The Meryus Blog
Fitness Challenge Guides
Playbooks for running real challenges with real friends. No fluff, no ads, no signup wall.
June 22, 2026 · 7 min read
Best Free App for Group Fitness Challenges With Friends
Strava Clubs, Garmin Connect, Apple Fitness and Meryus compared for challenges with friends. Free, any device, nobody gets locked out of the leaderboard.
June 22, 2026 · 6 min read
How to Run a Fitness Challenge With Friends (That People Actually Finish)
A simple step-by-step guide to setting up a fitness challenge with friends, including goals, rules, tracking, and keeping everyone motivated.
June 22, 2026 · 7 min read
27 Fitness Challenge Ideas for Groups, Friends, and Coworkers
Tested fitness challenge ideas for groups of any size and ability. Running, walking, strength, streaks, and creative formats that keep people engaged.
June 22, 2026 · 5 min read
What Strava Club Challenges Get Right (and Where They Fall Short)
Strava club challenges only count Strava users and mostly track distance. Here is how to run a challenge with any goal that all of your friends can join.
June 22, 2026 · 5 min read
Garmin Connect Group Challenges: Limits and Fixes
Garmin group challenges only count Garmin users. Here is how to run a step or distance challenge friends on any watch can join, with Garmin still syncing.
June 22, 2026 · 6 min read
Apple Watch vs Garmin vs Strava for Group Challenges
Apple Watch, Garmin and Strava each only score their own users. Here is how a mixed-device group competes on one leaderboard, free, keeping the watch you own.
June 22, 2026 · 6 min read
21 Fitness Challenge Ideas for Couples (That Will Not Start a Fight)
Fun, low-stakes fitness challenge ideas for couples. Walking, running, strength, sleep, and habit challenges built around the rhythms of life together.
June 22, 2026 · 6 min read
Family Fitness Challenge Ideas (For All Ages and Fitness Levels)
Family fitness challenge ideas that work across ages and abilities. Kids, parents, grandparents, all on the same leaderboard.
June 22, 2026 · 6 min read
Virtual Fitness Challenge Ideas for Remote and Distributed Teams
Virtual fitness challenge ideas that actually work for remote and hybrid teams. Inclusive formats, async-friendly tracking, prizes that fit a distributed company.
June 22, 2026 · 6 min read
The 30 Day Running Streak Challenge: A Realistic Guide
How to plan, survive, and finish a 30 day running streak. Mileage, recovery, injury risk, and how to keep the streak honest when life gets busy.
June 22, 2026 · 6 min read
Company Step Challenge Guide: Apps, Rules, Setup
How to run a company or workplace step challenge coworkers actually join: which apps work for mixed devices, fair rules, target numbers, and a four-week setup plan.
June 22, 2026 · 5 min read
How to Set a Realistic Fitness Goal With Friends
How to pick a group fitness goal that the strongest and weakest people in the group both actually want to chase. Methods, numbers, and the math that keeps everyone in.
September 10, 2026 · 6 min read
12 Running Challenge Ideas for Two People
Head to head running challenges for two friends or partners, with scoring rules that stay fair when one runner is faster than the other.
September 10, 2026 · 6 min read
Monthly Step Challenge Goals: How Many Steps to Aim For
Realistic monthly step targets by activity level, from 150,000 to 400,000 steps, plus how to set a group step goal nobody quits in week two.
September 10, 2026 · 7 min read
A 30 Day Fitness Challenge Plan That People Finish
A week by week 30 day fitness challenge plan for any group, with rules, rest days, scoring, and what to do when someone falls behind.
September 10, 2026 · 6 min read
15 Gym Challenge Ideas for Friends
Gym challenge ideas for friends who train separately or together, with scoring that works across strength, cardio and class based workouts.