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Completion Post - Marathon Race chosen: Grandma's Marathon
Task: read a book with an author who has three letters from the words DULUTH MINNESOTA in their name
Book:
Alex and the Alpacas Save the World by Kathryn LefroyRead: 13/01/24
Rating: 5★s
How it fits: kAThryn lefrOy
Mod
You're ready to gear up and start training! You must read one book for each kind of training run to complete this section.
After these 4 books are completed, roll a single die for your next prompt.
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 1. Regular runs
Task: Read any book you like to complete your regular run
Book:
Accidental Magic by Iris BeagleholeRead: 21/01/24
Rating: 5★s
How it fits: Is any book
2. Intervals
Task: Read a book in 24 hours
Book:
A Body in the Belfry by J.B. HawkerRead: 18/01/24
Rating: 4★s
How it fits: started in the morning 18/01/24 and finished in the evening 18/01/24
3. Hill Repeats
Task: 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:
Amish Snow White by Ashley EmmaRead: 19/01/24
Rating: 5★s
How it fits: Pushed my boundaries as is about marital and child abuse and my niece is going through this at the moment.
4. Long Runs
Task: Read a book that is at least 300 pages long to complete this run
Book:
Home For the Haunting by Juliet Blackwell Read: 20/01/24
Rating: 3★s
How it fits: Has 336 pages
Mod
https://www.random.org/dice/
LOL! OoopsWhen I copied and pasted I forgot that line
Dice roll: 6
Mod
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.
Completion Post - Keep Moving Forward Task: Read a book with the word Inconvenient or Inconvenience in the title
Book:
The Earl's Inconvenient Wife by Ruth Ann NordinRead: 25/01/24
Rating: 5★s
How it fits: The word inconvenient in title
Mod
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 1. 5K Race✔️
Task:. Read a book of 200 pages or less in a single day
Book:
Christmas in Vermont: A Very White Christmas by Bryan MooneyRead: 27/01/24
Rating: 3★s
How it fits: 178 pages - started in the afternoon 27/01/24 and finished in the evening 27/01/24
2. 10K Race✔️
Task: Read two books that are over 200 pages long
Book 1:
The Wolf Next Door by Lydia DareRead: 28/01/24
Rating: 4★s
How it fits: Has 395 pages
Book 2:
The Eleventh Floor by Kylie OrrRead: 26/01/24
Rating: 5★s
How it fits: Has 416 pages
3. Half marathon ✔️
Task: Read three series books
Book 1:
Demons are Forever by A.E. JonesRead: 30/01/24
Rating: 5★s
How it fits: #3 in ‘The Realm’ series
Book 2:
Secrets, Spells & Murder by Janni NellRead: 01/02/24
Rating: 5★s
How it fits: #1 in ‘The Little Shop of Spells’ series
Book 3:
Paper Cuts by Ellery AdamsRead: 02/01/24
Rating: ★s
How it fits: #6 in the ‘Secret, Book, & Scone Society’ series
Dice roll: 6
Mod
Completion Post - Keep Moving Forward T - Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree - 05/02/24
O - On the Chopping Block by Jenny Kales - 06/02/24
I - I Bet You by Ilsa Madden-Mills - 27/02/24
L - Suck My Life by Andie M. Long - 16/02/24
E - Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett - 18/02/24
T - The Sundowners by Jon Cleary - 22/02/24
P - The Radio Hour by Victoria Purman - 16/03/24
A - The Accident by Fiona Lowe - 03/03/24
P - A Page of Murder by Penny Brooke - 15/03/24
E - Amish Beauty and the Beast by Ashley Emma - 09/03/24
R - Fox Cubs and Felonies by Rune Stroud - 12/02/24
Mod
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
Task: read a book where a character goes to or works at an expo
Book:
Murder at the Pet Expo by Cindy BellRead: 17/03/24
Rating: 4★s
How it fits: Sonia has to take Princess to a pet expo for her photo to be taken for a dog calendar
2. Pasta dinner
Task: read a book where the MC cooks or eats a lot of pasta
Book:
A Fright to the Death by Dawn EastmanRead: 08/04/24
Rating: 5★s
How it fits: MC eats 3 helpings of pasta (Macaroni cheese) after being locked in a cellar for hours.
