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.

Chicago Marathon

Author has more than 3 letters in Chicago Illinois

Emerald O'Brien A, O. I, N

Completed ✔️ 2/26/2023

Girls Across the Bay by Emerald O’Brien

Chicago Marathon
Author has more than 3 letters in Chicago Illinois

A, O, I, N

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


✅1. Regular Run Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi just reading a good book, finished 3/14/23
✅2. Intervals The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf was a mystery thriller go my heart racing finished on 3/3/23
✅3. Hill Boy-Crazy Stacey (The Baby-Sitters Club) by Ann M. Martin is a graphic novel, this is a genre I don't usually read so qualifies as pushing my boundaries. Finished 3/6/23
✅4. Long Run - Hook Line and Sinker by Tessa Bailey has 352 pages. Finished 3/11/23

Completed my Training

Rolled snake eyes

1 1

Ready for my next assignment

Hi Cindy! Can you roll a single die? I only have results for 1 through 6 - sorry! You can set the app to do just a single die (or use a single die you have at home).

I rerolled and got 1

Thanks. : )

1 = Your favorite shoes are no longer made so you have to try new ones. Spell out NEW SHOES -or- read a book with the words New Shoes in the title.

I need new shoes to keep running!

Night Shift by Alex Finlay finished 4/19/23
Eye Candy by Jessica Lemmon finished 4/22/23
Wingate, Lisa author of Before We Were Yours finished 3/24/23

Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey finished 3/20/23
Hawkins, Paula author of A Slow Burning Fire finished 4/12/23
OLivia Sands author of Colton finished 3/22/23
Escape by James Patterson and David Ellis finished 3/31/23
Sarah Maas author of A Court of Thorns and Roses finished 4/24/23



]

✅COMPLETED to receive my New Shoes

I rolled a 5...whats next?

Erica wrote: "Thanks. : )

1 = Your favorite shoes are no longer made so you have to try new ones. Spell out NEW SHOES -or- read a book with the words New Shoes in the title.
"

✅ Completed and got my New Shoes!

What's next I rolled a 5

Sorry - just saw this! You don't roll quite yet. Here's your next prompt:



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.

Tune Up Races

✅1. 5K Race. A short and fairly speedy race. Read a book of 200 pages or less in a single day
Fracture Me by Tahereh Mafi
Finished 4/15/23
*Less than 200 pages (72) and started and finished on the same day



✅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.
1️⃣Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Finished 5/3/23
372 pages


2️⃣ The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill
Finished 5/9/23
250 pages


✅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

1️⃣ Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi
Finished 4/28/23
This is the 3rd book in the Shatter Me Trilogy/Series


2️⃣ The Night Swim by Megan Goldin
Finished 5/12/23
This is #1 book in Rachel Krall Series

3️⃣How to Love Your Neighbor by Sophie Sullivan
Finished 5/16/23
This is #2 in Jansen Brother series

I completed my tune up. Ready for the next leg of my marathon.

I rolled a 2

2 = You slip on wet leaves during your 5K event and bang up your knees pretty badly. Spell out SCRAPED KNEES -or- read a book where the MC gets badly injured or with the word Injured in the title.

Oh No! My knee needs to get better!

S
Confess by Colleen Hoover
R
Ali Hazelwood wrote Love, Theoretically
P
E
D

K
N
E
E
S


finished 5/22/23
Finished 6/2/23

COMPLETED

My knee healed quickly.

Finished 6/11/23

I read a book where the MC was seriously injured. Will was a healthy 35 year old man who got hit by a motorcycle and ended up in a wheelchair as a quadriplegic.

Great book!!❤

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).

Erica wrote: "

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, r..."




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).

Any book recommendations for these task?

You could type a main word (pasta, alarm, etc.) into the book search engine and see what comes up. I often look at other participants' threads to see what they might have done in a similar situation. Quite a few people have done this part of the race so you might get some ideas there too!

About to begin my big Race



✅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.
Knox
Finished 10/7/23
Knox took his champion winning bulls to the NBR-X (National Professional
Bullrider's Expo in Texas.

✅2. Pasta dinner - read a book where the MC cooks or eats a lot of pasta.
The Supreme Macaroni Company
Finished 6/29/23
The families were Italian and had pasta at every gathering. Later she purchased a manufacturing warehouse that used to produce ravaloli she used it to manufacture Italian shoes and used the original name of the building Supreme Macaroni and shoes were names of pasta

"...I based the new designs on macaroni." Orecchiette Sandal, Pastina, Rigatoni block heal, Fusilli, Linguini. p680
" What do they want for dinner? ""What do you think? Macaroni."p845
"She worked hard, laughed a lot, and made a big dish of macaroni every Sunday." p867

✅3. Set your alarm - read a book that is alarming to you in some way (explain how).
The Lost Girls of Willowbrook
Finished 6/15/23
This novel was based on a true story of an institution on Staten Island for children
with disabilities. I was shaken and alarmed by how these children were treated
for so many years in the 1970's. Its hard to believe people...doctors and nurses would allow this to happen.

