Challenge Info Email
A Month of FUN is HERE - LET'S GO!!!
Hello Roadless Races Virtual Challenge Participant,
Welcome to the 2nd Annual Roadless Races Virtual Challenge, where your goal is to run, walk, bike, paddle, and/or swim 31+ total miles during the month of July. Thank you for accepting the challenge, and prepare for a month of fun, adventure, and personal accomplishment. LET'S GO!!!
Here is the challenge info email, which should answer most of the questions you might have about this event. You will find the information below my signature on the Roadless Races Challenge website. Consequently, this email is long, but I wanted to include all info here so you can refer to this email to get answers.
I will send three additional 'official' emails during this challenge, on 7/10, 7/20, and 8/1. These emails will include updates and winners of giveaways - and those emails will be shorter:) Additionally, I will send some short check-in emails sporadically throughout the challenge. Also, please check out our Facebook and Instagram (roadless.races) pages for occasional posts with challenge happenings, photos, swag reveals (when we receive), etc.
Your participation in this challenge includes:
- Sweet swag (tee, medal, and head wrap – sent to you at the end of the challenge - see image of swag at the bottom of this email)
- Digital badges for reaching milestones
- A chance to win randomly drawn prizes each 10 days of the challenge
- An opportunity to earn extra swag through additional bonus challenges (see image of extra swag at the bottom of this email)
- Mix It Up Challenge - Complete and log as least ONE OF EACH ACTIVITY during July - run/walk, bike, paddle, and swim. (earn a RR sticker - black)
- 31 Activity Challenge - Complete and log 31+ ACTIVITIES during July. Multiple activities/day are all counted. (earn a RR sticker - green)
- Every Day Challenge - Complete and log ONE ACTIVITY/DAY for 31 consecutive days from 7/1-7/31. (earn a RR dusk head wrap)
- All Trail Challenge - Complete and log 31+ TRAIL or OFF-ROAD ACTIVITIES during July. If you run/walk or bike on a trail, write TRAIL in the comments section when you log your activity results. Swimming and paddling are automatically counted as off-road/trail. (earn a RR trucker hat)
- A month of motivation to DO MORE fun and healthy activities.
Finally, a little healthy competition is a fun and motivating way to push yourself even more. Awards will be presented to the following:
- Top three individuals with the most overall total miles
- Top three Individuals with the most miles in each of the following activities (running/walking, biking, paddling, and swimming)
- Top three teams (up to 8 participants) with the most overall total miles (all team members will receive an award)
Remember, everyone signed up for this event will be participating solo, and optionally on a team of up to 8 people. Registration closes on July 10th so there is still time to invite friends (from near and far) to join the fun - and join your team!
We are going to have tons of fun crushing miles in July. Best wishes and good luck.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Jim
Jim Harman
Event Director
Roadless Races
571-251-6034
jim@roadlessraces.com
HOW THE CHALLNGE WORKS
- Sign up!
- Recruit: Invite your family, friends, and coworkers to join your team (teams are optional). Participating as a team adds extra motivation, is fun, and you could earn referral rewards (see below).
- Start Truckin': Run/walk, bike, paddle, or swim anywhere, at any time from 7/1-7/31 with the goal of accumulating your chosen mileage (31 miles is the default but you can change your goal in the online platform). Take as many activities as you need to reach your mileage goal. Track each activity on your GPS device, watch, phone, map, measuring wheel, odometer, etc.
- Record Your Miles: From your device or computer, log into your profile on runsignup.com and click on the results tab. After each activity, record your distance into the online platform (THIS IS SUPER SIMPLE – see ‘Recording Your Miles’ below). You may also record your elapsed time, elevation gain, and any comments about each effort. If you run/walk or ride on trails, write TRAIL in the comments section. We will track for the ‘All Trail Challenge’. Results must be posted by July 31st @ 11:59pm (Hawaii – Aleutian Standard Time), which is 4:59am Eastern Standard Time on August 1st.
- Follow Your Progress: The progress from each activity will be added to the totals of all earlier activities to make up your one-month total. After each activity, watch the progress bar grow as you get closer to your goal. Track you team's progress as you cheer on your teammates. Throughout the event, you will earn digital badges (solo and team) for achieving milestones such as accumulated miles, overall # of activities completed, and consecutive days of activity. At the end of July, download your digital finisher certificate with your stats.
- Share (optional): Post photos from your activities on the runsignup platform (super easy). You may win a prize!
- Celebrate/Giveaways: We will randomly select winners of giveaways on 7/10 and 7/20 - keep an eye out for an email with the winners. And, on August 1st, we will send a final email wrapping up the event, awarding prizes, and drawing the final giveaway winners. Giveaways and prizes include nice stuff like Goodr sunglasses, Cotopaxi bags, and Roadless Races swag. All participants will be automatically included in the giveaway drawings. Giveaways and prizes will be mailed to the winners along with their swag at the conclusion of the event.
RECORD YOUR MILES
- From your device or computer, go to the Results page.
- Click on Submit Virtual Results and search for your registration. If you are not logged in, you can verify by your phone number or email.
- Click on Log Activities.
- Select your activity and enter your mileage. You may also enter elapsed time and your elevation gain if you like but those are both optional data points. After each activity, log in and add your latest results, which will be added to all previous results to make up your totals.
- If you like, post your photos from your activities.
- Results must be posted by July 31st @ 11:59pm (Hawaii – Aleutian Standard Time), which is 4:59am Eastern Standard Time on August 1st.
