Walking goals for 2027: 1,000 km, miles or steps

Choose distance, steps or days

You could start with just one measure. A number can be part of the record, but you don't need one to remember a walk you enjoyed.

• Distance: record kilometres or miles if you'd like to add up the length of your walks. You could use a route distance you already have, keeping estimates clearly marked as estimates.
• Steps: if you already have a step total, you could enter it yourself. Decide whether you're recording steps from your walks or your whole day, and use the same approach each time.
• Days you walked: a yes-or-no entry could be enough if you'd rather remember that you went out without measuring how far.

What does 1,000 km in a year work out at?

As a worked example, spreading 1,000 km evenly over the 365 days of 2027 gives about 2.74 km a day, or about 19.2 km per seven days. Across 12 months, it's an average of about 83.3 km a month. These are rounded calculations, not measured walking habits or suggested minimums.

That doesn't mean you'd need to walk every day or cover the same distance each month. You could have a mixture of shorter walks, longer walks and days with nothing to record. The monthly figure is an average; months don't all have the same number of days.

You don't need to choose 1,000 km. You could try recording a few walks first, choose a different target, or keep the total without a target at all. Starting later in the year doesn't mean you have to fit a full-year example into the time left.

How far is 1,000 km in miles?

It's about 621.4 miles. That rounded figure comes from dividing 1,000 by 1.609344, the kilometres in one mile listed by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology.¹ A 1,000-mile goal is a different distance from a 1,000 km goal.

You could choose whichever unit you prefer before you start. Keep kilometres and miles in separate records, or convert figures into your chosen unit before entering them. Adding an unconverted mile figure to a kilometre total wouldn't describe one consistent distance.

What if I prefer a step goal?

You could keep a step record without choosing a daily number to reach. If you'd like a target, you could look at what you've recorded first, then choose one that suits your own plans.

For this guide, steps and distance are separate ways to keep a record; we aren't assigning a fixed distance to each step. There's no need to convert a step count into kilometres to take part.

If you copy a step total from a device, you could keep its reported figure rather than adding another total that covers the same steps. Choose either the day's total or the steps from separate walks, so you don't count them twice.

Keep a walking record you can return to

You could use a notebook, a spreadsheet or an app. A small record might include these details, without a map or a route history.

• Date: the day you walked.
• One measure: the day's total distance, the day's steps using your chosen rules, or a yes-or-no check-in.
• An optional note: where you went, who came along or something you'd like to remember. You could mark a distance as estimated here.

Add daily totals without counting a walk twice

For example, a 2 km walk and a separate 1.5 km walk add up to 3.5 km that day. You could record 3.5 as the day's distance. These are invented distances to show the arithmetic, not a suggested walking plan.

If you've already included those walks in a day's total from somewhere else, you wouldn't add them again. You could choose one source for each day's figure and make a note when you use a different one.

When you can't remember a distance, you can leave a gap or use a clearly labelled estimate. There's no need to make the year look complete.

What if I miss a week or change my goal?

A blank week doesn't erase the walks you've already recorded. You can carry on with the next one, change the target or stop counting for a while. There's no need to make up the distance you didn't record.

You could look back at the places and moments as well as the total. A familiar route, a walk with a friend or a new place could be worth keeping even when the numbers are small.

If you'd like more ideas for returning after a gap, our guide to keeping a New Year's resolution suggests small steps and kind restarts.

Record your walking year with Small Counts

Small Counts's Move more starter includes Moved today and Distance in kilometres. You can edit the suggested targets or add your own record for steps or miles. You enter the figures yourself: the app doesn't record GPS routes or automatically import steps.

For distance or steps, enter the day's total rather than your running total for the year. You can also use a separate note or list to remember places, without keeping a detailed route.

You can explore a demo with walks and books before choosing what to record. Tracking is free, with no limit on themes. If you'd like a printable record later, the optional calendar-year keepsake collection is digital artwork to download and print yourself or take to a printer. We aren't selling physical prints or products.