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: New York Marathon in New York, New York
Task: 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 initials from the words NEW YORK CITY in their name.
Book/Author: Timeless by Devney Perry
Finished: 02/07
Rating: 3 stars
How it fits: More than 50% set in New York

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.

Completion Post
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.
Book: Everything for You by Chloe Liese
Finished: 02/16
How it fits: Book of Choice

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.
Book: Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning
Finished: 02/14
How it fits: Read in 24 hours

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).
Book: Dark Desire by Christine Feehan
Finished: 02/08
How it fits: Pushed my boundaries because I wanted to DNF this one, but continued it for another challenge

4. Long Runs. These build endurance. Read a book that is at least 300 pages long to complete this run.
Book: Second Sight by Amanda Quick
Finished: 02/14
How it fits: 338 pgs


Roll: 6

6 = Your boss needs you to work overtime for two weeks to push a project through, so you can't fit in your regular morning workouts and have to run late in the day when you get home - NOT your idea of fun. Spell out UNMOTIVATED -or- read a book with the word Inconvenient or Inconvenience in the title.
Relay teams must each read the optional book listed as an alternate if they opt not to do the spell out.

Completion Post

U ~ Unfixable by Tessa Bailey ~ 06/20
N ~ Willa Nash author of The Brawl ~ 03/16
M - Matthew Perry author of Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing ~ 03/13
O ~ One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston ~ 06/13
T ~ Truth or Beard by Penny Reid ~ 03/06
I ~ Ilsa Madden-Mills author of Princess and the Player ~ 03/26
V ~ Vanessa Vale author of Mountain Desire ~ 03/18
A ~ Among the Living by Jordan Castillo Price ~ 03/25
T ~ T.L. Swan author of The Do-Over ~ 03/28
E ~ Eastern Lights by Brittainy C. Cherry~ 02/25
D - Devney Perry author of Jasper Vale ~ 03/10

Roll: 3

You don't need to roll yet - first your next task!



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.

Completion Post

Task: 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 .
Book/Author: Under One Roof by Ali Hazelwood
Finished: 07/04
Rating: 4 stars
How it fits: 112 pgs and finished in one day

Task: 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.
Book/Author: My Dark Romeo by Parker S. Huntington
Finished: 06/28
Rating: 3 stars
How it fits: 366 pgs

Book/Author: Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman
Finished: 07/09
Rating: 4 stars
How it fits: 352 pgs

Task: 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.
Book/Author: Iced by Karen Marie Moning
Finished: 06/22
Rating: 5 stars
How it fits: Fever series

Book/Author: Well Met by Jen DeLuca
Finished: 06/30
Rating: 4 stars
How it fits: Well Met series

Book/Author: Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
Finished: 07/08
Rating: 3 stars
How it fits: Part of Your World series

Great work! Now it's time to roll a single die for your next prompt.

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

Erica, I'm going to get this straight (eventually, lol)

My Roll: 3

Lol.

3 = You get lost on the way to a race so you start a bit late, and now there's no way you can set a PR (Personal Record). Spell out MISSED CHANCE -or- read a book with the word Lost in the title.

Completion Post

M ~ Miles Ever After by T.L. Swan ~ 07/16
I ~ I Burn for You by Susan Sizemore ~ 01/21/2024
S ~ Sidetracked by R.L. Kenderson ~ 07/12
S ~ Shakedown by Lani Lynn Vale ~ 07/30
E ~ Emily Henry author of People We Meet on Vacation ~ 07/11
D ~ Devney Perry author of Sable Peak ~ 02/03/2024

C ~ C.J. Ellisson author of Vanilla on Top ~ 07/13
H ~ Hazelwood, Ali author of Love, Theoretically ~ 07/16
A ~ All Systems Red by Martha Wells ~ 01/30/2024
N ~ Never Say Duke by Erica Ridley ~ 12/29
C ~ Crimson River by Devney Perry ~ 01/26
E ~ Eden Finley author of Encore ~ 07/17

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).

Completion Post

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.
Wolf Gone Wild by Juliette Cross ~ 07/19
Went to comic con (actually was there because MC wrote a comic series)
2. Pasta dinner - read a book where the MC cooks or eats a lot of pasta.
A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston ~ 09/15
3. Set your alarm - read a book that is alarming to you in some way (explain how).
The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty ~ 09/09
4. Lay out your clothes - read a book where the MC is a real clothes hound.
Sweet Dreams by Kristen Ashley ~ 08/17
5. Morning ritual (beverage, food, gear) - read a book where any character has a set ritual for something that they always do (explain what).
Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver ~ 09/06
MC has a ritual after she kills someone

Roll 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).

Completion Post

U ~ Unhinged by Onley James ~ 11/03
N ~ Next of Kin by Hannah Bonam-Young ~ 09/19
R ~ Piper Rayne author of Smitten with the Best Man ~ 10/03
I ~ In the Likely Event by Rebecca Yarros ~ 09/23
P ~ Michelle M. Pillow author of The Mighty Hunter ~ 09/30
E ~ Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman ~ 10/17

B ~ Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan ~ 09/21
A ~ Amy Award author of The C*ck Down the Block ~ 09/22
N ~ Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson ~ 09/21
A ~ Ilona Andrews author of Magic Strikes ~ 09/25
N ~ The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah ~ 09/26
A ~ Amy Lea author of Woke Up Like This ~ 09/28

Done!

I'm so sorry Shan ~A~!! Somehow I missed this update. 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. NOTE: There is one more die roll following this step.

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!