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Original poster

End to End challenge - Is it worth it?

26 replies

xsquared · 30/12/2021 14:31

Has anyone done this before?

I think I can cover the 874 miles in a year and I've never entered into any sort of running event or challenge, so this might be a good start for me.

How does it work? I'd like to run for a cause like Mind charity, so would I be able to set something up while doing the challenge?

Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
Alargeoneplease · 30/12/2021 17:42

I finished LEJOG in September and am currently on my way back to Lands End.
I found it a great challenge to keep me motivated when all races were cancelled etc.

Alargeoneplease · 30/12/2021 17:43

Oh, and sorry, of course you can fundraise while you are doing the challenge!

Dozer · 30/12/2021 17:43

How much does it cost?

Dozer · 30/12/2021 17:44

Don’t much like websites where cost isn’t immediately clear.

Original poster
xsquared · 30/12/2021 18:06

@Dozer £32.99 and £3.95 delivery for T-shirt and medal.

Thanks @Alargeoneplease. I have been running more regularly and frequently for the last few months now, but I'd like to run with an aim other than beating PBs.

OP posts:
Alargeoneplease · 30/12/2021 18:11

It definitely helps you to get out there and get the miles in.
There’s a really friendly and helpful group on Facebook if you’re a member too.

catinthewindow · 30/12/2021 18:49

I did one last year (and raised money for charity via gofundme I think). It was nice to move around the map and get a medal at the end. I’m debating the trans Europe one but it’s a bit far!

Dozer · 30/12/2021 18:51

Ok, so that’s about the cost of entering two ‘real life’ races.

Alargeoneplease · 30/12/2021 19:03

@Dozer not everyone wants to enter real life races though and this was a challenge to keep people motivated when races were cancelled due to covid.

TupilaLilium · 30/12/2021 19:07

I signed up early in the pandemic and the tracking was tedious. I gave up because the website was terrible and the Facebook page was full of awful men making fun of people who asked for help with the tracking.

It may have improved, but I didn’t find it motivating.

Dozer · 30/12/2021 19:09

Yes, appreciate that. You’re paying for a website/data on progress/challenge. Similar motivation to something like Strava but higher cost.

I’d be reluctant to seek sponsorship for completing so many miles, due to risk of injury. Of course, anyone might be unable to complete a charity run, but with 00s miles the risk of not being able to complete seems higher.

Original poster
xsquared · 30/12/2021 19:36

@TupilaLilium

I signed up early in the pandemic and the tracking was tedious. I gave up because the website was terrible and the Facebook page was full of awful men making fun of people who asked for help with the tracking.

It may have improved, but I didn’t find it motivating.

I'm sorry to hear that @TupilaLilium. How far were you into the challenge before you gave up? Do you enter real life races?

I've registered my interest in the Great North Run but there's no guarantee I'd get in.

OP posts:
Thisladyisforturning · 30/12/2021 19:57

I did it this year and it really helped keep me motivated. I updated my miles every 2-4 weeks rather than after each run so the progress was obvious. I'd recommend it - a whole year of challenge for the cost of one 10k/half race entry.

TupilaLilium · 30/12/2021 21:32

@xsquared. I didn’t get as far as the first postcard (which was surprisingly far in - maybe Swansea on the wales costal path). It didn’t sync with my Strava and the interface was awful. This was over a year ago, and likely they have improved.

I have done many races. I am regular park runner and occasional 10k or sprint triathlon completer.

In early pandemic I used This girl runs which I liked a lot more. It was just a spreadsheet, £15 or so, and a lovely Facebook group.

Original poster
xsquared · 30/12/2021 22:00

I'm pleased worked out well for you @Thisladyisforturning.

That's a shame @TupilaLilium. I think some people can be ridiculously competitive on FB groups, and sneer at others who they think are either not good enough or better than themselves. I'm glad This Girl Runs was more supportive. I'm having a look at real local events too.

OP posts:
ClaraTheImpossibleGirl · 30/12/2021 22:40

I haven't done that challenge before @xsquared but there's also Walk 1000 miles if you'd find that motivating - again, gives you an interactive map to show where you are (with other people on it!) and regular emails. Lovely Facebook group too, if you're into that sort of thing.

Or have you joined RED January if you're interested in fundraising too?

