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The Rules
Challenge your mind, body and social conscience. Learn a new skill. Take on a new physical challenge. Make a social contribution. Feel fulfilled.
The Rules
You must be aged between 25 and 54 when you register for the challenge.
Participation is for those who self-identify as experiencing issues of mental health or of mental / physical / sensory impairment.
You must complete achievements within each of the three categories of (a) learning (b) physical activity and (c) making a social contribution.
Qualifying achievements are listed below for each of the three categories. Each are marked as attracting 1, 2, or 3 points, depending on how demanding they are.
The Loughborough Challenge is to complete one task from each category which together attract at least 6 points. For 6 points the options would therefore be to select challenges at 3×2 points or as 1, 2 and 3 points.
A Roll of Honour will record all those who complete.
Members have 3 years from registering in which to complete the challenge.
Please see The Challenge Hub's website for further details (evidence required, exclusion of liability, taking care etc.) before you start your challenge.
‘My Loughborough Challenge’ workbook
After registering you will be able to download “My Loughborough Challenge” workbook. This pdf document can be saved to your computer and filled out after each activity so that you can keep a record of everything you do.
It will provide a simple way of organising your achievements so that, when it comes to telling us that you have completed your Loughborough Challenge, everything will be together and easier to upload.
Planning your challenge
Below is our menu for the Learning, Physical and Social Contribution challenges.
This is a challenge, so don't be daunted by what you can't do but focus on what you can do.
You only need 6 points across three disciplines (1+2+3 points or 2+2+2 points) so take your time to plan the structure and balance of the challenge that suits you.
We are confident that with thought you will be able to build your own exciting and challenging programme. Even if you have a severe physical disability, you will see that you can still earn up to two Physical Activity points by taking part in charity or community events.
Good luck. Have fun. It doesn’t matter if you don’t complete it but just have a go and see where you get to.
The Menu
1 point
Learning
Attendance at a minimum of 10 lectures or learning sessions, each lasting at least 1 hour, within a period of 12 months and provided by one or more established organisations known for delivery of education or training.
Physical Challenge
Canoeing:
Canoeing (Canadian Canoe or Kayak) any river for a distance of at least 30 miles in one series of consecutive days.
Charity / Community Events:
Charities and communities organise a wide range of creative physical events which simply cannot be listed here. So: In any 12-month period completing a minimum of 3 Charity or Community organised physical events.
Cycling:
Either:
(a) In any 12-month period complete two official organised Cyclo-Sportives each of which exceed 40 miles OR
(b) Complete in one session of consecutive days a linear cycling tour of a distance of at least 150 miles.
Hill walking:
Climbing any two mountains in the UK, one of which must be over 600 Metres in height. Each mountain must be in a different area chosen from the following menu: (a) Cheviot Hills (b) Ireland (c) Lake District (d) Peak district (e) Scotland and (f) Wales
Individual sports:
For any other individual sport listed in the Sport England table of National Governing Bodies: Joining a club of which you were not a member at the time of registering for The Loughborough Challenge having never within the previous 5 years been a member of a club for that sport and participating in sport at the club on at least 8 occasions within a 12-month period.
Pilates / Yoga:
Joining a class of which you were not a member at the time of registering for The Loughborough Challenge and attending 10 sessions over a period not exceeding 40 weeks.
Running (including by wheelchair):
Completing two official Half Marathons
Team Sports:
For any other team sport listed in the Sport England table of National Governing Bodies: Joining a club of which you were not a match-playing member at the time of registering for The Loughborough Challenge and playing in at least 5 matches within a 12-month period.
Triathlons:
Completing 2 Super Sprint or Sprint Triathlons (400m, 10km, 2,5km / 750m, 20km, 5km).
Walking (including by wheelchair):
A linear walk anywhere in the world of at least 35 miles completed over consecutive days OR Joining the Ramblers™ Association or similar officially recognised body and participating in at least 4 excursions.
Social Contribution
Working as a volunteer for a single Qualifying Organisation for a minimum of 2 hours per week for at least 10 weeks within any single period of 20 weeks.
2 points
Learning
Attending throughout any course operated by any recognised provider of any skills / craft / talent-based training where that course operates over one academic or calendar year. Passing distance-learning accredited modules over at least one full academic year.
Acquiring A or AS Levels, GCSEs, NVQs, diplomas or other formal qualifications acquired through a course lasting one academic year.
