Participating in a Guinness World Record Attempt

I've been on a quest to achieve random bucket list activities and goals.  Some are substantial and will take time.  Some involve trips to far off places (World events and cost prevents some of these goals, but that won't stop the wishing).  One of my goals was to either personally break a world record or help break a record.

The opportunity came with Virtual Runners and their Most Users to Complete a 10K in 24 hours last September.  I was late to the game, as the FB group was super active with posts spanning months and months.  Word had it that over 100,000 were participating.  That sounded amazing.  But as time went on the number became false.  Some registering with the free entry and then forgetting.  Others double registering while ordering swag.

There was a lot of confusion in the group, contrasting information, in regards to what qualified as a valid entry submission proof.  We had to have a tracking app accompany our run/walk, a screenshot showing date, time, and distance.  Not all apps provide this information.  It was a mess.  I, with others, insisted a mass email sent to all participants clarifying the requirements so that their entry would be counted by Guinness.  

On the day of the challenge I woke up and got on the treadmill, and with it being just 2 months after my surgery I was able to walk the 6.2 miles (I did 6.4 just in case).  It took well over two hours, and was quite the challenge.  The app I used didn't fail and my screenshot showed all required information.

In the end we accomplished the Guinness World Record.  I received an email with this information: "Guinness World Records has now officially confirmed it. Together we broke the world record! Thanks to the help of so many runners. In total, there were about 40,000 successful participants. Due to the strict technical requirements, Guinness World Records confirmed 25,523!"

The thing is, I have no idea if I was included in the 25,523 confirmed entries.  Rumor in the group had it that if you received the email, you qualified.  This was never confirmed.  And no list of names provided.  So I participated, and hopefully my effort was counted.

In the end this experience was simply interesting.  A few times I almost ordered the official Guinness participant certificate, just to have.  Nearly completed the process twice, then deleted my shopping cart.  Really, it all just seems like a brilliant monetary operation.  Really, you can create the most random records and have a large group participate.  

I got the medal.  It's cool.  I showed up and did my part.  Made sure the entry had all the required information.  Virtual Runners is doing it again next year, and once again it's confusing.  They're going to have all these different distances, all to be run on the same day.  And I fear the confusion and ill planning will continue.  Keep the goal focused and simple.  Don't complicate.  Give detailed, good instruction.  

In the FB group this achievement meant so much to many.  The lack of communication of whose entries were accepted by Guinness discourage quite a few.  The fact that it appears next year will be just as convoluted is why I won't do this again.  Really, once is enough.

Have a good day,

Sarah

Why I Worked so Hard to Accomplish 500 Miles in 2020

I didn't think this medal was ever going to come.  Late December 2019 it was ordered, but there wasn't clear information on the website as to when it would be shipped.  The company I Love To Run make good medals, but their costumer service is severally lacking.  A few years ago I sent a couple emails, none of which were answered, and comments on social media prove others have had the same experience.  But they make really nice medals, so it's a shame. (This is a virtual race medal representing 500 miles achieved in a year).

This medal was designed after the Tokyo 2020 Olympic medal.  I can't post the pictures here as they're copyrighted, but they are gorgeous.  What's amazing is that the original Tokyo medals were made out of recycled materials: "With more than 90 per cent of Japan’s local authorities participating, a total of 78,985 tons of discarded devices were collected, a haul which included approximately 6.21 million used mobile phones, along with digital cameras, handheld games and laptops, all of which were then classified, dismantled and melted down by highly trained contractors. This meant that the final goals of 30.3kg of gold, 4,100kg of silver and 2,700kg of bronze were reached by the time the collection cycle closed on 31 March 2019."

I ordered the medal as a memento, because I was excited Tokyo was getting the Olympics, and when visiting Tokyo in 2019 they had the mascots and Tokyo Olympics symbol at the airport.  Then 2020 happened, the Olympics were postponed, and it's a huge question mark if they will happen this year.  Hopefully things will turn around so they can, but at this point it's a long shot.

The 500 miles in a year medal arrived yesterday, so I'm completely surprised and relieved, and it will serve as a reminder of last year.  A token of trial and loss.  A symbol of pulling myself together and getting those miles finished.

It's a beautiful medal.

Another Walking Goal Accomplished: The Motivation of Virtual Races

When it comes to exercising it's hard to find motivation. Well, at least for me.  Some of you may have no problem getting up and getting excited for another sweat session.  I, on the other hand, hang my head in dread.  Working on it!!!

Many years ago I discovered virtual races and some running clubs.  It's simple: Buy bling and when you finish the race it's shipped to you.  A tangible goal with physical results.  The 46 miles Mount Fuji  medal by The Conqueror is the latest I've received, and honestly the most gorgeous.  It's so beautiful in person.

After finishing Mount Fuji I immediately signed up for the Route 66 challenge, and then I realized, "What the freak did I just do??!!?!?!?!"  It's 2,280 miles and I'm determined to finish by the end of next year, but the good thing is biking miles count, and on my indoor pro-form bike I can do 5 miles in 30 minutes, which will improve over time.  I'm 105 miles into this, and about 5% in, so created a little buffer for next year.  This is my overall 2021 mile goal, so I can earn my 50 mile pins at the same time.  It works out to needing to do 44 miles a week.

