formerly Everest Marathon 2017
A busy year of running and cycling
This year is made up mainly of events postponed from 2020, so not as well planned / spaced as they had been!!
As usual, we're attempting to raise money to find a cure for Motor Neurone Disease and Alzheimer's Disease.
Virtual Challenges: various, ongoing
These are distance-based challenge runs over varying periods of time, the biggest and longest of which is Mike's 862-mile Antarctic journey to the South Pole.
Others include Christine's 116-mile Everest ultra, a 256-mile Kruger park trek (run!) and 144 miles from Delhi to the Taj Mahal in Agra.
RED January
Having never done more than a 7-day running streak (just before Christmas for the 7 in 7 challenge), Christine wants to see how it feels to run every day for a month. The minimum target distance is 5km (3.11 miles) per day. The weather could make this very interesting!
Charles Darwin Half Marathon: February 12th
Our first official half marathon of the year, the Charles Darwin half takes place on the big man's birthday - usually near his home town of Shrewsbury, but this year it will be a virtual one nearby.
It was one of the windiest days of the year ...
March Metric Accumulator: 1st-21st March
Starting with 1km on 1st March ... 2 km on 2nd March ... 3km on 3rd March - you get the picture - we will keep going for as long as our legs will allow us. The final day of this challenge is a half marathon (21.1km) on 21st March. It covers a whopping 231km, or 144 miles, 78 of which are all in the final week!!
Formula 5 Duathlon: April 25th
A duathlon with a novel twist - not three legs, but five!!
5k run - 20k cycle - 5k run - 20k cycle - 5k run. Mike will take this on around the undulating Emberton Park and the surrounding countryside in Bedfordshire.
May the Fourth Star Wars Half Marathon 2021
Christine and Mike will run this tough course across the Longmynd Hills for the seventh time, if restrictions permit - if not, it will be another virtual challenge in the less hilly surroundings of Thrapston ...
Endure 24, 2021: fingers crossed ...
Endure 24 Reading, June 12th-13th - Christine is in a team of 5 who will take turns to run as many 5-mile laps as possible in 24 hours. DATE CHANGED: POSTPONED UNTIL 2022
Endure 24 Leeds, July 3rd-4th - Christine will take on the 24-hour challenge SOLO, trying to complete as many 5-mile laps as possible within the time. POSTPONED UNTIL 2022.
100km Race to the Stones: July 10th-11th
Christine is going for another 100km event, running from Lewknor in Oxfordshire to the Avebury Stone Circle along the Ridgeway, celebrated as Britain's oldest path. As if the distance wasn't challenge enough, add 3,700ft of elevation!
London Duathlon - September 5th
Postponed from last year, this will be our longest duathlon to date. This one is held in the beautiful Richmond Park.
Great North Run 2021 - September 12th
The biggest run of them all. This will be Christine's 16th consecutive GNR and Mike's 15th.
A new route this year, for one year only - starting and ending in Newcastle.
100km Dragon Ride: June 6th NOW SEPT 26th
Billed as the toughest Sportive in the UK, this 100km bike ride takes place in the Brecon Beacons and has 3,970ft of climbing! This will be by far the longest and toughest cycling event we've undertaken.
Manchester Marathon 2021: October 10th
The second-largest marathon in the UK, Manchester promises to be a big day for Christine.
Cambridge Half Marathon 2021: October 17th
Usually the first event of the year, but moved to October due to Covid restrictions at its usual time of March.
Leicester Half Marathon 2021: October 31st
Another visit to my university city to complete the half - let's hope the weather's better than last time I did it!
St Neots Half Marathon 2021: November 21st
The big test of fitness and speed at the end of November. We've lost count how many times we've done this race.