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Be Proactive. Thrive Now.
Est. 2017
LIMITED TIME TO UNLEASH LIMITLESS POTENTIAL.
OUTDOOR SOCIAL ADVENTURES AND HIKING LEAGUE
New Jersey/New York/Northeast
![Meet the Competition • #proactivechallenge
Mel debuted at Ramapo Torne in July 2019 and immediately became a fixture on @proactiveahw social hikes, joining us at each and every opportunity.
A few months later, she would make her first trip to the Adirondacks. This made her want more, and she found it by tackling some of our most difficult routes and making trips across the country and our border to see what else was out there.
In 2020 alone, Mel completed Breakneck Triple (the first of our increasing Breakneck repeats), the first Beacon Bully, Devil's Path, and more. And she continued to take on bigger and bigger routes.
Recently, Mel snatched a Devil's Path PR for her second finish, traveled to Patagonia for an ambitious solo hiking trip, and summited Mount Washington for a second time, among other things!
Mel spoke about her desire for views and adventure and the effects of hiking and being outdoors on the PROACTIVE Podcast, the most viewed episode as of yet! [Link in Bio]
Although Mel felt as though she wasn't performing to her top potential in last year's Challenge, she managed to stay in the top 10 over the course of the season. Will she surprise herself again this year with a 1st place finish?
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@melll_leigh
@proactiveahw
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Pictured: The first photo was taken at the Mohonk Preserve during the nearly 20-mile Mohonk Tour in 2020. It was one of the hottest days we ever faced, and we all looked like it near the end. The final picture is of Mel's first hike with us at Ramapo Torne in July 2019.
#proactiveahw #proactivechallenge #beproactive #hikergram #hikersofinstagram #bonticoucrag #hikethehudsonvalley #hikeny #grouphike #hikingclub #meetthecompetitors #competition #hikingchallenge #hikinggroup #nynjtc #merrell #hikemoreworryless #hikerlife #climbmoutains #getoutside #movnat #hikethegunks #shawangunks #mohonkpreserve #harrimanstatepark #proactivepodcast](https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/452497667_1845918909235418_5397347223124720524_n.webp?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=100&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=ZUXwG0OWmr4Q7kNvwEjPsS9&_nc_oc=Adkha4W3EpltyhP8ADAnl9G1HIc5MGgu0MSXYXaVPMXDu062MyWJB6ZkvsLEakc0BZM&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=WrNsf1w-0ywLoDmt6_8itw&oh=00_AfKJR_r1r4qQqfz8-cFqbe-39e3tua7ZOp9LmCcbxIWPFw&oe=682DEBA1)
![Meet the Competition • #proactivechallenge
Justin Lewandowski entered the PROACTIVE Challenge last season, having already successfully completed several ultramarathons and trail races in previous years. He is known for his insatiable appetite for vert and dedicated training.
He quickly rose to the top of the leaderboards and held at 1st place for a good period, trading the position with just a few other competitors throughout the year. Justin finished 2nd in the 2023-24 season...
While earning all 4 @proactiveahw patches and Elite status and completing nearly every challenge, he still managed to complete even more impressive routes throughout the season...
...including, Eastern States 100, the Hudson Highlands Hundo, Tammany 10, Manitou's Revenge, and more! Without reading off the rest of his impressive resume, it's quite clear that none of the challenges will be out of Justin's wheelhouse...
After having had the experience of coming within a dozen points of winning last year, there's no doubt that Justin will be gunning to strategize and fight for the belt and the cash even harder this season...
Justin spoke about his journey from an average hiker to a seasoned ultrarunner on the PROACTIVE: Adventure, Health, & Wellness Podcast! [Link in Bio]
In mere days, Justin will travel to Colorado for the Ouray 100! We wish him all the best and look forward to him absolutely crushing it out there! 💪👊🙌
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@justin_lewandowski_
@proactiveahw
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Pictured: Justin at the Breakneck flag in October 2023 during his successful Hudson Highlands Hell No Hell Hole Hundo, an ambitious 100-mile route created by @kimlevinsky - with a notoriously low number of completions...](https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/450794826_991654242655521_4483112350087295523_n.webp?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=j-LdirHL_eMQ7kNvwFaOnwX&_nc_oc=Adn0jol1NJ7NSldl9huZKWyOCFz0jpefQDxTpA4y80Co4ly0b2sXKQ9RKE6iZ25fvcc&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=WrNsf1w-0ywLoDmt6_8itw&oh=00_AfLYNx1by389cDZucDT55Pgs1MsaQLqpHK1j1K4LAwRlQQ&oe=682E016F)
![Meet the Competition • #proactivechallenge
We couldn't start anywhere else but with the reigning and defending @proactiveahw champion, Vanessa.
