10,000 steps to a better life; THIS month Coventry and Warwickshire are being urged to step up to the plate for the Travelwise Walking Challenge. It aims to encourage more people to walk at least 10,000 steps every day as part of a healthy lifestyle. Health reporter WARREN MANGER joins the Telegraph's team of volunteers who are hoping to take the challenge in their stride.

WE all know the golden rules for a healthy lifestyle - or at least we like to think we do.

The fact that we should be eating our five-a-day has been drummed into us relentlessly over the last decade.

And whether we actually achieve it or not, we realise we should be aiming for at least 30 minutes of medium intensive exercise, five days per week.

But did you know you should also be walking at least 10,000 steps each day? If not don't worry, you're not alone.

So a healthy living campaign, the Travelwise Walking Challenge, has been launched to educate Coventry and Warwickshire and help us all take this simple step towards a fitter future.

To give you an extra nudge, the Travelwise team are even offering a free pedometer so you can monitor your steps when you sign up.

It sounds so easy that anyone can do it. So here at the Telegraph we have made it our mission to find out.

We have recruited a team of volunteers to don a pedometer for the duration of the four-week challenge and record their steps.

Now there's no prizes for guessing from my photograph that I'm no Iron Man.

But I'm no couch potato either and I was hoping that despite the endless hours I spend shackled to my desk I would be able to hold my own against our other guinea pigs.

So when I turned up at Coventry City's training ground to meet my fellow steppers my heart sank.

I discovered that I would be going toe-to-toe with two civil enforcement officers (traffic wardens to you and me), a cleaner at Coventry's enormous West Orchards shopping centre and an active neighbourhood warden.

And if that wasn't enough we were also joined by Sky Blues boss Chris Coleman.

Any City fan worth their salt will tell you that this man mountain can be seen prowling the touchlines on any given Saturday willing his players on.

How far he paces during a tight, tense match - and City have more than their fair share of those - is anyone's guess.

Obviously one of the easiest ways to increase your steps is to leave the car at home and walk to work.

Sadly that wasn't an option for me as I needed my car to react to breaking news stories at the drop of a hat. I needed to find another way of building more walking into my daily routine.

So I decided to get some suggestions from Joanne Rainbow, Coventry City Council's travel plan co-ordinator and the woman responsible for upping the city's collective step count.

Joanne believes even office workers who sit at the desk most of the day still notch up 3,500 steps and this quickly shoots up if they try to incorporate some simple exercise.

Her top tips for me included: n Use the stairs instead of taking a lift or escalator where possible.

n Walk around while I'm chatting on my mobile phone.

n Park further away from my destination and walk the remaining distance. Armed with this expert advice I clipped my pedometer to my belt and stepped to it.

So how have I been getting on? The truth is surprisingly well actually.

I have managed to hit my 10,000 steps-a-day target every day so far, although there have been times when I only just scraped through.

On those days it was probably only my frequent trips to the staff canteen that helped me to hit my target. And in all honesty the copious cups of coffee I was drinking probably far outweighed the health benefits of the extra steps I took.

But there have also been days when I managed to break the 15,000 steps barrier and on two occasions I even topped 20,000.

The important thing is that wearing a pedometer has made me think about how many steps I take.

If I reach lunchtime and realise I'm falling dismally short of my target I can make sure I pop out for a walk and try to catch up.

At the weekends I have been heading out into the beautiful Warwickshire countryside walking to prepare for my upcoming holiday trekking in Nepal.

Using my pedometer I can check how far I've covered and feel suitably smug when I realise I've reached my 10,000 steps by lunchtime.

Knowing I've hit my target makes that relaxing pint in the pub before I head home taste even sweeter.

It proves that incorporating at least 10,000 steps into your daily routine is a challenge most of us should be able to rise to.

So why don't you try taking this simple step towards a healthier lifestyle, too? HOW ARE OUR WALKING GUINEA PIGS GETTING ON SO FAR? NAME: Warren Manger AGE: 27 JOB: Telegraph health reporter Highest daily step total: 23,445 Lowest daily step total: 10,237 Average daily step total: 15, 083 COMMENT: "Having the pedometer has really helped me to keep an eye on how many steps I'm taking.

"If I think I'm running a bit low I make sure I pop out for a walk during my lunch break to catch up."

NAME: Chris Coleman AGE: 39 JOB: Coventry City FC manager Highest daily step total: 20,200 Lowest daily step total: 11,740 Average daily step total: 17,365 COMMENT: "I'm pleased with my step count so far. It's been a busy couple of weeks with a lot games in quick succession, so I'm sure that's helped. We've got an international break this week so I'm going to have to make sure I'm keeping the levels high and not let them slip."

NAME: Geoff Foster AGE: 53 JOB: BBC Coventry and Warwickshire sports presenter Highest daily step total: 12,000 Lowest daily step total: 6,600 COMMENT: "When they first told me you should be walking 10,000 steps a day I thought, crikey, I'm never going to manage that.

"But little things like where I park my car make a massive difference. If I park in the SkyDome I have to trek across town and back."

NAME: Linda Ellis AGE: 59 JOB: Neighbourhood warden Highest daily step total: 13,044 Lowest daily step total: 9,311 Average daily step total: 11,249 COMMENT: "Walking 10,000 steps a day sounds like an awful lot but it's not as much as you would think.

"I'm quite happy with my totals -I would have possibly done a bit more but some days I have to spend part of the NAME: Beverley Clarke AGE: 49 JOB: West Orchards cleaner Highest daily step total: 21,603 Lowest daily step total: 12,800 Average daily step total: 16,320 COMMENT: "I've been surprised at how many steps I take but then again West Orchards is a big place and I am walking around for seven hours of my shift every day.

"Even when I have a day off I don't stop, I'm one of those people who has to keep moving around."

10 TOP TIPS TO STEP UP YOUR STEPS mobile phone for a reason! 8 Get off the bus a stop earlier and walk the rest of the way.

HERE are travel plan coordinator Joanne Rainbow's top tips for stepping up how much you walk.

5Join 9Walk your children to school instead of driving them or walk to work where possible.

1Use a friend while they are walking their dog or borrow a dog and walk it yourself.

the stairs instead of taking the life or escalator.

10Park 2Walk further away from your destination and walk the remaining distance.

instead of driving if you are travelling a short distance.

6Walk 3Instead every supermarket aisle whether you need to or not.

of e-mailing or phoning a colleague at work, walk around to their desk and talk to them.

7Instead n For more information about the Travelwise Walking Challenge call Joanne on 024 7681 1342 or email [e-mail] with your name, company name, e-mail address and contact number.

4When of sitting down when taking a break from you desk or looking after the kids, go for a walk.

you are on the mobile phone walk around - it's called a

CAPTION(S):

MAN ON A MISSION... Armed with his trusty pedometer, health reporter Warren Manger sets off on a brisk walk to notch up his daily quota of 10,000 steps.