2024 Scavenger Hunt

It's time for the January Harriers Scavenger Hunt! This month-long event started as a way to connect and maintain motivation during COVID. Members have loved it ever since, as it keeps the mojo going in January. Have a look at last year's Scavenger Hunt to get an idea what it's all about. The more people who join in, the more fun it is! Big thanks to Natalie (top right in the picture) for organising it each year.

What's involved?

• Keep running in January and complete some of the challenges as you go. If you are training for an event you can still join in, even if it’s  just for a few. 

• Participate as a team or individual (teams will need a team name). If you’d like to pair up but don’t have a teammate, put a message out to see if someone will join up with you. You don't have to be on the same schedule or of the same ability, as you don't have to run together. In fact, pairing with someone with different strengths can be a bonus!

• Participation does not mean you aim to win, or plan to do all the challenges - it just means you want to join in the fun and keep running in January and might tick off one or two challenges along the way. However, we also welcome teams who are in it to win it!

• Share your progress via WhatsApp, email, or our Facebook group. It’s fun to see how we’re all getting on.

• There is a prize for the team and a prize for the individual with the most points.

Every year there are controversies, questions and tensions - it's all part of the game and Natalie LOVES it 🙂 However this year she brought in a proofreader to foresee any of your questions and ambiguities (fingers crossed).

Got a question? Not sure what's allowed? Email Natalie to double check. Clarifications will be added to the website.

Some rules

• There are no location restrictions, so you can travel wherever you want to complete the challenges.

• If you're in a pair, you don't have to complete the challenges together (you can divide and conquer).

• You can join people in others teams and complete the challenges together (you don't have to stay separate, it's about connecting).

• You can only complete one challenge per run (with the exception of the 7 day streak, where you can count other challenge runs as part of the streak; you don't have to complete a challenge each day for the streak to count).

• If competing as a pair, only one of you can score each challenge (unless otherwise stated). For instance, if you both do The 2024 only one of you gets the points for it. 

Submit your score

When the month is over, please submit your score so Natalie can collate the results ready to announce the winners at the AGM on 20 March.

Here it is then... the Hunt is on 

1. The Supportive Harrier - Volunteer at a local parkrun, junior parkrun or another race event, or support your friends at the Romsey 5 on 21 January. 5 points.

2. The CC6 - Take part in the CC6 on 14 or 28 January. 5 points.

3. The Committed Harrier - Attend a Tuesday training session, bonus points for attending all five. 2 points per session, 5 bonus points for attending all 5 (if competing in a team, only one of you can claim the bonus points but you can both claim the session points).

4. The Life Saver - Go for a run to find as many defibrillators as possible. 1 point per defib.

5. The Recruiter - Go for a run with someone not in a running club. 2 points and 10 bonus points if they join the Harriers before the end of January! 

6. The 2024 - Go for a run on New Year's Day. 3 points.

7. The Marathoner - Spell out the word M-A-R-A-T-H-O-N using the first letter of street names (does not have to be run in order). 3 points.

8. The Gymnast - Complete a run of at least 5k with negative splits (where the second half is faster than the first half). 2 points.

9. The Artist - Create a piece of Strava art on your run (this is where the map of your route draws the outline of something). Up to 10 points, to be judged.

10. The Generation Game - Run with a non-family member born in a different decade from you. 2 points.

11. The Scenic - Run any distance along a beach, in a forest or a wood. 2 points

12. The Parkrunner - Complete a parkrun. 2 points, bonus 5 points for a parkrun PB.

13. The Fancy Dress - Go for a run in your finest fancy dress. Up to 10 points, to be judged.

14. The Self-Care - Take part in a stretching/strength/conditioning session, online or in person. 2 points.

15. The Striptease - Run until you find a discarded piece of clothing - picture needed. 5 points.

16. The Travelling Harrier - Run in a different county from your main residence. 2 points.

17. Stile it out - Go for a run incorporating as many stiles as possible. 1 per stile.

18. The Rest Day - Go for a 60 minute walk. 2 points.

19. The Double - A run pre 7am and post 7pm on the same day (be safe and run together where possible). 4 points.

20. The Pub Crawl - Go for a run incorporating as many pubs/bars as possible (restaurants don't count; pubs that serve food do). 1 per pub/bar.

21. The Social Runner - Go for a run with a friend and end with a drink and a chat (picture needed). 2 points.

22. The All Weather - Go for a run in the rain (or if we are lucky, snow!). 2 points for rain, 4 points for snow.

23. Blue Monday - Running is the best medicine. Go for a run on Blue Monday (15 Jan) to help blast away any January blues. 2 points.

24. YOUR Forest Gump - Break YOUR 2023 record for your longest run (i.e. if your longest run was 10k in 2023, do 11k for this one). 5 points.

25. What's in a Name - Go for a run incorporating as many roads as you can named after people (e.g. John Smith Way). CLARIFICATION 03/01/24: the name must be firstname and surname. 1 per road name.

26. The Proud Harrier - Go for a run in Harriers kit, the more the better! 1 point per item.

27. The Improver - Pick a route of more than 1k. Can you improve your time on this route over the course of January? No pausing of watches! 2 points.

28. The Sporting Harrier - Run past as many different types of ‘sporting venues’ as possible - e.g., gyms, tennis courts... 1 point per venue.

29. A Bridge Too Far - Go for a run incorporating as many bridges as you can. 1 point per bridge.

30. The Grand Old Duke of York - Complete a hill rep session (where you run up and down some hills - it's fun, right?). 2 points.

31. The Codfather - Go for a run that ends at a fish and chip shop. 2 points, 5 bonus points if you scoff some chips - picture needed!

32. BONUS! The Week Streak - Run every day for 7 days (you can only achieve this once). 10 points.