Forget-Me-Not Spring Challenge

Welcome to the 2026 Forget-Me-Not Spring Challenge hosted by Turnagain Training, founders of the Virtual Race Across Alaska Winter Challenge. 

CHALLENGE SPECIFICS: 
This is a Walk-Run-Bike-Swim-or whatever collects miles challenge! Our race distance totals are 75 miles, 150 miles, 300 miles, 500 miles, or 1000 miles. The goal is to log as many miles as you can over the 2 months of Spring to support a more physically active lifestyle.

If you start the challenge on April 15th:

75 miles = 1.2 miles/day
150 miles = 2.4 miles/day
300 miles = 4.8 miles/day
500 miles = 8.1 miles/day
1000 miles = 16.1 miles/day

You will have the ability to log your miles, track your progress, collect flower virtual badges, so how you rank up to others on the leader board daily! Invite other to this challenge to help you to stay motivated all Spring long! 

WHO: Anyone that is looking to stay active this Spring, by running, walking, biking, swimming or anything that allows you to collect as many miles as possible over the 2month challenge!

WHERE: Anywhere in the USA! You can run, walk, bike, swim or do anything that collects miles, indoors or outdoors! All you need is an odometer to determine your distance completed. This could be using an app like MapMyRun or Strava, or your Garmin or smart watch, or a bike computer for a few ideas on types of odometers. *If you are located outside of the USA and would like to join us, please email us to inquire about adding your country.

WHEN: The Challenge will start on April 15th and go through June 15th. 

WHAT: You'll run, walk or bike as much as possible from April 15-June 15th and log your miles at minimum 1x per week via our Runsignup virtual challenge results page. 

SWAG: All challenge participants will get a synthetic race shirt, a race headband *NEW*, Alaskan floral virtual badges along the way, a virtual race bib & a virtual finisher certificate plus a finisher medal with your distance on the back. We will donate $10 to the non-profit of your choice for every racer that signs up! 

REFERRAL DISCOUNT: Refer 3 friends to join in with you and receive $15 refund on your race entry!
1. Sign up.
2. After your registration is complete, you will receive a unique referral link to share with your friends, family or post on social media.
3. Get 3 friends to sign up using your unique referral link and you will automatically receive up to a refund of $15.00, reimbursed to the card you used for the race.
4. Get 6 friends to sign up & you'll get an additional $15!
5. Get 9 friends to sign up & you'll get $15 more! There is a cap refund of $60, or when you have reached a balance of $0.

COMMUNITY NON-PROFIT PARTNER: The Challenge is a fundraiser for 3 Alaskan non-profits this year, Mat-Su Parks Foundation, Anchorage Parks Foundation & Alaska Trails! For every racer that participates in our Spring Challenge, we will donate $10 to the non-profit. 

2024 Workout Log
Here is the 2024 Forget-Me-Not workout log. The goal is to make it easy for you to record daily miles to keep track of your progress. We also encourage racers to download an app like Strava or Mapmyrun to keep track of mileage electronically. 

Want to see what other Race Across Alaska racers are doing? You can join Turnagain Training's Strava team! 

Click the icon below to download the attached PDF.

 

Application is now closed. Our application will open September 2026 for next Winter's Challenge. Hoping to apply? We are looking for athletes that are highly involved on our Trifecta Fitness Challenge Private Facebook group through supporting others but also through inspiration, real life, and positive posts that help encourage others to get active! 

 

Ambassador Benefits:
Complimentary entry into all 3 virtual challenges
Ambassador apparel package
Featured on our website

What does a Trifecta Fitness Ambassador do?
Ambassadors help spread the word about our virtual challenges to their community!

Ambassadors should be:
Passionate and active runners, hikers, bikers, swimmers, and/or xc skiers
Outgoing and friendly people that believe in inclusivity of all types of people
Able to make a one-10 months commitment (September-June)

One-Year Commitment Includes:
Active on personal social media accounts posting about the Trifecta Fitness Challenge
Active on our private Trifecta Fitness Challenge Facebook group & Instagram page
Involvement with local clubs to help spread the word about our fitness challenges
Engage with first timers in the Facebook group
Help at Trifecta Fitness Challenge events, if local (Solstice Tree Tour, Swag pickup events, medal pickup events)

Tina Torun
Anchorage, Alaska

Hi everyone, I am Tina! When I am running out of state, I am officially known as Tina from Alaska. I have been involved with the RAAWC since the beginning and am honored to be an ambassador for the 5th time! I am a runner and very involved in the community. I am in the Anchorage Running Club, Raven Run Club, on the Anchorage RunFest race committee, on the Gold Nugget Triathlon committee, Volunteer Athletic Director of Team RWB Anchorage, NSAA member, the Alaska Ambassador for Marathon Maniacs & Half Fanatics, and member of the 100 Half Marathon Club.
The Trifecta Fitness Challenge helps me stay motivated and cross train. I like to inspire and motivate others to get outside to enjoy our state. I enjoy meeting other racers in the community and stay connected with my friends from out of state as well. I am hoping to nordic ski more this winter.
My long term goal is to run a half or full in all 50 states, so far 36 states and counting. I have run 86 half marathons and 16 marathons. My team name is Team Ididarun and we welcome all that want to join us! You don't have to run. Let's go!

