The Challenge
13 July 2024 saw 4 members of Team Paramount (Tom, Charlene, Sam and Karl) take on the Race the Sun challenge in aid of Action Medical Research. The challenge included a 23-mile bike ride, a 2-mile canoe and trip up and down the towering, Old Man of Coniston.
Not only did our dynamic 4 complete the challenge (read on to find out their placement) but more importantly, they managed to raise £2,218.00 for a brilliant charity!
The Bike
With a start time of 7am, our challengers set off from Coniston on the first leg of their journey – the 23-mile bike ride. The gravel/ mountain route headed into the beautiful Tilberthwaite Valley to Stang End. The rocky terrain certainly made it a challenge but the team persevered and after reaching the summit of the initial section, they hastened (to the point of Sam earning the nickname “The Bullet”!) towards the banks of Lake Windermere for the first feed station.
After a quick stop which saw Karl devour a waffle with Biscoff, Tom fill his pockets with Soreen and Sam replace her teeth with an orange, the team plotted their way along the cycle path before hitting Hawkshead Hill. Inspired by the great journeys of the past, like Frodo taking the ring to Mordor, the team grinded their way to the top (with their own mental Golem’s trying to drag them back) but all 4 managed to get to the top without getting off their bikes which was an unbelievable achievement!
The team managed to complete their bike ride in a respectable 3hrs 13mins.
The Canoe
After the recent Dragon Boat Race our determined competitors fancied their chances with the Canoe and they did not disappoint.
The 2-mile route saw our team use all their experience (of the single time rowing together!) to plot their way around the course. Despite the wind, our team stayed in sync with their shouts of “ONE, TWO, ONE, TWO” (and occasional “THREE, FOUR, FIVE” from Charlene) chasing down the duos in front.
Unbelievably, our team complete the canoe in 1hr 11mins, the 2nd fastest time, catapulting them up to 3rd in the mixed quad category.
The Hike
The final leg of the challenge was the hike up and down Old Man Coniston which is a whopping 2,632ft of climbing over a 3 mile ascent.
This was where things started to get tough for our team but, they did not give in, they stepped and stomped and stumbled (which led to the now infamous tired cry of “Hold Me” from Sam – we were all confused too) their way to the peak of the climb in 1hr 53mins. After a quick, obligatory, picture the team descended back to where it all started and ultimately completed the challenge in 8hrs 21 minutes earning them a finishing position of 7th out of the 21 teams taking part.
Thank you
Thank you to every single person who donated to our challenge, we know the funds are going to a brilliant cause which will allow Action Medical Research to carry on their mission of saving and changing children’s lives through medical research, developing treatments, vaccinations, and cures.
Thank you to the event organizers and the volunteers on the route. It was an expertly organized event and the volunteers on the route were always there with a smile and word of encouragement – they truly were the 5th member of our team.
Finally, thank you to all members of Team Paramount (and their families) who sent well-wishing messages during the day and particularly to those who turned up to cheer us on during the transition phases. We all really appreciated it despite our hasty exits!
There is still time to donate (here) – you have until mid-August and every penny counts!
