TwoPointSixChallenge
The 2.6 false start
Running 2.6 miles for 26 days
With the London Marathon cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there are thousands of disappointed fundraisers. The London Marathon is the biggest 1 day fundraiser in the world so a handful of Pedal Power members have decided to join the TwoPointSixChallenge.
Great, choose a challenge related to 2.6 or 26 (the number of miles in a marathon). It could be anything, providing you follow the Government guidelines on how to exercise safely.
You can check out this website to see what the rest of the UK is doing:
https://www.twopointsixchallenge.co.uk/
Get in touch via our Contact Us page and send us a video or a picture of your challenge.
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The 2.6 false start
Day 1
Monday 27th April….. Jo Roach is planning on cycling 2.6 days for 26 days. She has a very special destination in mind. Take a look at the video to see how day 1 of her challenge went.
Day 2
Tuesday, I took a short break to watch the swan preening herself on the nest. Swans have been nesting on that spot for years and I love to follow them. I’m looking forward to counting the cygnets.
Day 3
Wednesday 28th April 2020….swan watching.
Day 4
Thursday’s cycle ride and visit to the swans who were having a lie in.
Day 5
Friday, the female swan resting by herself.
Day 6
Saturday, the swan’s next door neighbour was very noisy this morning.
Day 7
Sunday, the swan’s neighbour was out with her chicks.
Day 8
Monday 4th May 2020….. can you see the moorhen in front of the swan’s nest?
Day 9
Tuesday, the cob came back.
The swan was watching out for a rat that ran along behind the nest.
The swan was tiding up her nest and I had a glimpse of the eggs. An exciting morning for the swan diary.
Day 10
Wednesday, the swan was adding to her nest, I arrived just as she stood up to change position, I saw the eggs but I was not quick enough to take a photograph.
Day 11
Thursday, the swan was turning her eggs.
Day 12
Friday, good evening to the swans, lucky for me the cob just came swimming into view for a short while, he was guarding his hen from a little dog on the bank.
Day 13
Saturday, the swan was turning her eggs, I can see 6. Just worked out how to use screenshot for close ups.
Day 14
Sunday, the moorhen and her chicks got too close to the swan today, here she is seeing them off.
Day 15
Monday 11th May 2020, a very cold windy day and swan is magnificent under grey clouds and tower blocks.
Day 16
Tuesday, it is still cold. While the swan was sleeping the moorhen from next door stole some reeds from the swan’s nest to build her own.
Day 17
Wednesday, another glimpse of the eggs this morning.
Day 18 – AM
Thursday, swan in the afternoon with clouds and crowds hoping to see the cygnets, still waiting.
Day 18 – PM
Thursday evening, the cob staying very close to the swan.
Day 19 – AM
Friday morning, the cygnets have hatched, happy birthday and congratulations swan.
Day 19 – PM
Friday afternoon, what a difference a day makes. Swan and her mate proudly present their cygnets.
Day 20
Saturday. Too chilly this morning for swan to show off cygnets.
Day 21
Sunday, the swan has left the nest. An important day in the swan’s diary.
Day 22
Monday, swan and partner swimming with 6 cygnets. So exciting.
Monday, swan take 2, the reflections are so lovely.
Day 23 – AM
Tuesday, swan video, teaching her cygnets which leaves to eat.
Day 23 – PM
Tuesday evening, the swan’s mate seeing off a fox. The cob was building up the nest with more reeds to protect his cygnets.
Day 24
Wednesday, swan putting cygnets to bed.
Day 25
Thursday, swan has moved her family on, there’s a new family to watch.
Thursday evening, suppertime for the ducklings.
Day 26!
Friday morning, swan taking the cygnets for a swim and building up her nest.
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Where am I?
Hi, I’m Tanya and my challenge is to run every day for 26 days. I plan to take and upload one picture a day of a view on my route. All the pictures will be of locations within a 2.6 mile radius of my house and I live approximately 1 mile north of Finsbury Park.
Can you guess where I am?
There is a bottle of champagne on offer for the most accurate number of guesses. Email Tanya@pedalpowercc.org with all 26 of your answers.
Day 1
A perfect day for a run, walk or cycle ride. I often stop here for a quick drink as there is a water tap close by. So where am I?
(This should be an easy one for all Pedal Power members as it is very close to the entrance of the Saturday drop-in session.)
Day 2
An early start today. The path along one side of this expanse of water has been made much more accessible in recent years. From April through to October you can sometimes hear the rhythmic sound of a swimmer free-styling around the perimeter. So where am I?
