It is difficult to actually run but I am managing to run about 3-4 miles at a time about every other day followed by walking until I hit 5 miles. This is ensuring that I get at least 11k steps per day even without the pedometer to remind me. I think I am barely in 1st place in the challenge as there are others within a mile of me. I've entered another beginner challenge that was to run 100k before Jan 31. Many of the participants are well beyond 100k and I think that I am in 14th place out of 800 with over 180 miles. First place has almost 400 miles in (I think it started at the beginning of November). I am striving to get into the top 10 but I am really going to push myself a bit to get there. This still isn't the same as "competing" against others around the university but at least it is keeping me going. I wonder if the new StartWalking program is still on track to start next month?