DIGITAL MILESTONE BADGES
Throughout the event, you will earn digital badges (solo and team) for achieving milestones such as accumulated miles, overall activities completed, and consecutive days of activity. Check out your Trophy Case in your Individual Result Summary Page to see your badges. Here are the badges you can earn:
- Individual Distance – Miles 10, 25, 31, 50, 75, 100, etc (how far will you go?)
- Team Distance – Miles 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, etc (how far will your team go?)
- 31 Activity Challenge - 16 activities completed (multiple activities/day are all counted)
- 31 Activity Challenge - 31 activities completed (multiple activities/day are all counted)
- Every Day Challenge - 16 consecutive days with an activity (from 7/1-7/16)
- Every Day Challenge - 31 consecutive days with an activity (from 7/1-7/31)
REFERRAL REWARDS
Invite friends to join in the fun. Every person who signs up using your unique referral link will help you earn rewards below. Your referral link is included in your confirmation email. All referral swag will be sent with race swag items at the conclusion of the event. See image of referral swag at the bottom of this email.
- Refer 1 PERSON and receive an Roadless Races head wrap. One/person.
- Refer 3 PEOPLE and receive a Roadless Races Trucker Hat. One/person.
- Receive $25 cash back for EVERY 5 PEOPLE you refer. Automatically refunded to the credit card you used when registering.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
You guys are Roadless Races, do I have to run/walk or ride on trails for this challenge?
Nope, run/walk or ride anywhere - trails, roads, sidewalks, beach, grass, greenways, gravel, a track, on the treadmill in your garage, etc. Of course, we think trails are the bee's knees and encourage you to explore and discover the tranquility, beauty, and health benefits of running or biking on trails. But, this is a personal challenge, NOT A RACE. So, challenge yourself, have fun, and RUN, RIDE, PADDLE, and SWIM MORE - that's what this is all about!
Can you explain the ALL TRAIL CHALLENGE and define what counts as a trail?
Within this event we do have the optional and bonus ALL TRAIL CHALLENGE. This is an additional 'challenge within a challenge' and the goal is to complete and log 31+ TRAIL or OFF-ROAD ACTIVITIES during July. If you run/walk or bike on a trail, and the trail portion of that activity is the majority (50%+) of your run/ride, write TRAIL in the comments section when you log your activity results. This will enable us to track your trail activities. Swimming and paddling are automatically counted as off-road/trail. If you complete this additional challenge, you will earn a sweet Roadless Races Trucker Hat.
We love natural surface trails but think all trails are great because they get you off the road and are usually in a natural setting. So, paved greenway trails, crushed gravel trails, single-track trails, beach, grass, all count as trail miles. Roads, sidewalks, or treadmill miles are great for the overall challenge but should not be counted as trail miles.
Can I count walking as part of my normal day for running/walking miles or taking the kids to the pool for swimming miles?
The intent is really what we are going for. In the spirit of the challenge, you should be intentional with each of your activities. If you take the kids to the pool and are able to knock out 10 laps while they are playing (supervised, of course:), then yes, this counts. Or, if you choose to walk somewhere instead of driving to accumulate some walking miles, yes this counts. Walking around the house, the office, or grocery store do not count:)
How do I input my swimming 'miles'?
When logging your swimming activity in the online system, you will be able to convert from yards or meters to miles.
Do I have to complete all 31 miles during one activity?
No, no, no - ACCUMULATE those miles over multiple activities during the month of July. Of course, if you want to grind out those miles all in one go, have at it!
What happens if I miss a day of inputting my results?
No problem. You can input results after every activity, every day, once every few days, etc. Just make sure the date is correct for each inputted activity. This is important if you are going for the EVERY DAY CHALLENGE.
What happens if I surpass my mileage goal?
The default mileage goal is 31 miles. You can change your goal in the runsignup online platform when you enter your results. We have set up the results so you can surpass your mileage goal. Run/walk, ride, paddle, and swim as much as you can during July and if you surpass your mileage goal then 'good on ya' and we will celebrate with you!
What happens if I do not complete my miles?
Life happens and sometimes, in spite of our best intentions, we fall short of our goals. Do your best to meet your mileage goal and if you don't succeed, hey, you gave it your best shot and that's an accomplishment in itself. FYI - you can always reassess and change your mileage goal if you like.
I didn't learn about this challenge until after it started on July 1st, can I still participate?
Absolutely, you have until July 10th to sign up.
How do teams work?
Adventures are more fun with friends so create a team and invite your friends to join your team in this challenge. Teams can have up to 8 members. Track the progress of your teammates and cheer them on! See how many miles your team can accumulate and compare with other teams. Awards will be given to the top three teams with the most overall miles.
NOTE: This is not a relay so all team members will still be shooting for their individual mileage goal. Again, you may change your mileage goal when you input your results.
How do I create a team or join a team?
During registration, you will be asked if you would like to create or join a team. Click yes and follow the instructions. You can also create or join a team after you register by logging into runsignup, going to your profile, selecting the manage registration link in the Roadless Races Virtual Challenge section under upcoming races, and choosing the groups/teams link in the top navigation.
What are the giveaways all about?
All participants are eligible to win random giveaway prizes distributed at three intervals (on day 10, day 20, and at the end of the challenge). Giveaways include great stuff like Goodr sunglasses, Body Glide, Cotopaxi bags, and Roadless Races swag.