There are plenty of great challenges out there, but inevitably, someone’s done them before you. Not so with the inaugural Fitbit Fifty, a team challenge to run and ride from Buckingham Palace in London to Edinburgh Castle and back in 50 hours, organised by event experts Human Race.
Everyone on the six-person team will run 50km and cycle for up to 16 hours in a two-up time trial format. Rest and refuelling is done on the road in the team van. It’s a big ask and applicants need to be in great condition already. A six-week training plan will help fine tune team members’ fitness in advance of the event date on Friday 30th September.
Even if you don’t get a place on the Fitbit Fifty, or think it’s beyond you this year, we’ll be sharing training plans and expert advice that apply to any endurance challenge, as well as discovering how the Fitbit Surge, with built-in heart-rate monitor and GPS, can help you get to the next level, whether you’re gunning for a long-distance sportive, triathlon, ultra-marathon or something else.
The Fitbit Fifty in Brief
- Two teams of six strangers have to run and ride from Buckingham Palace to Edinburgh Castle and back in 50 hours.
- Each team will complete five 10K runs as a group.
- The 1,290km of cycling will be ridden in a two-up team trial format in one-hour minimum shifts, with each rider completing up to 16 hours in the saddle. Other team members will rest and refuel in a trailing vehicle.
- The teams will prepare with six weeks of training, guided by specialist endurance coaches.
The Fitbit Fifty Route
- 10K run from Buckingham Palace to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
- 330km cycle (approx) to Doncaster
- 10K run near Doncaster
- 315km cycle (approx) to Edinburgh
- 5K run to Edinburgh Castle
- 5K run out of Edinburgh
- 315km cycle (approx) to Doncaster
- 10K run near Doncaster
- 330km cycle (approx) cycle to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London
- 10K run from Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to Buckingham Palace
Key Dates
- Monday 8th August: Applications close
- Week of Monday 8th August: shortlisted applicants will be notified
- Monday 22nd August: Winners publically announced and training begins
- Thursday 29th September, evening: Participants arrive at their complementary London hotel for a welcome dinner
- Friday 30th September, morning: Event begins in front of Buckingham Palace
- Saturday 1st October, morning: Teams reach Edinburgh Castle
- Sunday 2nd October, morning: Teams reach the finish line in front of Buckingham Palace
