The Challenge Factory discussion

The Race to 100 is a competitive contest to see which team can read their way to 100 first. This is a 10-week race, but it's possible to finish in less time.

Can you and your team get to 100 before the other teams?


team 12
Christy
Eunice Vicki
Fi
Michelle

Details:
You have six (6) days to read one (1) book.
Your book must match a task in a category. Your team will reach 100 sooner if your book fits more tasks. Your book can match up to three (3) tasks.

Week 1: April 9 - 14
Week 2: April 16 - 21
Week 3: April 23 - 28
Week 4: April 30 - May 5
Week 5: May 7 - 12
Week 6: May 14 - 19
Week 7: May 21 - 26
Week 8: May 28 - June 2
Week 9: June 4 - 9
Week 10: June 11 - 16


Rules:
You can't begin reading your book until Wednesday morning, 12:01 a.m. your time.
You must finish and report your book by Monday night 11:59 p.m. your time.
Books must be 140 pages or more.
Audio books must be at least 3 hours long.
Graphic Novels must be at least 200 pages.

Sample Completion Post
Name:
Book and Author:
Pages:
Date Read:
Task:
How It Fits:
2nd Task:
How It Fits:
3rd Task:
How It Fits:

(omit 2nd and/or 3rd task information if not using them)

There are 20 tasks in 5 categories that will need to be read for.
* Each task needs to be completed once to win the race. *

Task Count: 86/100

Numbers (series # or in the publication date; double digits need to be intact)
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

Letters (first word of the title or author's initial; do not ignore A, An, The)
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, L, M, N, O, P, R, S, T, V, W

Tags (does not need to be on the book's main page)
Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Mystery, Young Adult (or YA), History or Historical, classic(s), standalone, reread (or re-read), audiobook(s), favorite or favourite, library, tbr, dnf, 5 star(s), 4 star(s), 3 star(s), 2024, 2023, own (or owned)

Settings (must be at least 50% of the story)
Africa, Australia or New Zealand, Canada, Central or South America, mainland Europe,
a Mediterranean country, the UK, California, New York, Texas, Washington state, on a farm, on a small island, at a school, in space or a different planet, on or in a vehicle, 1925 or earlier, in the future, a fantasy world, very near to where you live

Scavenger Words: (borrowed words from Deb's Scavenger Hunt. Thanks, Deb!)
You may change the word by adding an S, ED, or ING)
bowtie, bronze, carve, crust, dread, drain, field, foundation, grease, hint, instrument, legend, lock, opal, orange, partridge, railroad, stall, stout, trophy

Sabotages and Boosts
* Each sabotage or boost can only be used once.
* Sabotaging is optional. It is not mandatory.
* No sabotages on Week 10.
* Only 1 sabotage will be effective for a receiving team each week. (In other words, if Teams 2, 3 and 7 all send a sabotage to Team 5, only 1 will be in effect. The first sabotage submitted for a specific team in the sabotaging team's weekly Completion Post will be accepted. You will lose your sabotage even if it doesn't affect a team.)


Flat Tire - this sabotage will limit 1 player on a team to read for 2 tasks


Rain Delay - this sabotage prevents 1 player from beginning to read on Wednesday; that player cannot begin reading until Friday



USED High Octane Fuel - this boost allows 2 players to read for a 4th task



Guest Driver - this boost adds a player to your team for 1 week (in other words, a player can read a 2nd book for up to 3 more tasks)

First of all, pick a name for your team, group, or squad.

Second, decide who will keep track of the team's claimed and completed tasks. It can be on a spreadsheet or here in a post.

Third, decide who will make the team's Completion Posts. (It can be one person, or you can take turns. The team's Completion Post can be posted as soon as everyone has reported. The latest the team Completion Post can be posted is Tuesday morning.)

Fourth, decide what strategy or method your team will use to read for the tasks.

Last of all, check your engine and tires, gather your crew (check out library books and charge your devices), purchase fuel (snacks and soda), and get ready for a great race!

Hi Everyone

Checking in.

Hi, everyone!

Hi, checking in.

Some team name ideas:

Book Racers
Novel Navigators
Story Speedsters
Chapter Chasers
Racing Readers
Literary Racers
The Finish Line Fanatics
Bookworms on the Track

Do we want to use a spreadsheet for this?
ETA: I'll get one started for us, but no worries if not :)

Hi All! Checking in!

It looks like I'm with mostly new names to me in this group, so a little about me. I live in Georgetown, TX, outside of Ausitn, with my small dog, Corbin. I work from home as an e-commerce manager. I mainly read romance, though on rare occasions I'll branch out.

I'm also a part of a couple of other challenges, where I've committed to a few books, so a spreadsheet would be wonderful to help me keep track!

As for names I like the chapter chasers or racing readers from the above.

Hi Christy!

I read romance as well, but m/m.

Strategy wise, I think it makes sense to try our best not to duplicate tasks, right? Since we need to do them all once.

Here's our spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

I had fun making it, but I've never done a challenge like this, so I hope it works.

ETA: when you've finished your book, copy the Completion Post cell here and mark as posted. Let me know if you have any questions.

