{"id":15257,"date":"2026-06-21T09:26:38","date_gmt":"2026-06-21T09:26:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/?p=15257"},"modified":"2026-06-21T09:26:38","modified_gmt":"2026-06-21T09:26:38","slug":"running-together-in-the-million-mile-summer-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/?p=15257","title":{"rendered":"Running Together in The Million Mile Summer Challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"justify-start\">\n<nav class=\"align-left col-span-full mb-base\" data-pom-e2e-test-id=\"breadcrumbs\"\/>\n<p>Turn your sun-drenched, humid miles into one collective 5-million-mile goal. We crushed it last year, and we can do it again.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"border-border-light border-t py-base-tight\">\n<div class=\"flex h-4 justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-x-base-tight\">\n<div class=\"\"><button class=\"inline-flex shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full hover:cursor-pointer bg-bg-surface hover:bg-bg-light focus:bg-bg-dark text-primary border border-solid border-border-light aria-pressed:bg-brand-primary aria-pressed:text-text-surface py-very-tight px-base-tight gap-tight font-semibold font-utility-2 opacity-50\" aria-label=\"Loading audio\" aria-pressed=\"false\" id=\"article-listen-button\" disabled=\"\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" viewbox=\"0 0 18 18\" fill=\"none\" class=\"\"><title>Listen to this article<\/title><path d=\"M12.5265 16.2C12.2326 16.2 12.0122 16.1265 11.7184 16.053C11.2775 15.9061 10.9102 15.6122 10.6898 15.2449C10.4694 14.8775 10.3959 14.4367 10.5428 13.9959L11.5714 10.3959C11.6449 10.1755 11.7184 9.95509 11.8653 9.80815C12.0122 9.66121 12.1592 9.51427 12.3796 9.36733C12.6 9.29386 12.8204 9.2204 13.0408 9.14693C13.2612 9.14693 13.4816 9.14693 13.702 9.2204H13.7755C14.2163 9.36733 14.5837 9.58774 14.951 9.95509C14.951 9.66121 14.951 9.29386 14.951 8.99999C14.951 7.38366 14.2898 5.8408 13.1877 4.73876C12.0122 3.56325 10.5428 2.9755 8.92652 2.9755C7.31019 2.9755 5.76733 3.63672 4.66529 4.73876C3.48978 5.8408 2.82856 7.38366 2.82856 8.99999C2.82856 9.29386 2.82856 9.66121 2.82856 9.95509C3.12244 9.66121 3.56325 9.36733 4.00407 9.2204H4.07754C4.29795 9.14693 4.51835 9.14693 4.73876 9.14693C4.95917 9.14693 5.17958 9.2204 5.39999 9.36733C5.6204 9.4408 5.76733 9.58774 5.91427 9.80815C6.06121 9.95509 6.13468 10.1755 6.20815 10.3959L7.23672 13.9959C7.38366 14.4367 7.31019 14.8775 7.08978 15.2449C6.86938 15.6122 6.50203 15.9061 6.13468 16.053C5.76733 16.2 5.39999 16.2 5.03264 16.2C4.66529 16.1265 4.29795 16.053 4.00407 15.9061C3.63672 15.6122 3.41631 15.3918 3.12244 15.0979C2.90203 14.8775 2.75509 14.5102 2.68162 14.1428L2.38774 13.0408L2.2408 12.6735C2.2408 12.6 2.16733 12.453 2.16733 12.3796C1.87346 11.2775 1.79999 10.1755 1.79999 8.99999C1.79999 7.08978 2.53468 5.25305 3.9306 3.9306C5.25305 2.60815 7.08978 1.79999 8.99999 1.79999C10.9102 1.79999 12.7469 2.53468 14.0694 3.9306C15.3918 5.25305 16.2 7.08978 16.2 8.99999C16.2 10.102 16.053 11.2775 15.8326 12.3796C15.8326 12.453 15.7592 12.6 15.7592 12.6735L15.6857 12.9673V13.0408L15.1714 14.1428C15.0979 14.5102 14.8775 14.8041 14.6571 15.0979C14.4367 15.3918 14.1428 15.6122 13.849 15.7592C13.5551 15.9061 13.1877 16.053 12.8204 16.053C12.7469 16.1265 12.6735 16.2 12.5265 16.2ZM3.71019 13.849C3.78366 14.0694 3.85713 14.2163 4.00407 14.4367C4.15101 14.6571 4.29795 14.7306 4.51835 14.8775C4.73876 14.951 4.8857 15.0245 5.10611 15.0979C5.32652 15.0979 5.54693 15.0979 5.76733 15.0245C5.98774 14.951 6.06121 14.8775 6.13468 14.7306C6.20815 14.5837 6.20815 14.4367 6.20815 14.2898L5.17958 10.6898C5.17958 10.6163 5.10611 10.5428 5.10611 10.4694C5.03264 10.4694 4.95917 10.3959 4.8857 10.3224C4.81223 10.3224 4.73876 10.249 4.66529 10.249C4.59182 10.249 4.51836 10.249 4.44489 10.249H4.37142C3.9306 10.3959 3.63672 10.6898 3.41631 11.0571C3.26938 11.351 3.19591 11.7184 3.26938 12.0857C3.34285 12.3061 3.34284 12.5265 3.41631 12.6735L3.71019 13.849ZM13.2612 10.3224C13.1877 10.3224 13.1877 10.3224 13.2612 10.3224C13.1143 10.3224 13.0408 10.3224 12.9673 10.3959C12.8939 10.4694 12.8204 10.4694 12.8204 10.4694C12.7469 10.5428 12.7469 10.6163 12.7469 10.6898L11.7184 14.2898C11.6449 14.4367 11.7184 14.5837 11.7918 14.7306C11.8653 14.8775 12.0122 14.951 