I’ve said before I wasn’t really into the virtual races that have sprung up due to Covid, but this challenge was something different.

My son Eric sent me a text with a picture of a really cool medal, and a link to the Conqueror Challenge website where I could sign up for this virtual run.

The challenge isn’t really a race (although they do show you others in the App that are doing it along with you, so you could call it a race if you wanted to), but a way to be rewarded for logging in miles.

Mount Fuji Challenge

I lived in Yokohama, Japan for a few years and from our apartment you could see Mount Fuji in the distance.

During our time there, I ran the Yamanakako Half Marathon, which was in the Mount Fuji region, so this challenge felt near and dear to my heart.

The virtual challenges are set up with sites around the world in mind. The Mount Fuji challenge is a a 46 mile journey to the summit of the volcano.

All the challenges represent different mileages that you can complete in your own time.

Postcards

During your journey you’ll recieve “post cards” in your email that tell you about the areas you are “passing” on your journey (for most of the challenges).

You can track your progress through various fitness apps and smart watches, but you can also upload your miles manually. You could cheat, I guess, but why? This is a great way to get your miles in and you can do it by walking, running, cycling or biking.

As you work your way through the challenge, for every 20% you complete, a donation is made to plant a tree. The website says that since August of 2020 they have planted 450,000 trees! A great side benefit to the whole challenge.

You are the Shaper of the Challenge

You get to decide how long the different challenges will take and you can edit that in case you get behind. You can also choose to do this as a team with others or solo.

When you sign up, you choose between the medal entry which at the time of this posting is $29.95 US or the medal with a t shirt or tank top which is $59.95 US.

The distances range from 20 miles challenge to 2,485 miles!

This challenge was a lot of fun for me, and they sent the medal right away. I think I ended my challenge and had the medal at my door in a week and half. It’s a hefty medal too!

Start Your Challenge

If you would like to see what this is all about, head over to the Conqueror Challenge website and take a look at the cool medals! This may be just what you need to keep you running through the cold winter.