Canterbury Covid Christmas Challenge

2020 has been a hard year for many, and those of us in the event management world have not been spared from the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has dealt us.  On August 1st I was timing the Loopy Looper 12 Hour Ultra Marathon that was hosted by Endless Endurance over in NJ, the first in person event 2L Race Services has timed since the pandemic hit in March.  The hope was that would bring a return to normalcy this fall, but it has been anything but a normal fall.  Almost all our races have been cancelled or gone virtual.  The extra time on my hands combined with frustration at the state of everything created an itch to challenge myself. 

When I heard that Endless Endurance was having an 8 hour ultra marathon in December and they asked me to time it for them, I decided I would not only time the event but train and race it myself.  It seems an ironic and appropriate ending to the year that the in person event was cancelled in early December due to the pandemic.  Rather than waste the training, why not make it a solo challenge?  The race is going virtual, and I'll take part on my own from the 2L Race Services home base.


Although we have taken a hit like many in our industry, others have it far worse.  Let's put this year to bed with an 8 hour challenge - see how many laps that can be run around the Canterbury Neighborhood in West Chester, PA on Saturday, December 19th.  The big loop around the neighborhood is 1.3 miles and I plan to do as many as I can until I get broken, bored, or a bit of both.  It doesn't seem right to make this challenge about simply pushing myself physically, so I will also be seeing how much money I can raise for the West Chester Food Cupboard that helps needy people in our community - and the number of needy has increased tremendously this year.

Anyone moved to support this 100% volunteer operated local organization through this crazy endeavor can go to https://www.facebook.com/donate/419689002800411/ to make a donation of any size.

Lowell Ladd
Race Director, Head Timer, and Foolish UltraMarathoner