3. Set your alarm
Task: read a book that is alarming to you in some way (explain how)
Book:
Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things by Martina McAteeRead: 21/03/24
Rating: 2★s
How it fits: Alarmed me on so many levels (violence, abuse and poor writing) but mostly I was alarmed how highly it has been scored on Goodreads and I wondered if I had even read the same books as everyone else - it was alarmingly dreadful.
4. Lay out your clothes
Task: read a book where the MC is a real clothes hound
Book:
Truly, Madly by Heather WebberRead: 22/03/24
Rating: 5★s
How it fits: Lucy only wears Dior - her grandmother bought her a Chanel shirt and Lucy returned it to the shop and bought 4 Dior shirts in different colours instead.
5. Morning ritual
Task: read a book where any character has a set ritual for something that they always do (explain what)
Book:
Thick as Thieves by Mary B. BarbeeRead: 02/04/24
Rating: 4★s
How it fits: Every morning the two sisters are up before dawn baking bread for their stall and as soon as the sun pops its head up they pour the coffee ready for their husbands. One morning they were running late and the husbands came in and reached for their mugs and they were empty - poor husbands
Dice roll: 2
Mod
Completion Post - Keep Moving Forward Task: Read a book with the word Alarm in the title or series name
Book:
Claws for Alarm: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery by Rita Mae BrownRead: 09/04/24
Rating: 3★s
How it fits: Word ‘alarm’ in title
Mod
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!
Completion Post 1. Early miles
Task: Read a book where one or more characters are very excited and happy about an event. Say what the event is
Book:
Unexpected Mail-Order Bride for the Pastor by Amelia RoseRead: 10/04/24
Rating: 5★s
How it fits: Mary and John are very excited about their wedding day
2. Mid miles
Task: Read a book where a character gets into a situation that becomes progressively more difficult as time wears on. Say what the situation is.
Book:
Aunt Bessie Assumes by Diana XarissaRead: 05/06/24
Rating: 5★s
How it fits: Aunt Bessie finds a body on the beach and finds herself dragged into the investigation. It gets more difficult for her as the story progresses as despite friends and police guarding her it is obvious attempts are being made on her life to stop her telling what she knows. Trouble is, she doesn’t know what they think she knows.
3. 20 miles
Task: Read a book where a character has serious self doubt about a course of action they have set out on. Say what it is.
Book:
Herringbones and Hexes by Nancy WarrenRead: 25/06/24
Rating: ★s
How it fits: Lucy has extreme self doubts when she is made by her Coven leader to break a hex placed on her cousin by redirecting the hex to the person who has cast it. She worries because the last words of the hex said “and wither until you die” and she wants to do no harm and has doubts that she won’t kill the hexer in the process
4. Race finish
Task: Read a book where a character completes some monumental effort and is now wiped out but also happy. Say what it is.
Book:
The Hero She Needs by Anna HackettRead: 17/05/24
Rating: 5★s
How it fits: The book opening chapter has bad people kidnap Gemma - she is drugged, hands are bound and she thrown into the back of a van. She has the presence of mind to trick her captors into thinking she is still unconscious and running off terrified into a National park. She runs for hours evading captors and, with hands still bound, enters a river rolls onto her back and floats downstream before being rescued by Boone. She is wiped out after her monumental escape but SO happy because she’s escaped.
Dice roll: 4
Mod
Completion Post - Keep Moving Forward Task: Spell out ROCK-N-ROLL
R - Total Eclipse of the Hunt by Mandy M. Roth - 12/07/24
O - Outback Roads: The Nanny by Annie Seaton - 05/07/24
C - The Carson City Bride by Cynthia Woolf - 13/08/24
K - Kodiak's Claim by Eve Langlais - 08/07/24
N - Not a Creature Was Purring by Krista Davis - 30/07/24
R - Indian Bride for the Trusty Miner by Amelia Rose - 17/07/24
O - Outback Escape: The Sister by Annie Seaton - 29/07/24
L - The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis - 27/06/24
L - The Billionaire Orc by Lilith Stone - 28/06/24
Mod
Completion Post - Marathon ✔️Race chosen: New York Marathon in New York
Task: Read a book with an author who has three letters from the words NEW YORK CITY in their name.
