NEED TO SHAKE UP YOUR RUNNING? IN HIS BOOK, GO!, TOBIAS MEWS SHOWS YOU HOW TO HAVE A MINI - ADVENTURE - WHETHER YOU ‘RE AT HOME OR ON HOLIDAY…

Many of us live a time-poor existence, rushing from home to work and back again. If you’re anything like me, what I love is that feeling of spontaneity – just doing a challenge whenever the need takes you.

Consequently, the challenges you’ll find here are all feasible during the week. You don’t even need much kit. If you’re in possession of a pair of running shoes, you can complete every challenge here.

The beauty about these pop-up races is that you can slip them into your holiday just as easily as you might swig on a latte. If you happen to be passing by a funicular, why not just stop and see if you can beat it? The most important thing to remember is, anything is possible. These are just templates to get you started. And remember, it’s no good keeping it to yourself. Tell your friends about it, and challenge them to see if they can beat your time.

60 MINUTES

HOW MUCH CAN YOU DO IN 60 MINUTES?

CONCEPT

As creatures of habit, we like to know how long something will take. But in contrast to a race, which is often limited by distance, this orienteering-style challenge is about squeezing in as much as you can within 60 minutes, all while exploring your local neighbourhood.

RULES

1. Your time is limited to 60 minutes.

2. You decide how you’re going to spend your time – ‘collecting’ monuments, running as far as you can, juggling while running, or even running between Starbucks cafés.

KIT

• Smartphone with 3G connection

• Running shoes

• GPS watch to track route and keep track of time

METHOD

For many of us, especially those with children, the concept of time can have no meaning. Sometimes it feels as if we’ve stepped through a wormhole in which hours pass in the same way that minutes do. Which is why you’ll appreciate this challenge. With 1,440 minutes in a 24-hour time period, there’s no reason you can’t use 60 minutes of your day for something new – whether it’s before or after work or even during your lunch break. And what’s more, it’s ideal to do with friends and family.