Advice from the Challengers

The Four Peaks Challenge

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Answers by Jenni Jenkins (nee Lawson)

What was your team name?: Various, including: Gin'll Fix It (2008) and The 8 Peaks (2007)
When did you take part?: I took part in the Four Peaks in 2006. 2007. and 2008.
Why did you participate in a Spoon Challenge?: Spoon supports a great cause and the challenges are very well organised, which means, as a participant, you can focus on the training and fundraising. My personal incentive was to attain a new level of fitness and the Four Peaks Challenge works well for me because, although it's tough, it's not a flat out race from start to finish. I keep coming back because of the great people and the party!
Was the challenge what you expected?: I expected it to be hard and it was! I hoped I would be able to complete the challenge in a respectable time, and I did.
How did you cope with the training and fundraising?: On fundraising - corporate sponsorship was very helpful. Most employers will be keen to support such a high profile and worthy event. On training - every time I felt like missing a gym session I reminded myself that the pain on the mountains would be twice as bad if I didn’t go!
Any advice for people who are thinking about doing a Spoon Challenge?: Don't leave training or fundraising to the last minute. You don't have to kill yourself on either front if you start at least 6 months before the challenge.
Did you have any funny experiences on the challenge?: Our team came up with our challenge on the year that the challenge was sponsored by McVitie's - the Jaffa Cake challenge. To see how many Jaffa Cakes you could fit in your mouth at once. I think 4 was hard to beat!

Oh and also at the party when a guy fell asleep and everyone dressed him up and took photos whilst he continued to snore!

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Answers by Alan and Linda Thomson

What was your team name?: The Wooden Tops
When did you take part?: We took part in the Four Peaks Challenge from 1997 to 2009.
Why did you participate in a Spoon Challenge?: We love climbing mountains. We like a challenge. We thought it would be great way of doing the things we like whist helping disadvantaged children.
Was the challenge what you expected?: The physical side was expected but the camaraderie amongst teams and marshals was far better than expected, as was the fun and laughter throughout the event.
How did you cope with the training and fundraising?: We like to stay fit so the training was just a step up from our normal routines for the last four months or so. To raise the minimum requirement was never a problem between four team members and we usually got well in excess of the minimum.
Any advice for people who are thinking about doing a Spoon Challenge?: Start your preparations as soon as you enter because other things will get in the way of training and fundraising if you leave it until the last couple of months and try to make your fundraising fun by holding events in pubs/clubs etc.
Did you have any funny experiences on the challenge?: We arrive back every year with a fund of funny stories which keep us going in the pub as we reminisce over the winter months whilst planning for the next one.

The Four Peaks - A Challenger's Perspective

To read the about the Four Peaks from a challenger's point of view please follow the link below:

An article by John Scivier

The Great Lakeland Challenge

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Answers by Mark Willings

What was your team name?: 3 dentists and a fillin
When did you take part?: I took part in the Great Lakeland Challenge from 2004 to 2009 and will be taking part in the End 2 End and Four Peaks in 2010.
Why did you participate in a Spoon Challenge?: Initially I started doing the GLC because a friend asked me to join his team. Another friend laughed and bet me I couldn't do it... it was like a red rag to a bull!
Before I did my first challenge I hadn’t done much exercise since leaving school!! However proving my friend wrong and winning the bet that I could do this challenge...I kept going! Why.... because it is such fun. It has helped me personally achieve a level of fitness that I could never have dreamed of before and motivates me to keep exercising... without it I would be 10 stone heavier and heading for a heart attack!
Was the challenge what you expected?: No....much harder!! But in a strange sadistic way... so enjoyable!!!
How did you cope with the training and fundraising?: The training is made much easier by going with team mates on bike rides and gym sessions - more of a social event in some ways. So much so that we have continued to meet every Sunday morning for a bike ride! For fundraising... Personally I manage this by contacting suppliers of my business. I have always been very lucky to receive very generous donations and support. It all being for such a worthwhile and deserving cause helps enormously. I think that people can immediately connect with the aims of Wooden Spoon.
Any advice for people who are thinking about doing a Spoon Challenge?: Don't hesitate... get it booked straight away and enjoy it!! The camaraderie is fantastic and at the end of the event the sense of personal achievement and pride in what you have accomplished by your physical exertion is a feeling that money can’t buy!!
Did you have any funny experiences on the challenge?: Can't think of anything specific but there is always great banter...both within our team and between other teams.. most especially on the canoe section when you see someone capsize!

Answers by Nichol Clarke

When did you take part?: I took part in the Great Lakeland Challenge in 2000, 2001 and 2005. The End 2 End in 2008 and the Four Peaks in 2009.
What was your team name?: Various! Helionix Quartet, Quodlibet, Quodlibet 2, Witchway?..
Why did you participate in a Spoon Challenge?: Initially it was the idea of doing something that really did represent a challenge (mid-life crisis probably had something to do with it!) - Getting fit, achieving a difficult goal, doing something different, doing something for others...
My first GLC was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life.. And I was hooked! We decided the very next day to return the following year with four teams (to make up a quartet!) I instinctively knew it was potentially life-changing for participants and since a deep passion of mine is to help and inspire others to go out and achieve their true potential I was determined that it would happen! We did return with 4 teams and between us raised over £35,000 for Wooden Spoon which was incredibly fulfilling.
Having had such a great experience with the Great Lakeland I clearly needed to do it again! I needed a challenge like it to make me go out and get fit and keep healthy. My work is in the healthcare field and I need to be fitter and healthier than my patients -so another important reason! Then it was Nigel telling me about the End 2 End and well I love cycling and thought... could I really do that in 7 days..? So another challenge was mounted...Then well Wooden Spoon kept going on about this other little challenge..The Four Peaks... and Nigel told me that I would be the first person (apart from him!) to do all three... Thanks Nigel!! And so on for another... Not sure about the London Marathon though- just not good for the knees, all that pounding on hard surfaces!
Was the challenge what you expected?: Way beyond expectations - all five have been amongst the best experiences of my life...Do not even hesitate to take part..it will change your life.. very positively!!
How did you cope with the training and fundraising?: Both are always a challenge - the training especially during the winter months, requires a lot of self discipline. But once you're into it - hugely enjoyable. Very frustrating to get injured along the way/lone training time - but all part of the challenge. Fundraising - always a massive challenge but such a key part of the whole thing. You really learn a lot about people and about yourself; it can be very frustrating and time consuming but ultimately it is hugely rewarding and fulfilling. It helps if you are passionate about what Wooden Spoon does!
Any advice for people who are thinking about doing a Spoon Challenge?: GO FOR IT! You will never regret a single moment of it. You will learn a huge amount about yourself, get yourself fit and in decent shape and you will really appreciate the health and well being benefits of the training. Make space for it in your life, it will be one of the best decisions you ever make!!
Did you have any funny experiences on the challenge?: During the challenge itself you'll probably find yourself on a permanent high..(helps mask the pain!!)...who needs drugs..?!

I have had so many fantastic experiences during them and the training weekends..

The Great Lakeland - A Challenger's Perspective!

To read a challenger's diary of the Great Lakeland Challenge please follow the link below:

An article by Jim Pettipher

email challenge@eventsunlimited.co.uk

telephone 01283 841 600