DadsTrilby · 31/12/2021 12:05

I did LEJOG, and it did keep me motivated. I set myself a target to complete within 6 months and tracked runs and walks. I also did the Everest challenge alongside. I uploaded after every activity and didn’t find it onerous. I did join the Facebook group but soon left as I found it a bit tedious but others would find it useful. I liked the postcards and being able to see where I was on the map!

ArtfulPuss · 31/12/2021 13:45

I signed up for LEJOG9 after one too many cocktails last NYE, decided to log only running miles, started on 3rd Jan and finished today! 874 miles is the most I've ever run in a year, so I am feeling pretty proud of myself right now. I signed up mainly because my usual trail event was cancelled, and I find that I need some kind of challenge/mission to motivate me – got quite addicted to logging my runs and plotting my route on a wall map as well as the virtual tracker. It definitely got me up and out there on days when I didn't really feel like it, in all winds and weathers (+ has made me more aware of geography too – had no idea Scotland was quite so huge until I hit the border and still had over 350 miles to go!) I used the MapMyRun app and just logged my miles + uploaded a screenshot after each run.

If you go for it, best of luck + I hope you enjoy your challenge!

Alargeoneplease · 31/12/2021 14:05

Well done @ArtfulPuss - what a way to finish the year! Like you I only logged running miles and it’s a huge achievement and definitely helps to get you out in weather when you may normally stay in bed!
I’m wondering what you’re going to sign to to after too many cocktails tonight 😜

hivemindneeded · 31/12/2021 16:17

Am I missing something? You could achieve this by doing 2 miles most days and 3 miles a couple of times a week. It's not exactly arduous. You can even walk it, which almost anyone does - and more - in the course of a normal day unless they are housebound. Could I log my usual pootling down to the shops and the station, daily dog walk and feel like I had completed a challenge?

Is there something special about it? It just doesn't seem that much of a challenge when spread over a year.

alwayswrighty · 31/12/2021 16:19

I signed up with virtual runner instead. Been doing that for 18 months and I love it.

ArtfulPuss · 31/12/2021 19:17

Well, you could walk it all, and some do. Some people even count their daily steps and log those. The point is that it's not a race, or a competition – it's a personal challenge. And if 'pootling' 874 miles is not a challenge for you, then don't sign up. Most people are fitting it in around other constraints or demands on their time: jobs, studies, children, illness, disability, isolation, etc. I took 4 months off over the summer to focus on other activities and ended up with 350 miles to run in 2 months, which was a challenge for me, and I'm proud of the way I managed my time and achieved my goal. If I'd counted my dog walks and all the other walking I do every day I could have done the distance in a couple of months at the beginning of the year, but I chose to do it in a way that pushed me out of my comfort zone; I wouldn't dream of dismissing anyone else's parameters for their own personal challenge.

It's like parkrun – I have as much respect for the people who show up week after week and do it for their own reasons and in their own time, however long it takes them, as I do for those who set course records. No one needs to compare themselves to anyone else.

And you don't have to take a full year to do it anyway. The first finisher on LEJOG9 did it within a month, which is the equivalent of more than a marathon every single day.

Anyway, Happy New Year to all, and good luck to anyone setting themselves individual challenges for 2022 Smile

PS @Alargeoneplease several cocktails down, already signed up for the WCP! Wink

swampytiggaa · 31/12/2021 19:23

I did LeJOG3 😊 ran it all. I’ve also done the WCP and NC500. Currently doing the SWCP.

Friend of mine completed his LeJog in less than a month… he wanted to be a gold medalist then get top ten then he wanted to get the event record. He ran about 40 miles a day as well as working full time. It helps that he averages 5/6 minute miles I suppose 😂😂

AuntieStella · 31/12/2021 19:27

I did a LEJOG and agree that End to End has one of the less friendly logging systems

But in a moment of weakness I signed up to the Jubilee challenge - 'only' 500 miles and it should be a nice tshirt

Starts tomorrow, I think

swampytiggaa · 31/12/2021 19:36

@AuntieStella

I did a LEJOG and agree that End to End has one of the less friendly logging systems

But in a moment of weakness I signed up to the Jubilee challenge - 'only' 500 miles and it should be a nice tshirt

Starts tomorrow, I think

Oh yes I’ve signed up for that one too! See you there 😂😂