I swear I have a mental block that I am now forced to opt in for notifications on comments and am now hunting down the right threads for all of my challenges. Sigh.

Also, I just requested access to the spreadsheet.

I like Chapter Chasers for a team name and thank you Fi for making a spreadsheet.

Christy, sorry about that, I've fixed the permissions.

Yeah, that was one of GR's worst "updates". I keep forgetting to check that box lol

I added the 3 books I've already committed to this month to the sheet. There is a possibility I can swap out romance on the Vi Keeland book to California after I read it, but I can't confirm yet. The order may change, but I wanted to track them out since I know they have to be read by the end of this month, most likely in that order for in-person book clubs. James will be this week as we meet to discuss next Sunday.

I can tweak tasks if needed based on what other people want to read - I tried to pick to the most challenging that I could determine from descriptions.

Awesome Christy! Great job getting that V out of the way.

I think the most challenging tasks are Very near to where you live, Vehicle, Central/ South America, Africa and Classic(s).

For the bonus/ sabotages: should we do the High Octane Fuel as soon as possible? If we're going to match 2 books to a 4th task, it might be easier while we have lots of options.
Sabotages I'd be fine keeping them as a deterrent lol Other teams might be less likely to hit us if we can hit back.

@Eunice, does Chapter Chasers work for you?

Quick spreadsheet explanation (cause sometimes things make more sense in my brain):

The table in the first tab tracks the claimed tasks. The tracker at the top and the chart track the ones completed.

The sabotages/bonus one tracks what we have left, it will disappear as we use them.

When you're entering a book, the dropdowns should adjust to the category you picked, so you don't have to scroll endlessly. You can copy the completion post in column P and report it here. Then mark it as posted so we know it's done.

Hey team, the challenge has started! Has anyone heard from Eunice? I sent her a PM but didn't hear back.

Fi wrote: "Has anyone heard from Eunice? I sent her a PM but didn't hear back."

Eunice has only posted once, and that was 5 days ago. Let me know if you need a replacement.

Lanelle wrote: "Fi wrote: "Has anyone heard from Eunice? I sent her a PM but didn't hear back."

Eunice has only posted once, and that was 5 days ago. Let me know if you need a replacement."

Lanelle yes, I think we might need it, if you have people available. Thank you!

Hello, team, I have been added to this team. So it's nice to be here. I'm ready to go!

Fi wrote: "Hi Christy!

I read romance as well, but m/m.

Strategy wise, I think it makes sense to try our best not to duplicate tasks, right? Since we need to do them all once.

Here's our spreadsheet: https..."

I think the SS looks fantastic and very clear. Can you please add me to it/give me access?

I'm going to ask Lanelle if the book I read today can be added. If she says okay, I'll be adding an O book. If I understand correctly, we pick any of the tasks listed above/on the SS as long as they haven't been done yet.
Update: Lanelle said I can add my book so please save the O spot for me. It will also fit New York and LOCK in text.

I think Chapter Chasers is a cute name, and I love alliteration. lol

Christy wrote: "Hi All! Checking in!

It looks like I'm with mostly new names to me in this group, so a little about me. I live in Georgetown, TX, outside of Ausitn, with my small dog, Corbin. I work from home as ..."

Hey, Christy, we're already friends (as I am with everyone on this team) but I don't recall ever hearing that you live in Georgetown. But my memory is so poor so who knows. lol I would have told you that my grandmother worked in Georgetown and I use to go there all the time. She worked in a restaurant called the L & M Cafe but I don't think it's there any longer. There was a movie theater nearby and I want to say a Piggly Wiggly? My grandparents owned a chicken farm in Liberty Hill. So do you recall me telling you any of this? I was born in Dallas but haven't been back for many years.

Fi wrote: "Hi Christy!

I read romance as well, but m/m.

Strategy wise, I think it makes sense to try our best not to duplicate tasks, right? Since we need to do them all once.

Here's our spreadsheet: https..."

Fi..

I can see the SS, but I'm unable to post to it, it says "View Only". Is it supposed to be that way or am I doing something wrong?

Never mind, I just asked for permission to edit.

Hello! Sorry for the late reply. Chapter Chasers sounds good! And I'm always up for spreadsheets :)

Oops sorry, looks like I've already been replaced. Just saw the first post. Gluck yall

I'm sorry Eunice, we thought you weren't playing anymore.

@Vicki, gave you access, and reserved your spots.

@Michelle, can you please request access? Or PM me your email, and I'll add you. :)

The first tab is locked because it's automated, but you should be able to edit the tracking tab once you have access.

Name: Vicki
Book and Author: Oliver: The True Story of a Stolen Dog and the Humans He Brought Together by Steven J. Carino
Pages: 270
Date Read: 9 Apr 2025
Task: Letter O
How It Fits: Title starts with letter O
2nd Task: Setting is in New York
How It Fits: Set mainly in Long Island, New York, and other NY cities
3rd Task: Scavenger word LOCK
How It Fits: "Did you lock the door?" (loc. 586)

Fi wrote: "@Vicki, gave you access, and reserved your spots.

@Michelle, can you please request access? Or PM me your email, and I'll add you. :)

The first tab is locked because it's automated, but you shoul..."

