The Challenge Factory discussion

Choose your race:
Signing up for your race is the easy, exciting part of it all. The task for this section is to read one book for the race you choose. It should be a book that puts you in your happy place!

Relay teams must run the same marathon together. Each relay team member must read a book to complete this section. Neither team member can proceed with training until both members complete this section.

Choose from among the popular races listed here.

1. Big Sur International Marathon in Big Sur, California - read a book set in California, or that has a MC who comes from California, or with an author who has three letters from the words BIG SUR INTERNATIONAL in their name.
2. New York Marathon in New York, New York - read a book set in New York City, or that has a MC who comes from New York, or with an author who has three letters from the words NEW YORK CITY in their name.
3. Chicago Marathon in Chicago, Illinois - read a book set in Chicago, or that has a MC who comes from Chicago, or with an author who has three letters from the words CHICAGO ILLINOIS in their name.
4. London Marathon in London, England - read a book set in London, or that has a MC who comes from London, or with an author who has three letters from the words LONDON ENGLAND in their name.
5. Paavo Nurmi Marathon in Turku, Finland - read a book set in Finland, or that has a MC who comes from Finland, or with an author who has three letters from the words PAAVO NURMI in their name.
6. Berlin Marathon - read a book set in Berlin, or that has a MC who comes from Berlin, or with an author who has three letters from the words BERLIN GERMANY in their name.
7. Tokyo Marathon - read a book set in Tokyo, or that has a MC who comes from Tokyo, or with an author who has three letters from the words TOKYO JAPAN in their name.
8. Paris Marathon - read a book set in Paris, or that has a MC who comes from Paris, or with an author who has three letters from the words PARIS FRANCE in their name.
9. Dublin Marathon - read a book set in Dublin, or that has a MC who comes from Dublin, or with an author who has three letters from the words DUBLIN IRELAND in their name.
10. Rome Marathon - read a book set in Rome, or that has a MC who comes from Rome, or with an author who has three letters from the words ROME ITALY in their name.
11. Athens Marathon - read a book set in Greece, or that has a MC who comes from Greece, or with an author who has three letters from the words ATHENS GREECE in their name.
12. Great Wall Marathon - read a book set in China, or that has a MC who comes from China, or with an author who has three letters from the words GREAT WALL in their name.
13. Marine Corps Marathon - read a book set during any war, or that has a MC who is a Marine, or with an author who has three letters from the words MARINE CORPS in their name.
14. Grandma's Marathon - read a book set in Minnesota, or that has a MC who is a grandma, or with an author who has three letters from the words DULUTH MINNESOTA in their name.

Race chosen: London Marathon
Book& Author: The Unknown Wife by Mary Brendan
Date Read: 2/2
How it fits: set in London

You're ready to gear up and start training! You must read one book for each kind of training run to complete this section. Relay teams may divide the tasks between them as they see fit.
After these 4 books are completed, roll a single die for your next prompt. Relay teams only roll once for the team.

https://www.random.org/dice/

Your four kinds of training runs are:
1. Regular runs. The base of your training where you just go out and rack up miles. You may read any book you like to complete your regular run.

2. Intervals. These are speed workouts. Either read a book in 24 hours -OR- read a mystery/thriller that gets your heart racing to complete this run.

3. Hill Repeats. These build leg strength. Read a book that pushes your boundaries - whether it's a different genre, longer than your usual, or demanding in some other way (your interpretation - tell us how).

4. Long Runs. These build endurance. Read a book that is at least 300 pages long to complete this run.

Training task: Regular Runs
Book & Author: Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb
Date Read: 6/2
How it fits: any book

Training task: Intervals
Book & Author: Secrets and Seashells at Rainbow Bay by Ali McNamara
Date Read: 5/2
How it fits: read in under 24hrs

Training task: Hill Repeats
Book & Author: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Date Read: 7/2
How it fits: I try to avoid the Young Adult genre, it's always a struggle for me

Training task: Long Runs
Book & Author: The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman
Date Read: 4/2
How it fits: 408p

Rolled 5

5 = You get a horrible cold during your training and have to take it easy for a few weeks. You can run minimally, but you'll heal faster if you truly rest and let yourself get better first. Spell out FRUSTRATED -or- read a book where a MC has to put off a large task in order to recover from an illness (say who and what).