Oh!  But for my 50 mile pins, and my mile month goals, 18 minutes on the bike or elliptical = 1 mile.  So 18 minute mile regardless of speed and resistance.  My 2020 year goal was 500, I needed 163 miles this month to finish.  I realized that I never counted miles for being at Disneyland for 3 days last February, and decided to count 10 miles from that, so my month goal is now 153.  I was so tired last Saturday!!  I needed a break.  I'm over 100 miles for the month (walking + 18 min machine miles), and only need 40 miles.  40 miles in 4 days!!  I'm going to be so overwhelmingly tired on Friday!!!

One of the things I love to do is put pins on the medal ribbons, but they have a value.  Each pin is 50 miles earned, so my kimono wearing Minnie Mouse from Tokyo DisneySea is worth more miles than the medal it's placed on.  And below are more pins I can place on the medal after earning another 50 miles.  It's a way to earn more miles and not crowd the medal hanger, or buy more medals.

One of my favorite things to do is collect pins when I travel, so being able to display my travel pins brings back so many memories. 

The Giverny France lily pin I bought at a gift shop after visiting Monet's Garden and Home in Giverny, just after walking over the actual bridge that is made famous in his paintings.  His home and gardens are so beautiful and so well maintained.

The Highway One pin I bought at a little shop at Ragged Point.  My Mom, Grandma A and I had just spent a few nights in a hotel next to Moonstone Beach in Cambria Ca.  We were going to start driving south to head home, but decided to go north instead.  Just to see more ocean and Hearst Castle on the hill.  But then we kept going, discovering Ragged Point, and then we're like, "Lets go to Monterey!!"  And so we did, all along Highway 1 through Big Sur with a little stop in Carmel By The Sea, before finding a hotel in Monterey, which was a little pricey, but so worth it.  Such a wonderful spontaneous trip, and one of my favorite memories with my Grandma.  Highway One is always a good idea.  Just breathtaking.

My medal hanger from the Hogwarts Running Club before rebranding to Potterhead Running Club.  I have more medals, but these are the ones I want to display, and it'll keep shifting around.  It's just a fun little hobby that helps me stay motivated.

 

Miles Managed!! :D

Virtual Sites worth checking out: Potterhead Running Club, Whovian Running Club, Yes.Fit, The Conqueror (fantastic online community), Virtual Running Club, RunDisney does virtual races (but they're really expensive, and they sell out fast, so I haven't done any), and many more.

Now to go get 10 miles.  0_0 (Which takes me 3.5 to 4 hours), and I'm doing this everyday for the next four days, but I'm going to make that 500 mile goal!!

 

 

My Favorite London 2012 Olympic Moments

The funny thing about my family is that we're not super sporty people; it's probably because we're geeks who spend most of our time with the arts and sciences.  But when the Olympics are on, the TV is on, and we get excited over everything.

I think apart of it is because the Olympics isn't your typical sporty fair.  There is something for everyone: from soccer to basketball, table tennis to gymnastics, track and field to trampolining, etc.  And the team you are cheering for is your home country, so there's good ol' fashion national pride.

Favorite Scandal Moment

After the Men's team final, the British erupted in a loud applause when the scores went up and their home team got Silver.  Prince William and Harry were in the audience sharing in the excitement.  China got Gold, Britain Silver, and Ukraine Bronze.  Then someone from Japan's team went to the judges to file a complaint.  Kohei Uchimura wasn't given credit for his handstand dismount off the pommel horse, which lowered the score.  As part of regulations, they had to offer money, a few Benjamin Franklins, and their plea was heard.  The score was changed.  China Gold, Japan Silver, and Britain Bronze.  That one change, about .7 points increase, bumped Japan to Silver and tossed Ukraine off the podium. The home team had to go from an elated second to third.    

Favorite USA Victory

The U.S. girls team winning the Team Gold.  I remember watching the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta on TV.  That for me was the Summer between Middle School and High School, and I'll never forget watching Kerri Strug needing to land a second vault, standing, on a hurt foot to grantee the team a Gold.  Since then we haven't had a girls team strong enough to bring home the team gold, until now.  These girls were amazing. Mackayla's vault was perfect and deserved a perfect score.  Overall Amazing.     

Favorite Sport

Rhythmic Gymnastics.  My previous post was all about Synchronize Swimming, which is amazing, but I thoroughly enjoyed the Rhythmic Gymnastics team compition.  What these girls can do is really astounding.  

Favorite Royal Moment

    

During the Cross Country Equestrian course competition, all the royals were there enjoying family time.  There was a point where Kate was talking to Will, pointing to the camera.  He looked at the camera and waved, and Kate started giggling.  It was cute.

Zara Phillips, Queen Elizabeth's granddaughter, won a Silver medal with her Equestrian team. 

Favorite New Sport

Mountain Bike: Women's Cross Country.  I had no idea Mountain Biking was in the Olympics!  I stumbled upon it by accident, but it was really fun to watch. 

United States Women Ruled!

The U.S. finished off the medal count in first place with 104 medals: 46 Gold, 29 Silver, and 29 Bronze.  For the first time there were more U.S. women in the Olympics then men, and the ladies brought home more medals then the men.  Also, for the first time there was a women competing from every country in the London games.  Amazing. 

Another amazing feat is that 38 World Records were broken at the London Olympics.

It's been fun,
Sarah