Physical Challenge
Canoeing:
Either:
(a) Canoeing (Canadian Canoe or Kayak) any two rivers for a distance for each of at least 50 miles and in each case in one series of consecutive days OR
(b) canoeing one such river for a distance of at least 50 miles plus in the Lake District, England, canoeing the length of each of Lake Windermere, Coniston Water, Ullswater, Derwent Water and Bassenthwaite Lake within one series of consecutive days.
Charity Events:
In any 12-month period completing a minimum of 6 charity or community organised physical events.
Cycling:
Either:
(a) In any 12-month period completing official organised Cyclo-Sportives which in aggregate distance exceed 500 miles OR
(b) Completing within a 12-month period and in no more than two sessions linear cycling tours of an aggregate distance of at least 400 miles.
Hill walking:
Either:
(a) successfully completing The Three Peaks Challenge OR
(b) climbing Scafell Pike, Helvellyn, Scafell and Skiddaw in one session of no more than 4 consecutive days.
Individual sports:
For any other individual sport listed in the Sport England table of National Governing Bodies: Joining a club of which you were not a member at the time of registering for The Loughborough Challenge having never within the previous 5 years been a member of a club for that sport (Note: The intention is that this should be engagement with a new sport or one which is resurrected from the past), completing a course of at least 3 lessons from a professional coach and participating in sport at the club on at least 10 other occasions, all within a 12 month period.
Rowing:
For a club which you joined after registering for the Challenge, taking part in 4 regattas within a 12-month period.
Running (including by wheelchair):
Completing an official Marathon never having done so before registering for the challenge.
Sailing:
For a club which you joined after registering for the Challenge taking part in 4 regattas.
Sea Kayaking:
Going on 2 linear sea kayaking expeditions anywhere in the world, each of which involve sea kayaking for at least 4 hours per day over at least 4 consecutive days.
Team Sports:
For any other team sport listed in the Sport England table of National Governing Bodies: Representing a club in formal matches or competitions against other clubs on at least 10 occasions, having not on more than 3 previous occasions represented that club in any matches or competitions for that sport at any time before registering for The Loughborough Challenge (Note: The philosophy is that we are encouraging the taking on of new challenges rather than rewarding extensions of past achievement)
Triathlons:
Complete 2 Olympic distance official triathlons having never done so before registering for the Challenge.
Walking (including by wheelchair):
A linear walk(s) anywhere in the world of at least 125 miles in aggregate, completed in no more than two sets of consecutive days.
Social Contribution
Working as a volunteer for a single Qualifying Organisation for a minimum of 2 hours per week for at least 15 weeks within any single period of 35 weeks.
3 points
Learning
Passing distance-learning accredited modules over at least 2 full academic years.
Acquiring A or AS Levels, GCSEs, NVQs, diplomas or other formal qualifications acquired through a course lasting two academic years.
Physical Challenge
Canoeing:
Canoeing (Canadian Canoe or Kayak) any six rivers / canals for a distance of at least 60 miles each and in each case in one series of consecutive days.
Cycling:
Either:
(a) In any 12-month period complete official organised Cyclo-Sportives which in aggregate distance exceed 1,500 miles OR
(b) Complete within a 12-month period and in no more than two sessions a linear cycling tour of a distance of at least 874 miles (the traditional cycling distance of John O'Groats to Land's End).
Hill walking:
Completing the Bob Graham Round in one session of no more than 6 days.
Individual sports:
[Not applicable for 3 points]
Running (including by wheelchair):
Within a 12-month period completing 5 or more official Marathons.
Sailing:
Taking part in either (a) one yacht race over a distance of at least 1,000 nautical miles or (b) two yacht races each of which is over a distance of at least 500 miles.
Sea Kayaking:
Taking part in a sea kayaking expedition anywhere in the world where the end point is at least 150 miles from the start point, the distance is travelled by kayaking in one sequence of consecutive days and the sea kayak is never transported when out of the water.
Team sports:
[Not applicable for 3 points]
Triathlons:
Complete 2 x 70.3 (Half Ironman) distance triathlons OR 1 x 140.6 (Ironman) distance triathlon.
Walking (including by wheelchair):
A linear walk anywhere in the world of at least 200 miles completed over consecutive days.
Social Contribution
Working as a volunteer for either one or two Qualifying Organisations for a minimum of 2 hours per week for at least 20 weeks in aggregate within any single period of 52 weeks.