Day 3
The tower of this old church is all that now remains of this Grade II listed building. There has been a church on this site since at least the 13th century. In the surrounding grounds you can find some interesting pictures detailing the changes made to the building during the last 400 years. In 1968 a large part of the the church was demolished and replaced by an infant school. Any ideas?
Day 4
A linear green oasis for walkers, runners and cyclists. It is actually London’s longest local Nature Reserve. This path has long been a popular ‘training’ ground. The step-free Finsbury Park connection is closed because of the pandemic but there is another step-free entrance just off Woodstock Road. Where am I?
Day 5
This is a great location for cyclists, runners, dog walkers, walkers……There is also plenty of parking for those that live that little bit further away. The views are fantastic, if you are prepared to climb. On Sunday mornings this carriage way is normally a bustle of activity. Where am I?
Day 6
A beautiful morning. This park is home to the Holloway Gaels and a Tag Rugby League. There are a number of circular walks of varying lengths that have been mapped out by the local authority and a small outdoor gym. It is also fairly flat. Where am I?
Day 7
Definitely worth the climb on this sunny Saturday morning. Behind me is the site of the first television station and a well known Victorian landmark.
Day 8
A small stretch of the original 17th century drinking water supply brought into London from Hertfordshire. This quiet path takes you away from the Wightman Road race track. That should provide with you with enough clues to guess my location.
Day 9
This is the entrance to a beautiful urban nature reserve that is well worth a visit. Access is level into the reserve, with no steep gradients on the main wheelchair-accessible path. Take your binoculars if you have any.
Day 10
This is an enormous water (less) fountain for a fairly small park. In the past it has been used as a planter but at the moment it is looking very empty. This is one of my favourite local parks. Every summer it is home to the YMCA fun run and festival. It even has it’s own junior parkrun every Sunday morning at 9:30am. Where am I?
Day 11
Another one of my favourite watering holes.
Day 12
A secret path that keeps a ladder community connected.
Day 13
I think I am just going to have to give you this location as it is definitely not within a 2.6 mile radius of my house. It was a bank holiday, that’s my excuse. We headed north on the bikes to Trent Park and did a cross country 2.6 mile circuit. There are some beautiful accessible and less accessible walks and some great off road cycle paths.
Day 14
Just over half way and it’s Saturday 9th May. Jo took a fantastic close up of her brooding swan this morning and counted 6 eggs!
For the first time this year I am seeking out the shade. This water fountain and the beautiful woody location are on the perimeter of the 2.6 mile radius. The bird song here is magical.
Day 15
I haven’t run this route for years. Amy Winehouse filmed her Back to Black video in this woodland memorial park and in general nature is left to take its course. The main entrance is wheelchair accessible. Where am I?
Day 16
Monday 11th May 2020, a chilly, windy but bright and clear morning. I remember when this building use to be a tired concrete office block.
Day 17
This is popular park. The wisteria plant in the foreground is in full bloom. My children learnt to cycle here.
Day 18
A very grey and blustery day. This building was a former Salvation Army Hall. Foreign and independent offerings are it’s specialty. I have removed the sign above the door, otherwise it would have been far too easy.
Day 19
I don’t come here very often but this park has everything. It even has a model traffic area with road signs and crossroads to help teach children how to cycle safely. Where am I?
Day 20
There is a restoration project in full swing going on in this park. At the top of the hill there are extensive views across a certain marsh. The Hackney primary school cycling league runs a hill climb event here every year.
Day 21
A shady spot and a great place to grab a coffee.
Day 22
I combined today’s run with a catch up with an old friend who cycled over from Waterloo. She used to work for Wheels for Wellbeing. This building is tucked away from the bustle of a busy transport link.
Day 23
This amazing grade II listed brick hall is now a museum and is located in a small local park close to the River Lea.
Day 24
A really beautiful morning and I couldn’t resist taking a picture of this young family. This couple definitely have their hands full.
Day 25
Another beautiful morning, the hottest this year. This locations is probably a touch outside of the 2.6 mile radius from my house. There are all sorts of swimming possibilities, walks, runs and cycle paths.
Day 26 !
A great off road location for cyclists as many Pedal Power members will know. This location is slightly more famous for a different type of sport.
The thing I have enjoyed most about this TwoPointSixChallenge has been planning and rediscovering new routes that have taken me back to some of my favourite local places.
I have also loved receiving the daily updates from Jo’s adopted swan family.
So….can you guess where I am?
There is a bottle of champagne on offer for the most accurate number of guesses. Email Tanya@pedalpowercc.org with all 26 of your answers.
Please support us