12.0857 15.0245C12.3796 15.0979 12.5265 15.0979 12.7469 15.0979C12.9673 15.0979 13.1877 15.0245 13.3347 14.8775C13.5551 14.8041 13.702 14.6571 13.849 14.4367C13.9959 14.2898 14.0694 14.0694 14.1428 13.849L14.5102 12.6735C14.5837 12.5265 14.5837 12.3061 14.6571 12.1592C14.7306 11.7918 14.6571 11.4245 14.5102 11.1306C14.2898 10.7633 13.9959 10.4694 13.5551 10.3224H13.4816C13.3347 10.3224 13.2612 10.3224 13.2612 10.3224Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"hidden sm:inline\">Listen<\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/p>\n<p class=\"fp-leadCaption py-tight text-left font-utility text-utility3-size leading-utility3-line-height text-secondary\"> (Photo: pixdeluxe\/Getty)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-body\">\n<p>Published June 21, 2026 03:00AM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>If you haven\u2019t noticed already, it\u2019s hot. Like devil\u2019s armpit hot. While I love summer, running in the heat is not particularly my favorite. I do it anyway because <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"noopener\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/run.outsideonline.com\/nutrition-and-health\/surprising-ways-running-benefits-the-brain\/\">running is, to me, sanity<\/a>. I\u2019m always happy when I finish, and I know that <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"noopener\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/run.outsideonline.com\/training\/running-in-the-heat-here-is-how-your-body-adapts\/\">science says adapting to the heat will make me stronger<\/a> come fall, when I can actually enjoy all my miles again.<\/p>\n<p>Happily, I have more motivation than just my stupid mental health and the promise of cooler temps because this year, I\u2019m joining the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"noopener\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mapmyrun.com\/challenges\/MMS\">MapMyRun Million Mile Summer<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s exactly the right way to kick off warm-weather running, and it starts today, June, 21, 2026. The mission is simple. Together, we log 5 million miles. Run, walk, hike, crawl\u2014whatever. It\u2019s a surefire way to stay accountable and join one of the biggest running challenges out there. And get this: all you have to do is log a total of 30 miles by September 22, 2026.<\/p>\n<h2>Why a Collective Goal Can Improve Your Running<\/h2>\n<p>For many of us, challenges are a great way to stay accountable and enjoy running, but this one is particularly effective, and there\u2019s research to prove it.<\/p>\n<p>A <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"noopener\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Andrew-Carnes-4\/publication\/326273831_Cohesion_is_Associated_with_Perceived_Exertion_and_Enjoyment_during_Group_Running\/links\/5b43a5930f7e9bb59b1b00dd\/Cohesion-is-Associated-with-Perceived-Exertion-and-Enjoyment-during-Group-Running.pdf\">2016 study<\/a> examined whether social support improved running performance. It measured speed, rate of perceived exertion (RPE), and enjoyment among runners training together. It found that speed was unaffected, but running together increased enjoyment levels and reduced RPE.<\/p>\n<p>This <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"noopener\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/journals\/sports-and-active-living\/articles\/10.3389\/fspor.2022.643150\/full\">2022 study<\/a> examined something similar\u2014essentially pairing runners up and ensuring they had a sports partner, or co-runner, to motivate them to train. Call it an accountability buddy, but that reliance on the other runner made it more likely that runners made it to the start line.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, we\u2019re not all meeting in real life to run (wouldn\u2019t that be awesome?), but there is a special kind of human connection built into this challenge. We\u2019re relying on each other to hit a target. We\u2019re all lining up on our individual start lines each day. And instead of <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"noopener\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/jmpo.stkippasundan.ac.id\/index.php\/jmpo\/article\/view\/184\">anxiety-provoking leaderboards,<\/a> this is just about runners logging individual miles, however they want.