Frequently asked questions
What happens if I want to change the time frame I do the challenge in?
We want you to do what you feel comfortable with so please choose a realistic time frame to complete your challenge in. But we understand that things get in the way. The challenge is actually open all year, and you won't get shut off at any point. So if you fall behind, don't worry! The goal is really just for you!
Why has Secret London Runs teamed up with My Virtual Mission?
To run this event we have teamed up with My Virtual Mission to allow you to 'virtually' see the route that Catherine of Aragon would have taken on her journey of dismissal. Once you have created an account and joined the mission you will be able to sync your activity app e.g Strava or Garmin to the platform so it automatically uploads your activities. You will also be able to see yourself moving along the map, and when you reach key milestones on Catherine's journey this will trigger postcards and podcasts so you can learn more about the history of this Tudor Queen.
99 miles! Can I break it down into smaller chunks?
Yes of course. When you sign up you can choose how long you think you’ll need to complete the distance. There are options from 2 weeks to 8 weeks. You can do it all in one go if you want to, although we strongly advise against this if you are not well trained to take on this ultra distance. Most people will break it down into lots of smaller distances and use it to help them keep fit or train for another event. Lots of participants will do a mixture of running and walking.
Does my entry for Catherine of Aragon get me entry to all six of the queens?
No. Each event is separate and you will need to sign up to each one individually. Of course once you’ve created a My Virtual Mission account however, you just need to ‘join the mission’ for each queen as they open. The entry fee goes towards our tech fees for My Virtual Mission, your unique medal (it included illustration fee because we got the images created especially) and all the historical research and content. We really couldn't price the event any lower and stay in business.
Do I have to do all six events?
Not at all. You can do one, two or all of them. Entirely up to you. However we have designed the medals so they all interconnect and you’ll get a special Tudor Rose gold coin to commemorate your incredible achievement if you decide to take on all six.
What if I don’t want to sign up for a My Virtual Mission account?
You don’t have to sign up for my virtual mission, and you'll still recieve your medal if you decide not to. However the price of your sign up covers the cost of operating all the cool technology which you’ll benefit from as part of this challenge. Tech like being able to see how far along each queen’s journey you are, comparing how you are doing to other participants, receiving the postcards at key milestones, and access to our podcast. Plus we're using My Virtual Mission for evidence uploads. So really, we think it makes sense to sign up so you don’t miss out on the full challenge experience.
Are these the exact journies of the Queens?
In a word...no! Lots of the roads are different now to the 16th century. And although we know details of all the journies we're following, history often doesn't tell us the exact route taken. The important milestones that we highlight on the route are perfectly true to history and we give you as much information as we can about those places.
When will I be able to sign up for the next Queen?
We're aiming to release one queen every 2 months this year (but hopefully more regularly)! Each journey takes a lot of research, so we hope you understand. Anne Boelyn will be in March. Each journey is a different distance - and some of the longer ones will incorporate cycling and crosstraining miles.
Can I walk the whole thing, or section of it?
Yes, you can walk the whole thing. Or you can mix up running and walking. Others might prefer to leave it as a running-only challenge. You set the challenge for what will help to motivate you.
How do I record my activities?
For this mission you can use any app or watch that records distance - or photos of your treadmill screen. The My Virtual Mission platform - who we are partnering up with for this event - allows automatic syncing for the following apps: Apple Health, Strava, Fitbit, Under Armour, Runkeeper and Garmin. But activity from any other apps (or photos from treadmills) can be added manually in a few seconds.