Why the 12-3-30 Challenge Isn’t as “Easy” as Everyone Says

February 1, 2023

We took on the 12-3-30 challenge thinking it would be a walk in the park—literally. Turns out, this deceptively simple treadmill workout has thrown us a few curveballs. Between snowstorms, sore backs, and surprise 5Ks, here's how it's going so far.

💡 First, What Is the 12-3-30 Challenge?

Incline: 12%
Speed: 3 miles per hour
Duration: 30 minutes
Goal: Do it every day for 30 days

Simple, right? Well… not exactly.

🏃‍♀️ A Slight Detour: From Incline Walking to Running a 5K

One of us (👀 looking at you, Kaylee) hit a day where the treadmill just wasn't happening. So instead of skipping entirely, she ran her first-ever 5K.

✅ First 5K completed (on the treadmill!)
✅ No breaks… well, except one 30-second pause to fix a rogue ponytail
🔄 A spontaneous detour from the original plan, but still a solid workout

❄️ Weather vs. Willpower: Snowstorms and Solo Workouts

Snow tried to slow us down—literally.

Sarah made it to the gym nearly every day, even after a late-night workout
Kaylee opted for home workouts when snow blocked her driveway
Her treadmill only goes up to a 10% incline, so some workouts were “10-3-30-ish”

Hey, we said challenge, not perfection.

💥 Lessons Learned (and Sore Muscles to Prove It)

The incline makes a huge difference—especially if you're hunched over
Keeping your posture tall and engaging your core helps avoid lower back pain
Holding on to the treadmill bars changes the intensity (yep, we caught each other doing it!)
Covering the timer with a towel makes the time pass faster—trust us, it works

🔥 Real Talk: It’s Harder Than It Looks

When we started this challenge, we were convinced it would be easy. Spoiler: it’s not.

After the first couple of sessions, the soreness was real
Sticking with it through travel, weather, and busy schedules has been tough—but worth it
Running a 5K was easier than doing 12-3-30 some days 😅