IRELANDS FITTEST ICU 2025 WILL RUN FROM MONDAY MAY 5TH SUNDAY JUNE 1ST.

Congratulations  to Tipperary University Hospital for winning Ireland's Fittest ICU 2024

Welcome to Ireland's fittest ICU 2025!

We are delighted to be back for the second year, having been awarded St Vincent's University Hospital ‘Non-Clinical Innovation of the Year’ award (2024). We are striving to have a bigger, better and more ambitious competition this year and are looking forward to what is to behold in the coming weeks! 

We have made some changes to how the competition is being run this year: 

  • There are now more sports included (swimming now encompasses kayaking, canoeing, surfing) 
  • Cycling now is worth 0.5 points per kilometre
  • There will be a central Strava group that everyone must register with. Link and  QR code linked below. 
  • Each ICU will have a dedicated team leader to encourage you to get moving throughout the month. 
  • Results will be posted each Friday, before close of business. 
  • This year we will be running Irelands Fittest ICU Day where we ask our colleagues around the country to organise a team event (hike, cycle etc.) on the same day.

We look forward to your participation. Be sure to follow our Instagram page (linked below) for updates along the way. 

Best wishes, 

Irelands Fittest ICU Team, 

''Very enjoyable and a good motivation to get out and about. Different types of exercise included means that it should be accessible to everyone.''

“Every morning in our lives, we have a choice to make. You have the choice to stay in bed and say, ‘Forget it, I’m not going to work out today.’ Or you can wake up and say, ‘I’m going to work out for an hour'.That's your choice that you make every single day of your life.Make the right decision. 

~David Goggins

Rules 

 

  • We would love for all departments to get involved - nurses, doctors, OT's, dieticians, cleaners etc. - everybody who makes an ICU function. 
  • To register please fill in the Registration form 
  • Once registered join the Ireland Fittest ICU 2025 Strava Club 
  • Than have fun and Run, Walk, Cycle, Swim, as many kilometres as possible during the month of May
  • Clock your kilometres using  Strava fitness app (Steps at work are not counted!).Please click STRAVA  If you need any more information about how to use STRAVA app.
  • Each team member submits their own individual weekly total through the link on the website. Latest submission Midnight each Tuesday. 
  • Every kilometre earns points for the team 
    • On foot (run, walk, hike) = 1 point 
    • Cycling (electric bikes not included) = 0.5 points 
    • Swimming, kayaking, canoeing, surfing = x 3 points 
  • Each teams' points will be divided between the total number of members of the group. This will ensure that smaller units with less staff will have the opportunity to bring home the honour!
  • We ask for each unit to appoint a leader who will be the main person for us to contact throughout the challenge.

  • It is up to each individual participant to submit their weekly totals each week before the deadline.

  • The ICU Department with the most points at the end of May takes home the trophy and honour of being the fittest critical care professionals in Ireland
  • Please check our FAQ   for more details
  • if you have any more queries please contact us

*NB* Please be aware that participation in this challenge is done so at your own risk and the organizers bare no responsibility for any injury, illness or accident that occur during the event. In partaking in this event you are acknowledging that you do so at your own risk. 

LEADER BOARD APRIL 2024

PLACE HOSPITAL TOTAL POINTS FOR 4 WEEKS
1 Tipperary University Hospital 189
2 Tallaght University Hospital 187
3 Portiuncula University Hospital, Galway 167
4 University Hospital Limerick 163
5 St. Lukes General Hospital, Kilkenny 154
6 Mater Misericordiae University Hospital 153
7 Craigavon Area Hospital 146
8 St. James's Hospital, Dublin 146
9 St. Vincent's University Hospital 139
10 Cavan General Hospital 138
11 Cork University Hospital 135
12 University Hospital Kerry 133
13 Beacon Hospital 132
14 Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda 126
15 Beaumont Hospital 123
16 Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore 115
17 Sligo University Hospital 102
18 Mullingar Regional Hospital 89
18 Naas General Hospital 89

''It was a great team building experience. It generated lots of discussion within our unit. The group events, encouraging each other and connecting people of similar fitness levels were brilliant.''

