Walking Forum
Main Boards => General Walking Discussion => Topic started by: WhitstableDave on 16:49:18, 03/04/21
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So far, my wife and I have signed up for two charity events taking place this year: the Pilgrims Way Challenge 2021 and the 2021 London Marathon.
Pilgrims Way Challenge 2021
Join the popular Pilgrims Way Challenge and enjoy the rural beauty of one of England’s oldest and least-trodden national trails. Starting from the picturesque village of Wye, nestled in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, follow the Pilgrims Way, through the scenic Stour Valley, to the historic cathedral city of Canterbury. Along the way you’ll pass through ancient woodland, rolling fields and charming villages, as well as a few challenging climbs through the undulating geography of the Garden of England.
The event takes place on Saturday, 19th June and is limited to 800 participants. Three distances are on offer: 25km, 35km and 55km (we're doing the 55km). Entry costs £30 (£45 on the day) and includes various goodies including an official t-shirt that walkers are encouraged to wear on the day. Running is being permitted for the first time this year, so perhaps we'll try to jog the long final descent into Dover!
I've always said that I didn't want to take part in a mass event, but everything else about the Pilgrims Way Challenge was too tempting to miss!
Find out more here: https://www.pilgrimshospices.org/event/pilgrims-way-challenge-2021/ (https://www.pilgrimshospices.org/event/pilgrims-way-challenge-2021/)
2021 London Marathon
Following the huge success of last year's Virtual London Marathon, a virtual event is again taking place - this time alongside the actual, real life race on Sunday, 3rd October. Same day, same distance, different place.
My wife managed to get both of us places. She will be travelling to London for the race and will attempt to run the distance. I will be doing my own marathon route along the North Downs Way (as I did last year) and try to beat my previous time by running some descents! I should stress that it is entirely acceptable to run or walk the London Marathon in any combination!
For the virtual event, a phone app tracks your progress, provides a commentary (which can be muted!) and confirms your distance and time.
I understand that entries for both the London event and the virtual version sold out very quickly, but perhaps others here have managed to secure a place (I know at least one fellow member did the virtual event last year too).
Find out more here: https://www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/ (https://www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/)
If anyone has signed up for or knows of any other long distance charity events taking place this year, please share the news... :)
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Having "run" the London Marathon in my 30s, 40s, 50s and walked the virtual one last year in my 70s I'll wait until I can do it again in my 80s - don't want to peak too soon! ;D
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Having "run" the London Marathon in my 30s, 40s, 50s and walked the virtual one last year in my 70s I'll wait until I can do it again in my 80s - don't want to peak too soon! ;D
Did you take a 'rest decade' in your 60s? ;)
I think your average daily mileage so far this year shows you're definitely still on the up! ;)
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No, I had an operation on my spine so I decided to give up running and do long-distance walks with a bloody great rucksack on my back so that I could take it easy!
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My wife reminded me that we've entered another charity event - the Vitality London 10,000. :)
Actually, as with the London Marathon, the Vitality event can be completed 'for real' in Central London on Bank Holiday Monday, 31st May 2021 or as a virtual race any time between 29th May and 6th June on a route of your choosing. Entry to the London event costs £39 and it's £19 for the virtual event.
Q. How can I take part in the 2021 Vitality London 10,000?
A. There are two ways to take part in the Vitality London 10,000 in 2021. You can enter the central London event taking place on Bank Holiday Monday 31 May, or take part in a virtual event running 10K on the route of your choice wherever you are in the world from 29 May until 6 June.
Q. Why are you holding a central London event AND a virtual Vitality London 10,000?
A. Last year we held our first-ever virtual Vitality London 10,000 – it went down a storm with nearly 11,000 participants, who enjoyed the freedom of running for their heads and their hearts from wherever they were in the world.
So we’ve partnered with Mental Health Mates to offer a virtual option again this year – ideal if you can’t make it to London on Monday 31 May, or if you’d just rather take part closer to home, with or without friends and family!
