Every month, I like to set a new goal for myself, and for November, I decided to take on the 1-Mile Kettlebell Carry Challenge. The rules are simple: carry one 15 lb kettlebell for a full mile every single day.

At the time of writing this, I’m five days in. The last time I committed to a daily physical challenge was last year, when I ran one mile every day for 50 days straight. Just like that running streak, this challenge forces me to get outside every single day, even when I don’t have anywhere specific to go.

To keep things interesting, I’ve been hunting for cool new routes across the city. So far, I’ve carried my kettlebell along the Staten Island boardwalk, across the George Washington Bridge, down to Orchard Beach in The Bronx, the watch the sunrise, then to New York Botanical Garden, and along the Putnam Greenway.

Why a one-mile farmer’s carry? I’ve seen a few YouTubers talk about the “kettlebell mile” and praise its benefits, so I wanted to test it out for myself. Carrying a kettlebell over distance is great for building grip strength, core stability, shoulder and upper-back endurance, and maybe most importantly mental fortitude.

Honestly, I’m loving it so far. It gets me moving out in the fresh air, encourages me to explore different places, and lets me enjoy the beautiful fall foliage along the way.