 

Fiona Taylor
Snoqualmie, Washington

Hi Everybody! My name is Fiona. I’m also super excited to be back as an ambassador this year!
I am from AK grew up there and go back several times a year for fun outdoor adventures. I live in snoqualmie Washington with my wife and BIG dog Teddy. I love running, biking, canoeing, hiking and just getting out there!
I love this event because of the awesome positivity and incredible things everyone does. You guys are so amazing and inspire me to get going! Yay!!

 

Carey Quiring
Palmer, Alaska

Hi! I'm Carey! This will be my 6th year participating in the Race Across Alaska! I am happy to be back as an ambassador!
I’ve been running off and on since about 2004. Mt. Marathon and Lost Lake were some of my first runs. I’ve been more recently doing longer distances like the Denali 100k and Resurrection Pass 50 mile. My training began in spring and then falling off with no exercise during winter. But then I found the Race Across Alaska! That motivated me to keep moving in winter and being better prepared for those longer distances! Now we have the fall BRRBER and the spring Forget Me Not Challenges to keep the momentum going.

 

Gianna McCune
Valdez, Alaska

Hi Everybody! I am excited to be a part of this group for the third year in a row! And THREE challenges... YES! I go into a funk after I don't log miles or minutes when a challenge ends. I live a very active lifestyle in Valdez, AK. I'm a mama to an amazing 12 year old and school counselor. My goal is to be an example for all the youth in my life. I want to demonstrate consistency, grit and perseverance. In doing this I sign up for absurd challenges like Ironman's, running events and obstacle races. If Ms. Giusti can do it SO CAN YOU!
I'm looking forward to spreading enthusiasm and motivation to our wellness community!

 

Suzanne Bassett
North Pole, Alaska

Hi, my name is Suzanne. I live in the Fairbanks area with my wife and our two boys. I am excited to be an ambassador for the Trifecta again this year. I use the challenges as motivation to stay active during the school year so I can have fun participating in The Arctic Triathlon Series during the Fairbanks summers. When I moved to Alaska I was given the advice “get outside” as a way of surviving the winters. This outlook has helped me transition from surviving to thriving and I look forward to the chance to get outside for a little bit each day. In the past I’ve packed a kid in a backpack or pulled them in my chariot but now they are getting older 3 & 5.5 and my new challenge has been learning patience to go at their slower paces and creativity to keep them entertained while we run, walk, and skip down the trails. I am working to introduce them to skiing and ice skating. I am also finding enjoyment with indoor workouts of zwifting on my bike, running on my treadmill, and new this year dabbling with yoga and other stretching videos with my kids following along beside (and sometimes on top of) me. I am grateful for my chances to sneak in a solo workout or a walk and talk with my adult friends.
My team this year is Adventurous M&M’s with the focus of finding adventure in each of the minutes and miles for the three challenges.

 

Mari Rueter
Anchorage, Alaska

Back for another year as an ambassador!
I'm Mari Rueter, a lifelong Alaskan who loves to run and seek out what makes Alaska amazing! I have embraced my love of trail and mountain running the past few of years, although will still run on the road too. I also like to compete in triathlons and have started classic cross country skiing. Going for runs has also become a big part of my social time. I have made many amazing friends through various groups such as Raven Run Club, Skinny Raven Sports Pub Runs, Trail Sisters, AK Beer Runners, Anchorage Running Club, and an amazing group of women called Ladies in Motion. My goal is to challenge myself by pushing myself beyond my comfort zone and to encourage others to do their best at whatever activities they are working on. I also hope to complete an ultra in the next few years. I can only do all of this with the support of my wonderful husband Jeremy, my family, and my friends. I'll be leading my team Frosty Fireweed Frolickers again.  

Misty Holacka
Fairbanks, Alaska

Hey hi helloooo!!! I am Misty and am super excited to be a part of this AGAIN!!! I am in Fairbanks with Suzanne and Lael and this year I’m excited to be more active. I love peloton. It is truly my antidepressant in the wintertime here, as movement is medicine. I’m an avid weightlifter, cyclist and love walks. I don’t have a lot of workout photos because my paparazzi is often still sleeping.
I’m pumped for our group to psych others up!!  

