Greater Philadelphia YMCA App Challenges
Published: 10/07/2026 · 8:00 AM
Are you ready for a fitness challenge? Did you know we host challenges on our mobile app? Put your fitness to the test or find a challenge program that keeps your goals on track!
Every challenge completed or workout tracked earns you Y rewards points you can cash in for great prizes like water bottles, sport belts, totes, and MORE!
October App Challenges
Class
Fall Fitness Frenzy
Pack your group exercise schedule for November! Try new classes and make time for your favorites! We're challenging you to go on a Fall Fitness Frenzy by attending 12 group classes in November!
Try some of our crowd favorite classes:
- Les Mills BODYPUMP
- Cycle
- Zumba
- Yoga
You'll earn 50 points by completing this challenge, and your body will thank you for staying active all month!
Eligible workout types: Barre, Boot Camp, Exercise Class, Pilates, Yoga, Zumba
Move
Leaf Excuses Behind
We're leaving our excuses at the door in November! The goal is simple: get your body moving for 30 minutes, 5 days a week. Whether you love to swim, run, walk, or cycle - each workout will get you closer to completing the Leaf Excuses Behind challenge!
Plus, to show you how thankful we are for our members, the top 50 finishers on the leaderboard will be entered into a raffle for an awesome fall-themed swag bag. Three winners will be chosen, so start logging your workouts!
Will we see you at the top of the leaderboard? Get moving today!
Eligible workout types: Cardio, Cycle/Bike, Running, Stair Climbing, Swimming, Walking
Strength
Harvest Your Strength
Objective: Increase strength by lifting heavier weights with lower reps.
Workouts: Split routines (Upper Body/Lower Body), focusing on pushing/pulling movements.
Reps/Sets: 4 sets of 5-8 reps for compound movements; 3 sets of 8-10 reps for accessory exercises.
Rest: 2-3 minutes between sets for compound lifts, 60-90 seconds for accessories.
Day 1: Upper Body (Bench Press, Rows, Push-ups)
Day 2: Lower Body (Squats, Deadlifts, Lunges)
Day 3: Rest or Cardio
Day 4: Upper Body (Overhead Press, Pull-ups, Dips)
Day 5: Lower Body (Deadlifts, Bulgarian Split Squats, Leg Press)
Day 6: Rest or Active Recovery
Day 7: Rest
What are accessory exercises? Accessory exercises (or just “accessories”) refers to smaller, supplementary exercises that support your main, compound lifts. Unlike compound movements like bench press, squats, or deadlifts—which work multiple large muscle groups at once—accessory exercises usually target specific muscles or weaker areas to help improve strength, balance, and muscle development.
Eligible workout types: Strength Training, Weightlifting
Gobble Wobble Couch to 5K Challenge
Get race-ready in 8 weeks with our beginner-friendly Couch to 5K training plan! From October 1 – November 26, follow guided run/walk workouts 3 days a week to build endurance and confidence.
Each week, you’ll gradually increase your running intervals while keeping it fun and approachable. By Thanksgiving, you’ll be ready to cross the Gobble Wobble 5K finish line strong—whether you run, jog, or walk!
- Week 1: Run/Walk: 1 min run, 2 min walk – repeat 8 times (24 min), 3 times a week
- Week 2: Run/Walk: 2 min run, 2 min walk – repeat 7 times (28 min), 3 times a week
- Week 3: Run/Walk: 3 min run, 2 min walk – repeat 6 times (30 min), 3 times a week
- Week 4: Run/Walk: 4 min run, 2 min walk – repeat 6 times (36 min), 3 times a week
- Week 5: Run/Walk: 5 min run, 2 min walk – repeat 5 times (35 min), 3 times a week
- Week 6: Run/Walk: 6 min run, 1 min walk – repeat 5 times (35 min), 3 times a week
- Week 7: Run/Walk: 8 min run, 1 min walk – repeat 4 times (36 min), 3 times a week
- Week 8 (Race Week):
- Early in the week: Run/Walk 10 min run, 1 min walk – repeat 2 times (22 min)
- Midweek: Easy 15–20 min jog or walk Nov 26 – Gobble Wobble 5K! Run/walk at your own pace, enjoy the crowd, and celebrate crossing the finish line!
Tips for Success:
- Rest or do light cross-training (bike, swim, yoga) on non-run days.
- Always warm up with a 5-min brisk walk and cool down with stretching
- Don’t worry about speed—focus on building consistency and endurance.
Eligible workout types: Running, Walking
How to find the challenges:
1. Open your YMCA360 Mobile App. Make sure you are on the "Home" screen.
2. Click the "My Challenges" tile on the screen.
3. Click "All" at the top of the screen and browse upcoming challenges.
4. Click on a challenge to see more info and rules.
4. Click "Join Challenge" for any option you'd like to participate in. When you do, you will see your challenge stats and the participant leaderboard.
5. Follow the steps under "Rules" to log your workout correctly.
6. Once you join a challenge, you will see that challenge listed under "My Challenges" moving forward.
Earn Y Rewards Points:
Every challenge completed or workout tracked earns you Y rewards points you can cash in for great prizes like water bottles, sport belts, totes, and MORE!
What else can you do with the YMCA360 Mobile App? Click the link below to learn more about schedules, check-in, and other uses.