Book:
A Score to Kettle by Erin JohnsonRead: 14/08/24
Rating: 3★s
How it fits: ERIn johnson
Mod
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 1. Regular Runs
Task: Read any book you like to complete your regular run
Book:
The Cedar Tree by Heather ReyburnRead: 17/08/24
Rating: 5★s
How it fits: Is any book - well not just any book, the author is a friend of mine and lives across the road from me
2. Intervals
Task: Read a mystery/thriller
Book:
Crossing Over Easy by Nova NelsonRead: 18/08/24
Rating: ★s
How it fits: Is a mystery
3. Hill Repeats
Task: Read a book that pushes your boundaries
Book:
Underneath - A Merfolk Tale by M.N. Arzu Read: 15/08/24
Rating: 3★s
How it fits: I really, really do not like mermaid books. I avoid them like the plague - every one I’ve read I have not finished. I read this, despite pushing my tolerance boundaries, because I had to read the book for my F2F book group
4. Long Runs
Task: Read a book that is at least 300 pages long
Book:
Thief of Time by Terry PratchettRead: 18/08/24
Rating: 4★s
How it fits: 378
Dice roll: 1
Mod
Completion Post - Keep Moving Forward Task: Spell out NEW SHOES
N - Ribbing and Runes by Nancy Warren - 22/08/24
E - English After-Doom Tea by Erin Johnson - 26/08/24
W - A Witch For Mr. Holiday by Deanna Chase - 21/08/24
S - The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst - 25/08/24
H - The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis - 06/09/24
O - Becoming by Michelle Obama - 08/09/24
E - The English Oak by Heather Reyburn - 03/09/24
S - The Seachangers by Meredith Appleyard - 04/09/24
Mod
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 1. 5km run
Task: Read a book of 200 pages or less in a single day
Book:
The Rancher's Unexpected Pregnant Bride by Amelia RoseRead: 12/09/24
Rating: 4★s
How it fits: Read in an afternoon - 137 pages
2. 10km race
Task: Read two books that are over 200 pages long to complete this race
Book 1:
A Spelling Mistake by Nancy WarrenRead: 10/09/24
Rating: 5★s
How it fits: 288 pages
Book 2:
Head for the Hills by Tricia StringerRead: 15/09/24
Rating: 5★s
How it fits: 464 pages
3. Marathon
Task: Read three series books to complete this race. The books do not have to be from the same series
Book 1:
A Match Made in Ireland by Michele Brouder Read: 16/09/24
Rating: 3★s
How it fits: Book 1 in the “Escape to Ireland” series
Book 2:
Freedom For A Bride by Amelia RoseRead: 19/09/24
Rating: 3★s
How it fits: Book 2 in the “Montana Passion” series
Book 3:
Sweep of the Heart by Ilona Andrews Read: 22/09/24
Rating: 3★s
How it fits: Book 5 in the “Innkeeper Chronicles” series
Dice roll: 4
Mod
Completion Post - Keep Moving Forward Task: Spell out MISGUIDED
M - Arts and Witchcrafts by Morgana Best - 23/09/24 - 4★s
I -The Island of Adventure by Enid Blyton - 24/10/24 - 5★s
S - Charlie's Will by Susan Mackie - 04/10/24 - 4★s
G - Legend of the Jade Dragon by Yasmine Galenorn - 15/10/24 - 3★s
U -Unearthed by Amie Kaufman - 25/09/24 - 3★s
I - Sanctuary by Ilona Andrews - 20/10/24 - 2★s
D - Arrivals and Arrests by Diana Xarissa - 09/10/24 - 4★s
E - His to Seduce by Elena Aitken - 27/09/24 - 3★s
D - Dragon Charmed by A.E. Jones - 01/11/24 - 5★s
Mod
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
Task: Read a book where a character goes to or works at an expo
Book:
Beauty Expos Are Murder by Libby KleinRead: 14/11/24
Rating: 2★s
How it fits: Poppy goes to the Health and Beauty Expo to sell (and advertise) her paleo muffins and keto cookies but ends up investigating a murder
2 - Pasta dinner
Task: Read a book where the MC cooks or eats a lot of pasta
Book:
The Writing Class by Esther CampionRead: 19/11/24
Rating: 5★s
How it fits: Veronica cooks (and eats) a 4 packets of Fusilli pasta for a family reunion to serve with various sauces - there was enough left over to make a huge pasta salad the next day (apparently its a corkscrew shaped pasta - I googled it)
3 - Set your alarm
Task: Read a book that is alarming to you in some way (explain how)
Book:
Larapinta by Annie SeatonRead: 04/11/24
Rating: 5★s
How it fits: It was very alarming to have an assassin on this remote hiking track. Hubby and I have walked the 200km Larapinta Trail and it is a very tough walk without having ruthless assassins carrying out a hit then trying to kill all the witnesses!