Thanks...posted my book. On the column where it says, "Completion Post," I assumed I'd put a link to my post in this thread but it doesn't allow me to, so is this all I need? I marked it as posted but just couldn't add the link.

Vicki wrote: "Christy wrote: "Hi All! Checking in!

It looks like I'm with mostly new names to me in this group, so a little about me. I live in Georgetown, TX, outside of Ausitn, with my small dog, Corbin. I wo..."

The movie theater here now is pretty new, and there isn't a Piggly Wiggly. But HEB is EVERYWHERE. I don't think you mentioned it before, but it's possible that I either said I live in Austin or did live in Austin when I initially introduced myself. I've been in Georgetown for 4 years, Austin for a year before that. Since everyone knows Austin, I probably just say that more often than not, lol

I started James last night. Should have it finished tomorrow for book club on Sunday afternoon.

Vicki wrote: "Thanks...posted my book. On the column where it says, "Completion Post," I assumed I'd put a link to my post in this thread but it doesn't allow me to, so is this all I need? I marked it as posted but just couldn't add the link"

Vicki this is a great idea, I added a column for it. If you add a link to your completion in column Q, column S will generate our check in post.

Does anyone want to be in charge of checking us in, or shall we go with the last person to finish? It's only a matter of copy paste now.

Week 1

Name: Michelle
Book and Author: Seeds of Hope: The Gold Rush Diary of Susanna Fairchild by Kristiana Gregory
Pages: 188
Date Read: 4/9/25
Task: Letter S
How It Fits: Title starts with an S
2nd Task: Tagged
How It Fits: MPG historical Fiction
3rd Task: Setting
How It Fits: California

Does anyone read a lot of YA? Michelle, I noticed your book would work for it, and if not it might be worth changing it for historical, which is a very easy one (for me, anyway).

I need to let you know that I have adjusted a few of the Tags tasks. Star can now be plural if you'd like to use it that way. i.e., 5 star(s), 4 star(s), 3 star(s)

Fi wrote: "Does anyone read a lot of YA? Michelle, I noticed your book would work for it, and if not it might be worth changing it for historical, which is a very easy one (for me, anyway)."

I can change it to whatever you need me to change it to. Which one do you need me to switch it to? Or you can change it. I'm ok with whatever is easiest.

Michelle wrote: "Fi wrote: "Does anyone read a lot of YA? Michelle, I noticed your book would work for it, and if not it might be worth changing it for historical, which is a very easy one (for me, anyway)."

I can..."

If you guys don't think YA will be a problem later on, you can leave it. I just don't want us to get stuck with the hardest ones towards the end.

My most read genre and a favorite is historical fiction; however, I can read whatever everyone else wants to read. I am sure I can find a YA book but don't read them too often anymore.

I was adding a couple books to the SS and on line 10 for numbers they didn't come up. Tags came up instead and I don't know how to fix it. I was going to use #5 or #12 can also be used.

Vicki wrote: "I was adding a couple books to the SS and on line 10 for numbers they didn't come up. Tags came up instead and I don't know how to fix it. I was going to use #5 or #12 can also be used."

Not sure what happened but it's fixed :)

Completion Post - Week 1

Name: Fi
Book and Author: Betrothed to the Emperor
Pages: 282
Date Read 13/04
Task: Tags - Dnf
How it fits: Tagged dnf 5x
Task 2: Settings - Fantasy world
How it fits: Set in the Southern Imperium
Task 3: Scavenger Words - Instrument
How it fits: 70% "There were no musical instruments I could see..."

I have a couple other YA's planned for this month, so I think we will be ok.

Completion Post - Week 1

Name: Christy
Book and Author: James by Percival Everett
Pages: 303
Date Read 4/13
Task: Tags - 5 stars
How it fits: Tagged 5 Stars 105 times
Task 2: Letters - P
How it fits: Author First Name Starts with P
Task 3: Scavenger Words - Carve
How it fits: Pg. 86, "George had an instrument in his lap. A carved wood neck attached to a gourd with some strings."

Didn't see a check in post so I checked us in. Going forward, can the last person to post please do the check in?

Sorry - I didn't register that is how we were doing it. Not a problem going forward.

Is anyone interested in a boost this week? I can probably read a 2nd book this week if we want to do a guest driver.

Christy wrote: "Sorry - I didn't register that is how we were doing it. Not a problem going forward.

Is anyone interested in a boost this week? I can probably read a 2nd book this week if we want to do a guest d..."

Yes, I think we should use a boost. We could do guest driver if you can read an extra one Christy, or maybe high octane fuel while we have more tasks available? It migh start getting harder to get a book to fit 4 tasks.

Either one will work for me, but yes, the 4 task option will likely be much easier early in the challenge.

Should we all see if there is a 4th task for the books we are looking at to see if we can do that one? If not, I can commit to the 2nd book.

Christy wrote: "Either one will work for me, but yes, the 4 task option will likely be much easier early in the challenge.

Should we all see if there is a 4th task for the books we are looking at to see if we ca..."

My book can also work for mystery, H, and I think a few scavenger words if I'm remembering correctly.