   ''Good idea for encouraging movement on days off.''

Participating in a work group challenge is always motivating and fun

  '' Participating in a work group challenge is always motivating and fun''

"Nobody else can take you to the place you want to end up. You have to get there yourself." 

Tia-Clair Toomey

 

"Until you spread your wings, you’ll have no idea how far you can fly.” 

 Napoleon Bonaparte

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are the first steps to get involved?

We will contact each unit directly via phone and email.

Once your unit has been contacted we ask that a leader be chosen to set up the strava group and to create a WhatsApp group for those partaking within the unit. This will allow communication with the challenge group and can be used to organise walks, cycles, and other activities. 

Every person who wants to get involved has to register on the website by clicking the JOIN iN button at the top of the page. You can join in throughout the challenge. 

Then it's time for the challenge! Try to push yourself and your colleagues to achieve as many points as possible each week. Remember, 1 point may be the difference in being on the winning team.

 

How fit do you have to be?

You don't have to be fit at all. The purpose of the challenge is to get people up and moving.


Once you can walk 1 km you can earn 1 point for your team. And that may be the winning point!

We hope everybody embraces the challenge and strives to push themselves a little bit over the month.

Is it only for nurses?

No. It's for everybody who works in the ICU. So, if you are an HCA, Porter, Dietitian, PT, OT, housekeeper, SHO, Registrar, Consultant, administration staff, or any other member of the MDT, we would love for you to join us and take part in our challenge. 

 

How do you submit your activity?

Each individual will enter their activities in Km at the end of each week. This will be done via the Individual Totals Form. You can see all totals on your strava profile. You will need to submit the form by Tuesday at 00.00 hrs. This will ensure timely updating of the totals each week.

 

How are the points calculated?
  • We will collect data from all the submitted forms and convert them into points. Every kilometre earns points for the team 
    • On foot = 1 point ​
    • Cycling (electric bikes not included) = 0.5 points 
    • Swimming = x 3 points 
  • The ICU Department with the most points at the end of April takes home the trophy.
  • To allow each unit to have the best chance possible we will divide the number of points each team has with the amount of participants. We believe this will be more fair on smaller units with fewer staff to be in with a chance to win!
  • As units vary in size and staff numbers - each team's total points will be divided by the amount of staff taking part. This will give each unit the chance to become Ireland's fittest ICU!

we will then publish the results on our website on Tuesday

How do you create Strava challange for your ICU?

You will need to download the Strava app to your phone. You can then use it to track your activities as an individual. To make it more fun and encouraging your team leader will set up the challenge on Strava for your ICU Department. We will provide an infographic to assist you in setting up a group. You can also contact us if you have any difficulty. 

Please see the infographic linked to help you set up a strava group for your unit.

 Infographic on how to set up Strava Group for your ICU.pdf

 

Once this has been completed you can share the link with your colleagues to join the challenge. 

 

Does exercise on treadmill or exercise bike count?

Indoor cycles and runs can be uploaded as long as the distance travelled is documented on the Strava app. 

Many treadmills and exercise bikes in gyms have a 3rd party app for tracking this. We suggest you ask your gym for more information about the machine they use and its compatibility with Strava.

Indoor runs or cycles without distance will not be accepted as this is the way points are calculated.

There's further information here

Indoor, Treadmill, and Bike Trainer Activities – Strava Support

“Every morning in our lives, we have a choice to make. You have the choice to stay in bed and say, ‘Forget it, I’m not going to work out today.’ Or you can wake up and say, ‘I’m going to work out for an hour'.That's your choice that you make every single day of your life.Make the right decision. 

~David Goggins

Contact us

Reach out to us if you have any questions about the challenge and we will get back to you as soon as possible. 

We would like to thank our sponsors

Location

Ireland's fittest ICU,

SVUH ICU department, 
Dublin 4