4 - Lay out your clothes
Task: Read a book where the MC is a real clothes hound
Book:
A Trinket for the Taking by Victoria LaurieRead: 10/11/24
Rating: 5★s
How it fits: Fashion is essential to the MC “…Even before my binding, fashion was my obsession, and it’s only become more intense through the years…”
5 - Morning ritual
Task: Read a book where any character has a set ritual for something that they always do (explain what)
Book:
Scallops and Sorcerers: Vampire Knitting Club: Cornwall by Nancy WarrenRead: 15/11/24
Rating: 5★s
How it fits: Every morning Jennifer gets a coffee and blueberry muffin from the “Cornish Teapot” on her way to open her shop - even when she doesn't open her own shop she still walks down and gets it.
Dice roll: 4
Mod
Completion Post - Keep Moving Forward Task: Read a book where shoelaces are mentioned
Book:
The Naughtiest Girl in the School by Enid BlytonRead: 21/11/24
Rating: 4★s
How it fits: “…look at your shoelaces, they’re brown! Go and get some black ones…”
Mod
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!
Completion Post 1 - Early miles
Task: Read a book where one or more characters are very excited and happy about an event. Say what the event is.
Book:
Hexes and Vexes by Laura GreenwoodRead: 22/11/24
Rating: 3★s
How it fits: The two MC’s are very excited and happy when they finally catch the murderer and escape death in the process.
2 - Mid miles
Task: Read a book where a character gets into a situation that becomes progressively more difficult as time wears on. Say what the situation is.
Book:
The Reason I Married Him by Meghan QuinnRead: 23/11/24
Rating: 3★s
How it fits: Wyatt needs to marry quickly to inherit his grandfather’s log cabin and Aubree needs a Wyatt to agree to go 50/50 on her late sister’s (and his late brother’s) farm - if he doesn’t agree she loses out on it. So she agree’s to marry him if he agrees to keep his share of the farm. In a year they will divorce and he’ll get the canbin and she’ll get the farm. If gets more and more difficult as the year goes by as they are each falling in love with the other and they don’t want to as it it.
3 - 20 miles
Task: Read a book where a character has serious self doubt about a course of action they have set out on. Say what it is
Book:
Leave the Girls Behind by Jacqueline Bublitz Read: 21/11/24
Rating: 3★s
How it fits: Ruth-Ann Baker has serious doubts about trying to find the serial killer who killed her best friend. She secretly picks 3 girls who she thinks are potential targets, but has doubts when she realises that maybe there is a potential 4th victim - her!
4 - Race finish
Task: Read a book where a character completes some monumental effort and is now wiped out but also happy. Say what it is.
Book:
On the Accidental Wings of Dragons by Julie WetzelRead: 26/11/24
Rating: 5★s
How it fits: Clarissa accidentally turns Michael into a dragon - it is a monumental effort as she is weak from her capture. She is exhausted but happy as the two of them can escape together - he is exhausted as turning into a dragon is hard work and happy because the change make a him horny and she is more than happy to help him relax into his new shape shifting self.
Dice roll: 6
Mod
Completion Post - Keep Moving Forward Task: Spell out going home
G - Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin - 06/12/24
O - The O'Sullivan Twins by Enid Blyton - 19/12/24
I - It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas - 18/11/24
N - Psych-Out by Nova Nelson - 02/12/24
G - The Great Witches Baking Show by Nancy Warren - 16/12/24
H - Wolfsbane and Mistletoe by Charlaine Harris - 28/11/24
O - Opal Fire by Barbra Annino - 13/11/24
M - A Witch's Handbook of Kisses and Curses by Molly Harper - 30/11/24
E - Blizzard of Love by Erin Wright - 03/12/24
I’ve enjoyed running these marathons - but this will be my last - thank you for the challenge 😀👍
Mod
The Challenge Factory
Books mentioned in this topic
The Great Witches Baking Show (other topics)Wolfsbane and Mistletoe (other topics)
Psych-Out (other topics)
Blizzard of Love (other topics)
It Happened One Autumn (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Erin Wright (other topics)Nancy Warren (other topics)
Emily Giffin (other topics)
Nova Nelson (other topics)
Lisa Kleypas (other topics)
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CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU FINISHED YOUR MARATHON!