Fitt Insider's "Touch Grass" issue makes a simple case: the outdoors is an underused medicine. Rucking, Nordic walking, hiking, and social walking groups are all having a moment, and researchers keep linking time outside to lower stress and better cardiovascular health. For fitness brands, the interesting part isn't the science, it's the behavior change: people move more when movement is social, easy, and woven into daily life. That is exactly the gap a well-run challenge can fill.
The outdoor movement is really a social movement
Per Fitt Insider, walking groups and run crews are among the fastest-growing forms of exercise, and hiking or Nordic walking can rival higher-intensity sessions for heart health. Rucking, per the same issue, promises strength and longevity with less injury risk than running. None of it requires a treadmill or a studio floor.
That flexibility is a double-edged sword for operators. A member who trains outside is healthy, but they are also not in your building, not on your app, and easy to lose track of between visits. The News & Notes in this issue underline how fragile that grip can be: budget gym chain Blink Fitness filed for bankruptcy and a planned sale, while Life Time filed a pickleball patent and Barry's plotted its first international RIDE x LIFT studio via Frankfurt. Growth and churn are happening at the same time, across the whole industry.
Turn any workout — indoor or outdoor — into a reason to come back
Cadoo lets members bet money with friends on reaching fitness goals, so accountability comes from real stakes and a group chat, not willpower. A recurring outdoor step or distance challenge fills the space between studio sessions instead of competing with it. When a member laces up for a Saturday ruck or a Nordic walk, that effort still counts toward a game they care about.
- Consistency between visits: recurring weekly challenges keep people engaged on the days they are not in your building.
- Social accountability: friends plus money on the line beats another push notification.
- Measurable engagement: steps and distance sync from Apple Health and Google Health Connect, so outdoor movement produces real data, and the phone camera verifies reps for bodyweight work in the park.
- Shareable, branded proof: Cadoo-verified workouts become skinned videos members are proud to post, marketing your brand for you.
Why this matters for club management platforms
Software is where a lot of this fight is being decided. In the same issue, Australian club management platform Hapana raised a $17M Series A to fuel global expansion, per Fitt Insider, and Noom teamed with Zumba on content and instructor training. Operators are clearly investing in engagement tooling. A challenge layer that rewards outdoor and at-home activity, not just check-ins, extends that engagement past the front door. Cadoo is an industry app, not affiliated with any brand named here, but any gym, studio, or wellness brand can host a game to keep members consistent.
Brands exploring this can reach us at Tim@cadoo.io or via Cadoo for brands.
Frequently asked questions
Can Cadoo track outdoor workouts like walking, hiking, or rucking?
Yes. Steps and distance sync from Apple Health and Google Health Connect, so outdoor activity counts toward a challenge automatically. The phone camera is used separately to verify bodyweight reps, so a park workout can count too.
How does a money-backed challenge improve member retention?
Members stake money with friends on hitting a goal, so there is real social and financial accountability to keep showing up. Recurring weekly challenges give members a reason to stay active between studio or gym visits.
How are steps tracked if the phone only films my reps?
Steps and distance come from Apple Health or Google Health Connect, which keeps outdoor tracking accurate and hands-free. The phone camera has one job: verifying reps such as squats or pushups.
Can a gym or studio host its own outdoor challenge?
Yes. Any fitness brand can host a game in the Cadoo app and invite its members. It is an industry tool, not a partnership or endorsement, and works alongside your existing club management software.
