Jan 06, 2010

Are you feeling guilty? Were you one of the many Brits who on average ate a whopping 7,000 calories just on the big day itself? Do not despair, Spoon Challenges is here to help; with plenty of events in the 2010 calendar to help you shed those excess pounds. Whether it’s cycling, walking, canoeing or running that tickles your fancy, read on to see how you can make your New Year’s resolution a reality.

First for your diaries is the largest charity fundraising event in the UK, the perennially over-subscribed Flora London Marathon. Spoon has a limited number of guaranteed Golden Bond places for the 26.2 mile run each year, but it’ll come as no surprise that all our places for the Sunday, 25 April event, are already taken. However, it’s never too soon to start training for 2011, which is why we have a slightly shorter event in our running repertoire.

Sunday, 29 July could see you stride past some of the country’s most famous landmarks in the British 10K London Run. With a little training you could be celebrating your achievement with friends and family in less than an hour and with a minimum pledge of just £30 with additional fundraising encouraged, you can’t even get worried about reaching the fundraising target. There really are no excuses not to sign up.

Unless that is, long walks are more your thing, in which case we urge you not to delay! The Four Peaks (1-3 July 2010), an event for three climbers and a very dedicated driver, continues to be our most popular challenge. Your team pledges to raise a minimum of £4,400 and then the fun really begins. First up is Ben Nevis, often a bit chilly and sometimes very white, even in summer. A night time drive leads to an early start to summit Helvellyn and Snowdon on day two. Much needed rest for all comes in the form of the overnight ferry to Dublin and then a final drive across Ireland to be greeted with the friendly smile of Eileen, from whose farm we leave and return to after bagging Carantouhill and its infamous Devil’s Ladder (hard hats required!). Miraculously, most teams and the trusted mountain marshals muster up the energy to make sure the post event awards dinner at the welcoming Hotel Dunloe Castle in Killarney sticks in your memory until you sign up, alongside many returning teams, for another crack at the challenge the following year.

If your knees have started aching at just the thought of conquering 14,000ft in less than 48 hours, then how about a challenge that has all the camaraderie and celebrations, but is over in less than 12 hours? In the Great Lakeland Challenge (10 September 2010), teams of three paddle England’s longest lake, Windermere, in a three-man canoe; cycle 26 miles over Wrynose and Hardknott, England’s steepest passes; before conquering the highest peak, Scafell Pike and descending to the finish line in the breathtaking Langdale Valley. Ford, the official vehicle supplier to all Spoon Challenges, makes sure that our challengers are met by their fourth team member, the driver, at each transition for a kit change and to stock up on energy bars, drink and the required equipment for the next leg.

To take part in England’s most exhilarating multi-sport charity event, teams must pledge a minimum of £3,900 and commit to a training weekend which equips you with the canoe skills and orienteering expertise to tackle the course.

Our two final sporting challenges also involve pedal power. The Biannual End 2 End Challenge has proved hugely popular this year with only a few places remaining. The 874 mile route may seem a bit daunting, but we make sure your pedals keep on turning with energy boosting meals, overnight stays and most importantly, Spoon’s massage therapists on hand to ease your aching limbs. The eight day challenge will take place between the 21 – 28 August and you can still bag yourself a place by entering online today!

For those who fancy a more achievable challenge, Wooden Spoon is proud to launch ‘Spoon BikeFest’ which is a multi-route summer bike ride with a finish line festival. We are delighted to announce that the whole family is welcome to join in with this challenge, whether it is joining in with the challenge itself or simply providing all important support at the finish line festival which will be held at Wootton Bassett Rugby Club. This fun packed event will take place on Saturday 19^th June 2010 and each cyclist is asked to pledge a minimum of £300 in support of Wooden Spoon’s work with mentally, physically and socially disadvantaged children. The start points offer various distances so that challengers can choose how tough their own challenge will be. London Irish - Madjeski Stadium (approx 45 miles), Bath (approx 35 miles), Gloucester (approx 45 miles) Harlequins – Twickenham Stoop Stadium (approx 75 miles) and Worcester (approx 70 miles) have all signed up to support the event, but if you fancy starting from your own club please get in touch and if you can achieve a minimum number of cyclists we would be happy to include you too!

So from everyone at Spoon Challenges – Happy New Year! If you find yourself having a rather cuddlier start to 2010 than you’d hoped for, you have our permission to finish off that last piece of Christmas cake, safe in the knowledge that any extra pounds will be history, as soon as you start following the training plan for your chosen challenge!

If you are not much of a fitness freak and you prefer to spend your free time taking the 4x4 out for a spin, perhaps our final (non-sporting) challenge is the one for you! The 4x4 on Exmoor, which takes place from 19 - 21 March 2010, allows supporters of Wooden Spoon to take part in one of the best off-roading experiences available. The entry fee for this event is £50 per person and each vehicle should then raise a minimum of £400 in support of Wooden Spoon’s work with mentally, socially, and physically disadvantaged youngsters. Whether you prefer a gentle off-roading experience or want to test your vehicle to its limits, we have something for everyone and you can choose whether to take part in the relaxing Jaunt or test yourself with the Challenge. The Weekend includes lots of lovely meals and a celebration dinner on the final night so it certainly won’t help the waistline, but raising money for a good cause is sure to tick one of those 2010 resolution boxes.

By Kirsty Simpson