Whichever comes first... spell FRUSTRATED -or- read a book where a MC has to put off a large task in order to recover from an illness
(title, author, a/an/the ok)
F- Fallout by Paul Thomas 10/2 4★
R- Virgin River by Robyn Carr 8/2 3★
U
S
T
R- Innocent in Death by J.D. Robb 9/2 3.5★
A- Murder on a Girls' Night Out by Anne George 8/2 3★
T
E
D

read a book where a MC has to put off a large task in order to recover from an illness

Christine Falls by Benjamin Black 12/2 3.5★
Quirke has to delay his investigation into Christine & Dolly's deaths while he recovers in hospital from concussion & a shattered patella.

Your training is going well and you are ready to run some tune-up races! You will run three different kinds of races. Relay teams may divide the tasks between them as they see fit.
After these 6 books are completed, roll a single die for your next prompt. Relay teams only roll once for the team.

https://www.random.org/dice/

1. 5K Race. A short and fairly speedy race. Read a book of 200 pages or less in a single day -OR- read a book of over 200 pages in two days to complete this race .

2. 10K Race. A bit more effort and taxes the body more. Read two books that are over 200 pages long to complete this race.

3. Half marathon. The half marathon is a demanding event that is a good indicator of your overall training. Read three series books to complete this race. The books do not have to be from the same series.

Training task: 5K Race
Book & Author: Being Dead by Jim Crace
Date Read: 12/2
How it fits: 196p in a single day

Training task: 10K Race book 1
Book & Author: The Shape of Us by Lisa Ireland
Date Read: 13/2
How it fits: 384p

Training task: 10K Race book 2
Book & Author: The Silver Donkey by Sonya Hartnett
Date Read: 16/2
How it fits: 272p

Training task: Half marathon - series book 1
Book & Author: Bad Habits by Sarah Evans
Date Read: 14/2
How it fits: Eve Rock #2

Training task: Half marathon - series book 2
Book & Author: Sibanda and the Rainbird by C.M. Elliott
Date Read: 15/2
How it fits: DI Jabulani Sibanda #1

Training task: Half marathon - series book3
Book & Author: Fanged & Fabulous by Michelle Rowen 18/2 1.5★
Date Read: 18/2
How it fits: Immortality Bites #2

You rolled 1 die:

5

Timestamp: 2023-02-18 21:57:44 UTC

5 = You get stuck behind a group of friends running a race together so you have to spend more energy to get around them - only to run into another set of friends soon thereafter. Spell out BLOCKADE -or- read a book where the MC experiences a serious blockage in his or her plan (say what it is), or with the word Block(s) or Blocked in the title.

Spell out BLOCKADE -or- read a book where the MC experiences a serious blockage in his or her plan (say what it is), or with the word Block(s) or Blocked in the title.

B
L
O
C
K- Dragonclaw by Kate Forsyth 19/2 4★
A
D
E

read a book where the MC experiences a serious blockage in his or her plan

The Pool of Two Moons by Kate Forsyth 21/2 4★
Lachlan has won the Lodestar that gives him the right & power to rule the divided land of Eileanan. However, the Anti-Witchcraft League still holds sway in large parts of the continent, & remains intent on slaying all non-humans & people with talent, refusing to accept Lachlan as he has magic himself, & blocking his objective of uniting the continent. Lachlan, Meghan, Isabeau, & all their friends & supporters, have much more to do before all peoples are safe in Eileanan.

You have done all of the hard work getting ready for your event. It's the night before the race - now you just need to set up for tomorrow and get out there and do it! To complete this section, read one book for each task. Relay teams may divide the tasks between them as they see fit.
After these 5 books are completed, roll a single die for your next prompt. Relay teams only roll once for the team.

https://www.random.org/dice/

1. Race expo - most marathons have a large expo where lots of running gear is sold - read a book where a character goes to or works at an expo.
2. Pasta dinner - read a book where the MC cooks or eats a lot of pasta.
3. Set your alarm - read a book that is alarming to you in some way (explain how).
4. Lay out your clothes - read a book where the MC is a real clothes hound.
5. Morning ritual (beverage, food, gear) - read a book where any character has a set ritual for something that they always do (explain what).

Race Expo
Book & Author: This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub
Date Read: 12/3
How it fits: Alice & Laurence attend the SciFi/Fantasy Expo

Pasta Dinner
Book & Author: Trail of Murder by Christine Andreae
Date: 24/2 3.5★
How it fits: MC is cook for a trail ride

Set Alarm
Book & Author: Murder on the Menu by Miranda Bliss
Date: 24/2 1.5★
How it fits: it's alarming how annoying & stupid Annie & Eve are, how irritating I find the pair of them

Lay Clothes
Book & Author: A Lady's Guide to Gossip and Murder by Dianne Freeman
Date: 3/3 2★
How it fits: MC loves her clothes

Morning Ritual
Book & Author: The Curious Charms Of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick
Date Read: 23/2
How it fits: Arthur has a set ritual for every day after his wife dies, every day must be exact or he becomes anxious - up at a certain time, dress in a certain way, a cup of tea only at set times, etc.

