The CIA has specific security protocols for its annual Pedometer Challenge, as outlined by Greg (CIA rules only allow the use of first names), the coordinator of the challenge. The agency has a list of pre-approved devices that are not connected to the internet and have been cleared by security for step counting. This includes specialized pedometers for CIA personnel with disabilities.
The challenge involves teams of eight to ten people who aim to reach a specific number of combined steps in order to progress to the next round. Each level of the challenge requires increasingly higher step counts. This year, the theme of the challenge was “Battle of the Bands,” and the team names were clever puns such as “Red Hot Chili Steppers.” Surprisingly, despite working for the CIA, the competition relies on the honor system for submitting step counts.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the winning team this year was Team Buttsteak, who won for the third consecutive time with 7,550,224 steps. Team 2 Much Stepz 4 U came in second place with 6,516,821 steps, and Happy Feat secured third place with 5,779,997 steps. The name of Team Buttsteak is now engraved on a trophy displayed at the CIA’s gym in Langley Field House.