A member of the group since January 2019, when she joined us for a short hike at Mount Beacon, she consistently took on more increasingly difficult hikes for the next year and a half...
In August 2020, she exceeded her own expectations by completing the full Breakneck Quad on a nearly 100° day. Her efforts on that hike inspired others who were with us to push further than they expected as well!
After that, it was off to the races 😏. Vanessa has since completed all of the subsequent Breakneck Repeats up to 7.5, Devil's Path & a Half, the Breakneck Marathon, and so many more impressive achievements.
She was awarded the first championship in 2022-23 due to her overall progression since joining the group, her dedicated training regimen, and an impressive list of accomplishments in the year prior.
In 2023-24, she was able to successfully defend the championship against a strong field in a very close, competitive battle to the very end.
For more about Vanessa, check out the PROACTIVE: Adventure, Health, & Wellness where the 2x champion has been a 2x guest, not to mention, our inaugural conversation! [Link in Bio]
Vanessa is again on the defense this year, and we're excited to see if she can find a way to collect a third belt by the end of this season...
Remember, this competition includes time management and information processing challenges in addition to the physical ones. 💪⌚️🧠
Visit the website for more details about the PROACTIVE Challenge! Do you want in? Be Proactive, Join the Challenge. [Link in Bio]
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@proactiveahw
@nessvaglio
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Pictured: The final picture in this batch is from that first hike up Mount Beacon from back in January 2019. The first is from Vanessa during the Breakneck Marathon in May 2023. Where it started, how it's going...](https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/450540964_360071293777698_8322583411203849828_n.webp?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=IdyF6QC91NoQ7kNvwHPrjuu&_nc_oc=AdnVhsQUlRO-BNRWUFvH-WyQbObukShQ5L0bleDPFysDJ4EFiuxFVF_ysNEXk9u1q80&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=WrNsf1w-0ywLoDmt6_8itw&oh=00_AfLNNshpzw_UTTyeCVbgfa8R-ZcQEMrwIPSihp0fPKbmlg&oe=682DEB46)
![To those in our NY/NJ/PA/CT hiking, running, and outdoor communities, the PROACTIVE Challenge is back!
The PROACTIVE champion is decided in a year-long, points-based competition built around a series of challenges, both group and solo, that will require and test strategic planning, prioritization, and dedication...
We've made some additions to make it more fun, more competitive, and even more exciting than the inaugural edition!
If you enjoy spending your time scrambling up Breakneck Ridge, casually walking long distances through Harriman, or moving for miles in some form or fashion, this competition is for you!
Earn points for your solo hikes and runs! Do your own thing! Complete hikes to earn patches and swag. Receive the chance to win in our monthly giveaways. Explore parts of our region that you may not otherwise explore!
The Challenge is designed for any hiker - novice to veteran - as anybody could potentially win by piecing together the best overall year!
The goals of the PROACTIVE Challenge are...
• To promote a proactive lifestyle; to inspire and motivate people not to take time for granted, to satisfy their appetite for adventure, to improve their overall level of wellness, to expand their social circle, to push their own limits, and to thrive now.
• To showcase the beauty and diversity of our region.
• To help novice hikers discover new places to hike and encourage them to continue advancing.
• To provide advanced hikers with supplemental prep or training for larger events and general exercise.
• To bring our hiking/outdoor community together and build new social connections and networks.
• To highlight and support worthwhile causes of interest to our community at large and to our participants.
• To have a fun time doing all of this...
Visit the website for more details and to register for the PROACTIVE Challenge today! [LINK IN BIO]
Be proactive, join the adventure...
••••• PROACTIVEAHW.com •••••](https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/447432769_1486456202056211_3102152464072042381_n.webp?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=109&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=RmfsYnU4X_kQ7kNvwFD-Gxv&_nc_oc=AdnN2w7NxDyPHueZdqaombP-l4OqflBW9-f_pW736af_g2PwYPlVpNNpFimeSVIrTZY&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=WrNsf1w-0ywLoDmt6_8itw&oh=00_AfLKxvKjulXmgmLTs2fEkbSSVEhL9E2Mm59p2q996dRtdg&oe=682DEC21)
Leave Everything Better Than You Find It ~ Enjoy, Do Not Destroy
APRIL
Brittany - 1205 Points
Justin - 1150 Points
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