✅4. Lay out your clothes - read a book where the MC is a real clothes hound.
Things I Wish I Told My Mother
Finished 6/23/23
The mother is all about clothes-wearing the nicest, always shopping for new clothes.
"Shop after shop of very cool French clothing brands reeking of chic elegance but with modern vibe.. Did I mention mom is a real shopper here?"
"Spends excessive amount of time shopping. I'm a sucker for French shoes."
"My next purchase a navy and white hand knit scarf: ...."and of course a pair of matching mittens."

✅5. Morning ritual (beverage, food, gear) - read a book where any character has a set ritual for something that they always do (explain what).
The Restaurant
Finished 7/1/23
Sisters got settled into a routine over the next several weeks. Jill worked every other weekend and flew to New York on Thursday evenings to be in the office on Friday.

It was a long Race but I finally finished the Big Race. I probably came in last...lol.

Okay great! Now it's time for another roll of a single die

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

I rolled a 2

Oh boy, this is a tough one...

2 = You forgot to set your alarm for race day morning so you wake up late and are in a rush to get out the door. Spell out ALARM CLOCK -or- read a book with the word Alarm in the title or series name.

Must have been tired from my last race, I slept through my

The Affair by Danielle Steel
Lynsay Sands author of Vampire, Interrupted
A Christmas in the Alps by Melody Carlson
Reckless in Red
Morgan, Sophie author of The Witch is Back

Curse of the Mayfair Mummy by Jane Charles
Lisa Jewel author of None of This Is True
One Last Gift by Emily Stone
Caro Carson author of Doctor, Soldier Daddy
Katherine Center author of The Bodyguard

Finished 10/10/23 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Finished 10/18/23 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Finished 10/27/23 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Finished 10/30/23 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Finished 11/18/23 ⭐⭐⭐
Finished 11/27/23 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Finished 12/24/23 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Finished 12/29/23 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Finished 1/11/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Finished 1/15/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Took me along time to find a new alarm clock so I won't sleep through the next race. I ready for the next challenge.

Today is the big day!! You have worked long and hard for this. To complete this section, read one book for each task.

After these 4 books are completed, roll a single die for your next prompt.

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!

Excited for my big race!

✅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.

The Family You Make
Finished 1/27/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Situation: Levi parent's 40th anniversary

Levi asked Jane to go to his parents 40 anniversary dinner as his pretend girlfriend. Within the few weeks before the event Levi and Jane became more to each other than pretend relationship. Since Jane never had a family like this she was excited and happy to attend the event.

Not only was she excited but so was Levi's sister Tess and mother Shirl who staked Jane prior to the party because they were so excited that Levi had found someone to make him happy.

✅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.

A Winter in New York
Finished 1/20/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Situation: Iris has several secrets she is keeping from Gio. As she got closer to the family she did not know how to tell the truth.

*Iris said her husband was dead but really he wasn't but Gio's wife Penny did pass away.

*Iris has the recipe for the family gelato. The only other person who knows it is Santo and he had a stroke and can not remember it so Gio is trying to create their famous gelato. Rather than telling them she is helping them to recreate the recipe even though she knows it.

*Her mother was involved with Santo before she left to tour with the band. She knew there was a connection between her and the Belotti family.

✅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.
Ugly Love ebook
Finished 1/22/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Situation: Tate following 2 rules that Miles has set...relationship purely sexually
"Don't ask about my past" "And never expect a future". I absolutely don't like either of these rules. They both make me want to change my mind about this arrangement and turn and run away, but instead, I am nodding. p197


✅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.

One By One large print
Finished 1/30/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Situation: Erin completed a monumental effort of coming to terms with the ski accident
Erin could not return home to England and continue to study to become a doctor after losing her brother and boyfriend in an avalanche in France. She dropped out of medical school and ran a chalet in France the same mountain where she was the only survivor and she felt responsible. After the ordeal she had in the chalet with another avalanche and managed to survive with a killer after her she returned home to England..

"You gonna be all right?" I nod. Because for the first time in a long while...I think I am. "I have to go home," I say, and I mean it this time. Not home, St Antoine, but home to England, where Will's grieving parents and my own family have been waiting patiently for me to make peace with my ghosts. I have been alone with them for so long, listening to the Will and Alex in my head trying to come to term with what happened, with what I did---trying to come to terms with the responsibility of having said those four little words . Let's go off-piste. p554 & 555

YEAH!!! I finished the marathon!

Yes, but I had one more die roll for a final spell out... (I realize it's a bit backwards but that's how I set it up)

I rolled 3

3 = Several kids give you high fives to encourage you as you cruise up a hill. You smile, remembering all those tough hill repeats you did. Spell out KID ENERGY.

🖐🖐🖐🖐🖐





K-Kimberley Chambers author of The Schemer 5/14/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I- Imagine Me Finished 7/4/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
D-Dead of Winter Finished 2/2/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

E- Emma Cane author of The Cowboy of Valentine Valley
N- The Nanny Finished 4/6/24 ⭐⭐⭐
E-Elizabeth de Veer author of The Ocean in Winter
R-The Reunion Finished 2/8/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐bookcover:The Nanny|61530932]
G-Megan Goldin author of Dark Corners Finished 5/8/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Y- The Younger Wife Finished 6/23/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I finally completed the Marathon on July 4th. It was quite the run, my legs are tired.

CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU FINISHED YOUR MARATHON!

Sorry this is late - didn't see on the 4th and I took a day off from electronics yesterday...