1000 miles - 1 mile in each hour (nearly 6 weeks)… and then runt he London marathon…
http://www.1000milechallenge.com
![http://www.1000milechallenge.com/images/top_left.gif](http://www.1000milechallenge.com/images/top_left.gif)
CONTEXT 14 / 01 / 03 The Short Story Of The Flora 1000 Mile Challenge
By Peter Perkins
Background
On Wednesday July 12, 1809, Captain Robert Barclay won a wager which challenged him to complete one mile on foot every hour of every day and night - without a break - for 1,000 hours. That is just eight hours short of six weeks! To maximise the amount of rest, he completed one mile in the last twenty minutes or so of the first hour and then set out for the next mile in the following hour. Barclay lost 32lbs in weight but recovered quickly enough to sail off to the Napoleonic Wars just eight days later. More about the history
The Flora 1000 Mile Challenge
The Flora 1000 Mile Challenge will attempt to replicate Captain Barclay’s amazing feat. This event will start at 4pm on Sunday, March 2, 2003, in front of Buckingham Palace. One thousand hours later, sometime after 8am on Sunday, April 13, it will finish on Blackheath Common. By that stage, the competitors will have run or walked up and back along the course of the Flora London Marathon more than 38 times. The six competitors, or at least as many of them who are still in the event, will compete in the Flora London Marathon to determine the overall winner of the Flora 1000 Mile Challenge.
The Challengers
Based on the information supplied on the entry forms, about 40 applicants were invited to attend special screening sessions at regional centres throughout the UK. At these regional sessions, potential competitors had a personal interview, a fitness assessment and a medical. From those sessions, ten entrants were invited to appear before a final selection panel in December 2002. The six competitors for the Challenge were announced the next day. During the Challenge, the competitors will be able to rest and sleep on a specially equipped coach, which will follow the course. More about the competitors
Prize structure
Competitors will be paid £6 for every mile completed within the rules of the competition. With a bonus of £1000 for completing the full 1000 miles, each competitor should receive a total of £7000 for success up to that point. A further bonus is payable for completion of Flora London Marathon 2003 within seven hours. In addition, the first male Challenger and the first female Challenger to complete that marathon will each receive a prize of £3000.