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

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 😅

👯‍♀️ Accountability Helps (So Does Friendly Trash Talk)

• We’ve been meeting at the gym most mornings at 6 AM
• When one of us skips, the other definitely hears about it
• The challenge is way more fun when you’re doing it with a buddy



Final Thoughts: Proud, Sore, and Still Stepping

Sure, we’ve taken a few creative liberties. But we’re still moving, still showing up, and still laughing through the sweat.