The winner in the step competition of the Fourth Annual Lawyer Wellness Challenge put about 136 miles of wear on the tread of her shoes over 10 days.

This friendly spring competition and its affiliated programming are presented by the Young Lawyers Division of the VBA and the Virginia Judges & Lawyers Assistance Program, or VJLAP. Created for members of the legal profession, the week-plus event is open to anyone interested in wellness – physical, occupational, intellectual, emotional, social or spiritual.

Prizes were awarded in the physical realm for steps tracked.

Laura Bryant clocked 285,449 steps – an average of 13.69 miles daily – to take first place. She wins a walking pad for under her desk at the Mathews/Middlesex General District Court or wherever she pleases.

“It was a great challenge and I am so happy and thankful that I could be a part of it,” Bryant said. “I have been out of the running game for a while since I had my daughter a few years ago. This step challenge has really pushed me to get back at it and get moving.”

The second-place finisher, Erin Pope of the law firm Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black PLC, finished not far behind with 274,783 steps. She wins a fitness tracker to help maintain that 13-mile-a-day average.

Finishing a strong third, at 229,098 steps, was Charlene Reilly of VJLAP. She wins a ClassPass gift card for fitness workouts.

Honorable mentions go to the fourth through 10th finishers:

• Natalie Miller, Chesapeake Magistrate’s Office, 188,188 steps
• Falon Sherman, Liberty University law student, 173,768
• Ashante Smith, Troutman Pepper, 151,553
• Sheryl-Lynn Caroff, Virginia Beach Magistrate’s Office, 151,331
• Mj Connelly, Culpeper Magistrate’s Office, 143,697
• Katherine Lennon, Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black, 132,016
• Jane Fletcher, Virginia State Bar, 129,729

The March 6-15 challenge attracted 137 registrants. More than 100 tracked their steps. Last year, 85 people signed up to take part in the challenge.

The 2023 event also featured a free, virtual Continuing Legal Education program with ethics credit, a Zoom presentation on financial wellness and a webinar offering strategies for busy people to plan and prepare meals. More than 200 people registered for these wellness events.