<\/p>\n<p>Last year, participants collectively crushed the goal, logging a solid 8.5 million miles. Maybe this year we\u2019ll get to 10 million miles. That\u2019s how big running is right now\u2014even on <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"noopener\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mapmyrun.com\/challenges\/MMS\">just one platform and one challenge<\/a>, we have the potential to run around the Earth roughly 400 times.<\/p>\n<p>So that\u2019s it. No purchases required. Just you, your miles, and a community of people who are all moving toward the same number.<\/p>\n<h2>Make Your Miles Count: Training Plans for the Summer<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re going to run this summer anyway, why not work toward a big race goal? This is the perfect opportunity to choose a distance to conquer, and we\u2019ve got the plans to get you there.<\/p>\n<p>Whether you\u2019re running a speedy 10K, gearing up for your first 13.1, or chasing a sub-2:00 half, there\u2019s a plan for you:<\/p>\n<h2>New Workouts All Summer Long<\/h2>\n<p>Not training for a race? No problem. If you\u2019ve already got plans but want to shake up your routine, we\u2019ve got you covered there, too.<\/p>\n<p>All summer, we\u2019ll be dropping new workouts every week. Here\u2019s what to look for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight:400\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>June:<\/b> Five elite track workouts adapted for real-world runners, written by elite runner and coach Linsday Flannagan. <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"noopener\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/run.outsideonline.com\/byline\/lindsay-flanagan\/\">Check them out here<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight:400\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>July: <\/b>Five classic track workouts from Hiruni Wijayaratne of <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"noopener\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myolympiccoach.com\/hiruni-wijayaratne\">My Olympic Coach<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight:400\" aria-level=\"1\">In <b>August, <\/b>we\u2019ll release cross-country-inspired workouts to make you feel like a kid again.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"buy-button flex flex-col md:flex-row gap-0 md:gap-2\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"inline-flex shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full text-neutral-900 hover:cursor-pointer bg-platform hover:bg-yellow-400 py-very-tight px-base-tight gap-tight font-semibold font-utility-2 text-center hover:text-primary w-full md:w-1\/2 md:inline-block md:px-1 o-button btn\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mapmyrun.com\/challenges\/MMS\"><span class=\"\">Join the Million Mile Summer Challenge<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><b>Your Running Playlist<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><!-- --><span hidden=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/health\/training-performance\/million-mile-summer-mapmyrun-challenge\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Turn your sun-drenched, humid miles into one collective 5-million-mile goal. We crushed it last year, and we can do it again. Listen to this articleListen (Photo: pixdeluxe\/Getty) Published June 21, 2026 03:00AM If you haven\u2019t noticed already, it\u2019s hot. Like devil\u2019s armpit hot. While I love summer, running in the heat is not particularly my<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15258,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15257","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wild-living"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15257","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15257"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15257\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/15258"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15257"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15257"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}