Christmas Challenge 2024 Award Ceremony🎶🎺🥁

[Beachcomber66]

At midnight last night, the chequered flag finally fell on our Festive Fun Challenge. Before moving on to announce the final scores (which are visible and hence auditable, on our spread sheet) a few acknowledgements are required. Huge thanks go to:

🌟 all who participated by taking on the Challenge (in whole or in part) and providing lots of jolly photographs which, for me, captured the spirit of Christmas and HU;

🌟everyone who provided support and encouragement to others, particularly those on the dreaded injury couch; and finally

🌟 my esteemed colleagues Irishprincess , who came up with the idea and designed the challenges, and linda9389 who performed miracles in producing our cunning and robust/idiot proof scoreboard which resisted all of my ham fisted attempts to destroy it !

Starting from the premise that everyone involved in any way is a winner; the highest and maximum score of 58 points was achieved by both Shake-and-run and lincolnoldie (the latter came up on the rails in dramatic fashion yesterday afternoon). Congratulations to both of them for overcoming the challenges and fitting them in around everything else which Christmas brings; simply outstanding!! A mention in despatches also goes to Dexy5 who completed all of the challenges, but wasn’t able to slot them into the prescribed weeks; our resident human dynamo was undoubtedly manically busy!

We hope that everyone enjoyed participating and reading about the exploits of others. Certainly we enjoyed it! Thank you so much to everyone. We will be thinking about any changes which may be needed for next year, so any thoughts are welcome,

Oh, the photograph? A picture of my “Back Yard” on Christmas Eve. 🙂

Happy New Year from your team;

Irishprincess linda9389 and me

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For January races go here: healthunlocked.com/marathon...

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Great fun - thank you!😊👍

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon]

First of all thank you BC for sharing such a beautiful picture, that view is something else! Then thanks to you, Linda and IP for such an amazing challenge. When I completed my HM on the first of December I was in need of motivation to keep running. Your challenge has not only got me out the door but given me a reason to get involved with other things too (like my running group’s Strava art run). Also big congratulations to Lincolnoldie, it’s a pleasure to stand on the top step in such illustrious company. And to everyone else who took part, shared photos and joined in the fun. In the words of the big man, ‘A victory is twice itself when the achiever brings home full numbers’.

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Shake-and-run]

So pleased you enjoyed the challenge Shakes. Our thoughts will soon turn to Spring despite the weather. Just need to keep getting out there to maintain fitness.🙂

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

Thank you  Beachcomber66 ,  Irishprincess and  linda9389 , what fun it has been. I’m sure everyone thought I was bonkers running around in circles on the prom yesterday, doing the running art! All the time and effort you put into this and everything else on the forum all year is much appreciated by us all. Congratulations to  lincolnoldie and  Shake-and-run for doing everything in the correct timeframe.

Happy New Year to everyone 🥳

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

You are very kind as always Dexy5. Thankfully I have two excellent supervisors.🙂

[Sax64]

Thank you so much, great fun to be part of. And Happy New Year to one and all too🥳🥂. Fab picture aswell, wow.

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Sax64]

You stuck with it to the end Sax64, and were an early starter too if I remember correctly. I will store my Santa hat for next year, but will not take it to the football match again…we lost!

[drl212]

Well done!

Congratulations...!!

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to drl212]

You made an excellent 41 drl212. Other Christmas commitments crept in for most of us as the holiday wore on. Something to think about in our review. Have a great 2025.👍

[lincolnoldie]

Thank you to the admin for this challenge it was just what was needed to keep the running going in December. Well done to all who took part, and congratulations to Shake-and-run . The run art and clothes challenge really got my brain going to try and complete successfully. Just waiting for it to warm up a little before going out this morning, it us cold and frosty but at least the wind has dropped.

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to lincolnoldie]

Well done lincolnoldie! You were brilliant!! We have really enjoyed going through the posts and photographs. As you say, back to the day job this morning; cold and frosty up here too, but I will be heading out for my third running in run of my new trail shoes, provided there is no ice about. One fractured vertebra is enough thanks 🙂

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

That’s a stunning photo BC. Definitely one to hang on a wall 🥰

Well done to everyone who took part and congratulations to Shake-and-run , lincolnoldie and Dexy5 👏

I loved seeing all the photos, it was great festive fun and certainly got me taking chocolate on a short run just for a challenge 😜

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

The photo was taken from the peak of Roseberry Topping by our youngest (now 39!)on his telephone camera. He also pictured some deer which walked down to say hello to him! Not sure how well they would show up though.

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

There you go.

Deer at dusk

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Huge fun. I'll try harder next year...thanks everyone xxx.

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

You did just fine Floss; I was way behind, but it was still fun.

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Beachcomber66]

I did better than I'd thought...! No outing yesterday ..too much ice...but I ate my snacks anyway!!!

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

We need our calories when it is this cold. Speaking of which,Molly wants breakfast!

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Congratulations everyone, it was fun taking part , and the challenges were amusing! Xxx

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

A chance to laugh at ourselves a little I think. My Santa hat provoked a few comments 🙂

[misswobble Marathon]

Some backyard you have there! 😀

Congratulations everyone! “You’ve all done very well” 😀 👏👏👏👏👏🏅🥂

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Thank you Mr Grace 😂

[misswobble Marathon]

oh how I miss that programme 😁🤣