Coach has teamed up with Fitbit to create a unique endurance challenge: running and riding in a team of six from Buckingham Palace to Edinburgh Castle and back in 50 hours. That’s one punishing physical and mental challenge – why on Earth would you want to put your body and mind through that? In fact, why challenge yourself at all? Wiser men than us have dealt with this question, so let’s hand over to them.
Perhaps you don’t want to fail
"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.” Muhammad Ali, three-time world heavyweight boxing champion
But failure should always be an option
“I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career... I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” Michael Jordan, six-time NBA championship winner
Sure, it’ll hurt, but what if that’s the point?
“It doesn’t matter if you’re sprinting for an Olympic gold medal, a town sign, a trailhead, or the rest stop with the homemade brownies. If you never confront pain, you’re missing the essence of the sport.” Scott Martin, Paralympic cyclist
“It never gets easier, you just get faster.” Greg LeMond, three-time Tour de France winner
After all, it will make the achievement even sweeter
It’s all in the mind anyway
“The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it, as long as you really believe 100%.” Arnold Schwarzenegger, seven-time Mr Olympia
“When my legs hurt, I say, ‘Shut up, legs! Do what I tell you to do!’” Jens Voigt, two-time Tour de France yellow jersey holder
Do it for yourself…
“Nobody needs to prove to anybody what they’re worthy of, just the person that they look at in the mirror. That’s the only person you need to answer to.” Picabo Street, alpine skiing Olympian
…and your future self
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” Author H Jackson Brown’s mother
Still not convinced? Here’s the tl;dr version
And at the very least, it beats fishing
“Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realise fishing is stupid and boring.” Desmond Tutu, social rights activist
Whether it’s the Fitbit Fifty, or you’re considering something else – from a 5K to an ultramarathon – we hope you’ll accept the challenge and, whatever the result, the next one too. As seven-time baseball World Series winner Babe Ruth said, “It's hard to beat a person who never gives up.”
Find out more about the Fitbit Fifty and apply now.
Coach is media partner to the Fitbit Fifty
