I Double Dog Dare Ya ... 5K A Day For A Month

Author: Adam Bratton with Guest Q&A: Chelsea Mister
​Read Time: 4 mins

Chelsea Mister, our first ever Good Vibes Rock Hall of Famer, is no stranger to human powered activities. She has run countless marathons, just completed 42miles at this year’s Perennial Endurance Run and alongside her husband Brian Mister, Co-Founded Crown Collective which includes many iconic running events and community resources in Charlotte, NC including a weekly newsletter called “Run It Back” which is where this Peer Pressure-laced saga begins!

It's true ... a Double Dog Dare text started it all!

I’ve lovingly given myself the title Head Enabler at Human Powered Movement since enabling (IE: nudging, encouraging, and creating opportunities for) people to move more often is what the HPM platform is all about. As it turns out, Chelsea was about to do her own enabling as well!
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In the very last paragraph of the “Run It Back” (RiB) newsletter on Monday, May 12 Chelsea included a seemingly passive anecdote that has just completed a 5K every day 7 days as a fun personal challenge to change things up a bit. Upon reading this, and not really thinking through what would result of my knee jerk reaction, I immediately took a screenshot and said “Double dog dare ya” to do another week. Of course, her response was “I’ll do it if you do this week with me!? Little did we know, the Peer Pressure 5K officially became a thing as I bounded upstairs to quickly change and knock out a pre-work 5K in the pouring rain.

The following 3 weeks (truth be told, some people are still going!) included a barrage of social posts, group text, selfie video exchanges, and Ice Bucket Challenge style nominations for anyone and everyone to join the Peer Pressure 5K. One week turned into two, two weeks turned into three and Chelsea and I made a truce to conclude the streak at the NoDa 5K (one of the family of races under the Crown Collective umbrella) which put me at 3 weeks and her at 4 weeks of a 5K a day respectively.

It was an absolute blast using a silly running challenge as a way to reconnect with old friends and family (my Aunt Marty, 76, even jumped on board the challenge in Chicago), a motivator to find a block of time to run each day, and as Chelsea first mentioned, a way to change things up in the daily routine.

Watson getting in on the peer pressure action

I tossed a few questions Chelsea’s way to get some insight from the Peer Pressure 5K enabler herself!

Question: Honestly, what type of reaction did you expect when including the weeklong mention in the Run It Back newsletter?
Answer: ​My goal when talking about my personal running journey in RiB is providing a different perspective on running with a hint of fun. I actually have to give credit to my brother for the initial spark of inspiration for this self imposed challenge. He is known to randomly send rules to a running challenge, not actually asking if I want to partake, but more in the older brother fashion of, “challenge starts today.” There is something to be said about breaking up the mundane weekly run schedule with something different. Showing the readers that there can be another way of getting the miles completed. And maybe, just maybe, a little more enjoyable knowing that the run is tied to something other than a race finish line.

Question: How does it feel to know you enabled endless numbers of people to get off their booties and get a few 5ks in?
Answer: Feels like I should have the official title of co-enabler. Kidding of course. But there certainly is power in numbers and the feeling like you aren’t alone with a bit more accountability. Challenges like this, apart but together, give slightly more purpose in the simple fact of completing the daily task. Stripping away any competition or emphasis on pace. Moving simply to move.

Question: What was the most fun or exciting part of your 4-week 5K-a-Day challenge?
Answer: Honestly, the most exciting part was when you double dog dared me! I know I put it out there, almost as a way of holding myself accountable to a silly goal I wasn’t sure I actually could (or wanted) to complete. But once I had even one other person in, I knew I was doing it. It truly only takes one person to (and in this case, a few other friends along the way too) to give you the motivation.

Question: Least favorite part?
Answer: Is this even a question worth asking? I would literally start this challenge again tomorrow with the right dare!! Moving on.

Question: Why in the world didn’t you check with the weather Gods before Peer Pressuring everyone into running? (Editor’s Note: There were 2 separate weeks of nonstop rain during this 4-week window)
Answer: I’m glad you asked, because the rain was a close second for the most fun part question. I actually find so much joy running in the rain, like pouring down, can’t avoid it, soppy wet, rain. Let me plead my case. After a rain run is worse because you find yourself trying to puddle jump to keep your feet dry only to get pissed when you get a little splash. But running IN the rain, you (maybe just I) embarrass it. Foot goes straight into a puddle without a care in the world. And you feel just a little bit more badass.

Question: What advice would you give someone reading this who isn’t quite sure about this whole “running thing”?
Answer: Start small or consider a ratio run, for example 5:2, run 5 min, walk 2 min. There is no judgement in walking. The other tip I would recommend is to walk the hills. Hills can make even the most seasoned runner question themselves, so slow down and walk when needed.

Question: You mentioned that you wanted to change up your training routine a little bit which led to the micro challenge … what are you training for?
Answer: Training has not yet officially kicked off as my next race I’m registered for is the Black Canyon 100K in February. Of course training for this race will inevitably lead me to sign up for other races as part of training since it's always way better to run with people. A few I have my eye on; Charlotte Marathon and, obviously, Psychoactive.
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Question: Speaking of ... What is your distance goal at Psychoactive on 9/20/25?
Answer: At the Inaugural year of Psychoactive, I logged 29.67 mi. Always striving to one up myself, I would love to get over the 50K hump this year!

Post "Rain Run"

Below is a woefully incomplete list of "Peer Pressure 5K" participants. Some did a month, some did a week, some did a day or two ... however long they ran, they were lovingly peer pressured into adding a little extra movement in their lives thanks to Chelsea!

Chelsea Mister, Adam Bratton, Abby Wing, Bryan Hojnacki, Jeremy Weibley, Emily Weibley, Brian Mister, Kristi Bratton, Eric Smallwood, Kim Hall, Mike Cooke, Julia Rogers, Chaz Moody, Barb Moody, Marty Smith, Abby Porter, Lewie Porter, and likely many many more.

Editor's Note: To view my personal daily updates for all 20 days ... enjoy THESE groundhog day style IG stories. 

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Journal - I Double Dog Dare Ya ... 5K A Day For A Month