Rolled 3

3 = You forgot to pack your bagel for breakfast and have to make do with an unripe banana from the hotel. Spell out UNRIPE BANANA -or- read a book with a character who is obsessed with health foods (say who).

Spell out UNRIPE BANANA -or- read a book with a character who is obsessed with health foods (say who).
(title, author, a/an/the ok)
U
N
R- The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan 16/3 3.5★
I- Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine 22/3 3★
P- Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine 23/3 2.5★
E- Double Shot Death by Emmeline Duncan 22/3 2.5★

B- The Book of Lost and Found by Lucy Foley 21/3 3.5★
A- Memory Zero by Keri Arthur 19/3 3.5★
N- Aunt Dimity and the Duke by Nancy Atherton 15/3 3.5★
A- The Art of Friendship by Lisa Ireland 20/3 4★
N
A

read a book with a character who is obsessed with health foods (say who). - Antonio Alvarez
The Final Hour by Tom Wood 5/4 3.5★

Rolled 6

No need for a die roll yet... Here you go!


Today is the big day!! You have worked long and hard for this. To complete this section, read one book for each task. Relay teams may divide the tasks between them as they see fit.
After these 4 books are completed, roll a single die for your next prompt. Relay teams only roll once for the team.

https://www.random.org/dice/

1. Early miles: Smiling - at the beginning of a marathon everyone is generally very excited and happy because today is the BIG DAY. Read a book where one or more characters are very excited and happy about an event. Say what the event is.
2. Mid miles: This is getting hard - as the race miles build up, most runners start to experience some fatigue. The body definitely sends signals that it is working much harder. Read a book where a character gets into a situation that becomes progressively more difficult as time wears on. Say what the situation is.
3. 20 miles: Why did I sign up for this??? There is often a point in a marathon where runners begin to doubt themselves and have serious second thoughts about what in the world they are doing out there. Read a book where a character has serious self doubt about a course of action they have set out on. Say what it is.
4. Race finish: Exhultation, hunger and exhaustion. You have DONE IT! At the end of a marathon you are depleted of all energy stores but also ecstatic because of your accomplishment. Read a book where a character completes some monumental effort and is now wiped out but also happy. Say what it is.
5. (optional - after your die roll is complete...) Sign up for another race! Lots of runners feel a let down after the intense cycle of training for and running a marathon. One common result is that many will start looking for their next race challenge shortly after their marathon finish. If you are among this infected group, simply go back to Section I and start again!

1. Early miles: Read a book where one or more characters are very excited and happy about an event. - MCs wedding & her return from the honeymoon.
Rapture in Death by J.D. Robb 6/4 4★

2. Mid miles: Read a book where a character gets into a situation that becomes progressively more difficult as time wears on.
As Ursula becomes entrenched in his house, it gets harder & harder for the boy & Lettie to get her out.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman 6/4 4★

3. 20 miles: Read a book where a character has serious self doubt about a course of action they have set out on
Gilly goes to see Christopher at the farm but then has serious doubts about whether her feelings are reciprocated & hides from him
Thornyhold by Mary Stewart 12/4 4★

4. Race finish: Read a book where a character completes some monumental effort and is now wiped out but also happy.
Walking nearly 900 miles of the Appalachian Trail - had enough but happy to have done that much.
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson 7/4 4★

5. (optional - after your die roll is complete...) Sign up for another race! If you are among this infected group, simply go back to Section I and start again!

Roll 4

Nearly done!!

4 = A band at the 15-mile marker is playing one of your favorite songs and it really jazzes you up. Spell out ROCK-N-ROLL.

Spell - title, author, a/an/the ok

R- Reflex by Dick Francis 12/4 4.5★
O- Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card 9/5 4.5★
C- Convergence by Sharon Green 18/4 4★
K- The House at the End of the World by Dean Koontz 17/4 4★
N- Tell Me About It by Sacha Naspini 2/5 2★
R- The Redgum River Retreat by Sandie Docker 15/4 3.5★
O- One Enchanted Evening by Katie Fforde 12/5 4★
L- The Listerdale Mystery by Agatha Christie 29/4 4★
L- Hector and the Search for Happiness by François Lelord 30/4 4★

I've rock'n'rolled :0)

CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU FINISHED YOUR MARATHON!