My name is Heggie and I am an addict

First up, this is not a paid ad. I am just really enthused for this. Other similar schemes exist.

Secondly, I need to say that as I am bulimic there is a chance that this addiction is not as healthy as it may appear.

I have become addicted to The Conqueror / My Virtual Missions:

https://www.theconqueror.events/

Starting in 2013 I lost a LOT of weight - I was on the Vi Challenge shakes (which as I am now full vegan I cannot go back to) and very active. I got into the best shape of my life by quite a large margin (roughly 7 stone).

2012 vs 2014

Since my mum's stroke (April 2018) EVERYTHING has gone to hell. Being trapped at home has done unspeakable damage to my weight, fitness, mental health, physical health... my bulimia is an ever-present issue as is insipient alcoholism. The only thing I have to look forward to, other than death, is a long overdue mental breakdown.

Covid-19 had not helped.

Back in May I gave in to months of Facebook ads...

It started here with the Inca Trail (Peru) - beautiful medal, super achievable walking distance (done in a fortnight c/o PokemonGO)

I bought a 2nd entry code which I used for The Grand Canyon (USA):

As I happened to have a rowing machine about my person this seemed like a super apt challenge to do. Ye gods I feel like I earned that medal!

Then they released Camino de Santiago (France & Spain). How beautiful is this medal?!

I have 50+ km left to complete this one (walking via PokemonGO again) but I should complete it within a couple of weeks and I am super excited to add this medal to my collection.

Although I was by now halfway through the year I decided to add on the 2020 challenge. I need a medal for getting through this fucking shitstorm of a year!

I started of with a target of 1000 miles... then I upped it to 2020 km... this morning I changed it to 2020 miles. This is mostly the kilometres of the other challenges (I'm treating this as the sum of the year, the challenge is to do MORE this year) but does include some separate distances.

THEN they released Ring of Kerry (Ireland):

I have to admit this medal doesn't float my boat but I am a small % Irish (my mother was a Keating; my kids are named Erin & Kathleen) and I appreciate the Ogham. I did this one on a newly acquired recumbent exercise bike (1st equipment purchase from this addiction).

With Camino I purchased an extra code which I used to register for Alps To Ocean (New Zealand):

This was also done on the recumbent exercise bike.
With 2020 I ALSO purchased an extra code which I used to register for Great Ocean Road (Australia):

I have 6.3 km left to row to complete this challenge.

They just announced TWO new challenges! I am gonna register for The Cabot Trail (Canada) and do that on the recumbent exercise bike this year. How cute is this medal?! Love the puffins!

So that will be EIGHT Medals for the year: 2020, Inca, Canyon, RoK, GOR, A2O, CdeS & Cabot.

I am also gonna purchase a code for Ring Road (Iceland) but to start next year:

My maternal grandfather was eating ice cream with the yanks in Iceland during WWII and I believe it is the origin of the family rock. I will be doing this one on the recumbent exercise bike.

2021 is going to be ALL about the long challenges as I want to complete certain things within a calendar year. Such as LEJOG (UK) which I will be walking:

I honestly thought LEJOG was between Le Walk and Le Run for AGES but of course it's Land's End to John O'Groats (AKA the length of Britain).

Then there's The Appalachian Trail (USA):

This medal also doth not improve the buoyancy of my dinghy but I already bought the Grandma Gatewood book to accompany the challenge so I really had better do it. As local walks are not nearly challenging enough I plan to do this mixed walking with rowing and my climbing machine (2nd equipment purchase) in order to emulate the difficulty level.

The currently available remaining challenges are - English Channel (UK / France) which I DEFINITELY want to do, but only when I can swim it:

Hadrian's Wall (UK) which is arguably the most popular medal / challenge but does nothing for me:

And Route 66 (USA) but I am feeling pretty lousy about America since Drump, the anti BLM violence, promoting fascism and white supremacy issues...

During 2021 they're supposed to be launching new challenges bi-monthly and I am definitely hoping for Africa / Asia challenges so as to get a world tour going ;) 

I have to admit that so far I haven't lost ANY weight despite also using Huel for that purpose, but I must be fitter and healthier than I was. Also, I'm not sure it's helping my mental health beyond motivating me to get outside and to feel as if I am achieving something. I miss Open University and the dream that I was working toward a better future.

I miss hope.