We'll be on holiday in the Peak District during the period for the virtual event, and we're hoping to do the 10km in Landal Darwin Forest Country Park. 8)
More information about the Vitality London 10,000 can be found here: https://www.vitalitylondon10000.co.uk/ (https://www.vitalitylondon10000.co.uk/)
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I'm contemplating the Lands End to John O'Groats virtual challenge, which starts May 2nd and is a year-long challenge. Considering I'm just getting back into things this is just perfect for me, it will spur me on, but I'm unlikely to get overwhelmed by having to complete it in a short time.
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I'm contemplating the Lands End to John O'Groats virtual challenge, which starts May 2nd and is a year-long challenge. Considering I'm just getting back into things this is just perfect for me, it will spur me on, but I'm unlikely to get overwhelmed by having to complete it in a short time.
That one looks very tempting... (https://www.theconqueror.events/lejog/ (https://www.theconqueror.events/lejog/)) ...and the medal looks great! O0
I'd probably enter (for the medal!), except that I already do lots of syncing of activities and copying data and I'm not keen to add any more. I'd certainly be interested to hear how you get on though if you decide to do it. :)
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Lake District Challenge for Pilgrims across 12 – 13 June 2021
A link on the Pilgrims Challenge 2021 website took me to another event that looked very exciting. Here's the introduction...
Join the Lake District Challenge of 25km, 50km or 100km routes as you take on England’s finest countryside at your own pace. Starting in the market town of Kendal the 100km walkers will head out onto trails, over high passes and around the magnificent Lake Windermere finishing back in Kendal; a testing, but incredibly rewarding challenge. Alternatively walkers can join the first or second half of the route to complete a 50km hike. The 25km route will follow the start of the route finishing in Ambleside. With some training and determination anyone can conquer the Lake District Challenge. Will you do it for Pilgrims?
Fundraising for Pilgrims Hospices with your walk, jog or run around the Lake District this June will support us in continuing to care for over 2,500 patients each year, both in the patients home and in our three inpatient units in Ashford, Canterbury and Margate.
However, as much as we'd like to take part, it's just a bit too far away for us...
...but then I noticed there was a 'virtual' option so we signed up for the 100km challenge! :)
Of course, the virtual challenge is a whole lot easier than the actual one, since it allows entrants 2 weeks to complete the distance on routes of their choosing. But we like a challenge - especially when it's for a worthy cause. :angel:
This is the link to the actual event: https://www.pilgrimshospices.org/event/ultra-challenge-lake-district-challenge-2021/ (https://www.pilgrimshospices.org/event/ultra-challenge-lake-district-challenge-2021/)
And this is the link to the virtual version: https://ultrachallenge.com/virtual-challenges/virtual-lake-district-challenge/ (https://ultrachallenge.com/virtual-challenges/virtual-lake-district-challenge/) (I assume that Pilgrims Hospices has subcontracted the virtual event to Ultra Challenge.)
I wonder if anyone who lives closer to the Lake District is up for the challenge? ;)
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Ultra Challenge organise a number of 100k events throughout the year. I'm doing one in the Peak District at the beginning of July. However, they are horrendously expensive (if you don't get a charity to subsidise the entry fee).
I'm missing the LDWA challenge events which are incredibly good value but not running yet due to covid :-(
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I'm missing the LDWA challenge events which are incredibly good value but not running yet due to covid :-(
It was your topic: LDWA Dorset Doddle (http://www.walkingforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=38930.0) that let me know an LDWA event was taking place this year!
Well I hope it is, because in preparation, we've booked a couple of nights in Swanage and we joined the LDWA. We're just waiting for entries to the Dorset Doddle to open in June! ;)
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It was your topic: LDWA Dorset Doddle (http://www.walkingforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=38930.0) that let me know an LDWA event was taking place this year!
Well I hope it is, because in preparation, we've booked a couple of nights in Swanage and we joined the LDWA. We're just waiting for entries to the Dorset Doddle to open in June! ;)
I didn't see there had been some recent replies to my original post from 2019 on that! Let's hope things are sorted with the LDWA challenge events by then.
As mentioned in that thread, the Dorset Doddle is one of the tougher LDWA challenge events - not only is it 32 miles but there's lots of ascent/descent. Unlike all other LDWA events I've been on the refreshments at the checkpoints are also pretty minimal so take some extra food. Also if it's hot, take cash for the ice cream vans as none of them accept credit cards.
I might well see you there - got it pencilled in my calendar. Cracking event.