This is a challenge to everybody to join. . .

This is the official unofficial MLTSHP Marathons challenge! FIRST THE FIRST: this isn’t really a “marathon” challenge, this is more about just a fun way to get everybody suddenly working from home, otherwise occupied, or quarantined, a little more physical movement in their lives; and for those who *can* to be able to get outside a little bit more, all in a *community* minded way. The goal is what can we do together? It’s a distraction, it’s for activity, and it’s (hopefully) some fresh air - all things we need for our mental health right now.

The “Challenge”: Walk, run, row, bike, etc. a marathon distance (26.2 miles/42.19 km) between now and APRIL 1. You have 16 days (depending on when you read this). Can’t do that specifically (you’re quarantined?) but want to participate? Aho ho ho, you’re still invited! Read on!

Rules:

Like the Thunder Road Race in Grease, the only rule is there ain’t no rules, except the unexplained rules that everybody somehow knew. So:

Rule 1: Really Superly Importantly: Actually, the Deed and The Distance Are UP TO YOU! The only guideline is that it’s to be done by April 1st. Want to do a 10K or 5K instead? You betcha! But wait, there’s more!

While some of you have access to trails or parks or places where you can SAFELY maintain isolation, some of you don’t. Some of you have backyards, some just balconies. Some of you can’t run at all/can’t leave the home/have just one room. Some of you have exercise equipment at home, some don’t. This is for everybody, so if you want to do something else, then you most definitely can. The only “rule” is to try and be active most days, so here’s some other ideas for inspiration (but by no means limited to):
*Work through a series of some of the wonderful on-line at-home exercise videos being offered out there right now.
*Try for X push-ups a day/week or even work up to being able to do 1 push-up at the end of 2 weeks.
*Walk up and down your backyard for 5 minutes, or spend 10 minutes doing yard work each day;
*Get a 10 minute walk in before you start work;
*Do X flights of stairs every day;
*Knee problems? In a wheelchair? Maybe something like X number of bicep curls;
*20 minutes of meditation or yoga in your backyard, balcony, or front step;
*Get up and do a loop or several around your space every two hours;
*Run X errands for an elderly neighbor who is self-quarantined.
Etc. You get the picture!

So: Choose any activity and metric that fits *your* abilities, safety, and available space.

Rule 2: Too easy? Do an ultra. You already bike a marathon before breakfast? You run this many miles easily in a week? Then pick an ultra-distance: 50k, 50 miles, 100k, 100 mile.

Rule 3: *Do it safely.* This is just for fun, dear hearts. Don’t stress out about it. If you try and life gets in the way, that’s okay. You’re a winner just for saying yeah yeah, I’ll have a go! (You can also switch things up if you need to.)

HOW TO PLAY: Pick your activity. Announce in the comments here in the next few days that you are throwing down here in mltshp town, oh yeah! You will be invited to join the official MLTSHP MARATHONS SHK (https://mltshp.com/mltshpma...); there will be a post in which you can announce your intentions *if you’d like*. After you complete your “marathon” send it to me via the comments in the official post that I will announce next week. If you want to make some posts about your progress, that will be encouraged! (But you don’t have to.)

THE WINNER AND PRIZES: Everybody who participates is a winner! But you’ll also get a super individualized yet undoubtedly grotesquely done digital piece of art from me you can post on your shk that announces you are the bestest winner!

Also wouldn’t it be nice to put together some kind of fun chart that announces the total distance (and push-ups or yoga minutes etc.) that all of MLTSHP did together! Wouldn’t that be delightful!

Last thing, and seriously: Be safe. If you can’t leave your home and maintain social distance, or there are community rules at play, obviously stay home. Pick an activity you can do in-house. And if you want to participate but can’t think of anything that suits *your* needs, hit me up. Super seriously and fuck any abelism horseshit: let’s get you on board. I spent 4 years not being able to walk and have also spent a lot of time in enclosed spaces (NOT PRISON): I have *lots* of ideas! (If you want discretion in that area, comment on an old post of mine or @me on an old post of yours.)

SUPER IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: ****This is sooooo not trying to get you out of your home if you can’t leave your home, or are unable to do so safely. Cannot stress this enough.****

LET’S SEE HOW MANY MILES (and other metrics) WE CAN DO AS A COMMUNITY. GAME ON!

#mltshpmarathons