Lael Oldmixon
Fairbanks, Alaska
 

I'm thrilled to be joining as a second year ambassador. The Trifecta Challenge has been incredibly motivating, especially the RAAWC during the winter months. Any day that involves fitness, wellness, and movement is a perfect day. Sometimes fitness looks like a 30 minute workout. And other days it may be a quick walk with the dogs, or a winter fat bike ride with my husband.
I’ve run many distance running races. I enjoy hiking, camping, rafting, walking slowly with friends, skiing, and most of all, group fitness. My mantra is completion over competition. I think that says a lot about me. I will set a goal and work to accomplish it not for a first place podium, but to know I can achieve my own goals.
I teach indoor cycling 3x weekly with my husband at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. This was a new adventure in 2024 and I’m delighted that it has become a fixture in my fitness routine.
Looking forward to meeting you!

 

Tatum Buss
Girdwood, Alaska

Hi everyone!
I am stoked to be an ambassador for this year’s Trifecta Challenge! I am pretty new to Alaska (moved here in Feb. 2023) and just absolutely love it here. I am based in Girdwood where I live with my partner Dylan and our cat Macaroni and malamute Palooki. I ski, bike, hike, run (mostly run), rock climb, and do pretty much anything that keeps me moving. I am currently training for the Marine Corps Marathon and NYC Marathon in late Oct./early Nov. and will be running the Big Sur Marathon in late April. The Trifecta Challenge kept me motivated and moving during our weird winter last year, and I am so excited to do it again! I can’t wait to meet you all! 

 

Catie Baldridge
Soldotna, Alaska

Hi Everyone! I am excited to be an ambassador this year! These challenges have helped motivate me to be active during the winter months especially during my hitches on the slope. When I'm not working on the slope, I live in Soldotna with my husband and our 2 boys and spend as much time outside as possible. I'm a swimmer and triathlete that dabbles in trail running. I am currently training for my first marathon in November.

Q: How does this Virtual Challenge work?

A: Each day from April 15th till June 15th you have the opportunity to go for a run/walk/or bike. These can be done indoors or outdoors. Then head to your computer or phone and log your distance under your Runsignup profile, you'll see Current Races THEN Spring Duathlon Challenge THEN click "Submit Virtual Results"! 

 

Q: Does this race support anything? Why is it more than a normal race?

A: YES! The Spring Duathlon Challenge will donate $10 for every participant towards the Arctic Bike Club Kids Scholarship, an Anchorage, Alaska based bike racing non-profit for road biking, mountain biking & gravel biking events. This will support kids that are currently active in the biking community but are looking for additional opportunities such as purchasing a new bike, traveling out of state to race in another bike race, etc. Additionally, this challenge is not a 1 day race. You are paying for 2months of motivation and support to stay active. Also, included in the challenge is a synthetic race tshirt, wool socks, & a medal, all shipped to your home! 

 

Q: Can I just walk the challenge?

A: Absolutely, walkers are definitely welcome to participate in this challenge! This is a multi-sport challenge, so you can walk, run, or bike to get in the miles to complete the distance race you have signed up to complete. Use the challenge as motivation to stay active! 

 

Q: Is this challenge for competitive athletes or beginners? 

A: Thats the cool thing about virtual challenges, there is a place for everyone! In our past challenge we have several hundred athletes that were walking only and found tons of motivation seeing other walkers pictures. We also have a hand full of competitive athletes that did the longest race and then some, but they were not intimidating. These challenges are truly a very welcoming, supportive community! 

Q: Can I count my daily steps?

A: No, we encourage you to log only exercise specific times. This means you planned to walk, run, etc. and not just time you cleaned your house and called it your exercise time, sorry! The goal is to motivate yourself to exercise more anyhow, right?! 

 

Q: What are the distances?

A: 75miles, 150miles, 300miles, 500miles & 1000miles. You pick the distance that works best for you! 

 

Q: Do I need a GPS watch/tracker, or Strava? Will I need to show my watch or device for proof of running, walking, or biking?

A: You can use one if you wish but it's not required. Strava has a free app and you can join our club, Turnagain Training, to join others to track the progress of everyone and keep everyone motivated. Unfortunately, Runsignup does not have a way to link up your device with Garmin, Suunto, etc. but you can upload GPS files when you go into "Submit Virtual Results".

 

Q: If I complete the 150 mile Challenge and want to switch to the 300 mile Challenge, can I? (And Vice Versa)

A: YES! Simply go to your RunSignUp account and do an event transfer. Deadline to switch events will be  June 1st, 2021. Please note that if you do switch events your mileage/workouts will NOT transfer over to the new event. However, all you have to do is input your current mileage under one date and then proceed as normal (we are not going to make you input mileage again for every single day). 

 

Q: What will I receive by doing this challenge? When will I receive my swag?

A: All participants automatically receive custom race wool socks, a synthetic race t-shirt & an Alaskan birch race coaster, all shipped directly to your home! You also can go into your race profile and print out the virtual bib before the race to share with others during race kickoff day! During the race you'll also receive virtual badges for completing race percentages and special mile marker badges! 

 

Q: Are the shirts unisex or gender specific?

A: Gender specific! We will have a mens and women's shirt option available during checkout for each racer! The shirt is athletic fit so, the garment will fit closer to the body then just a standard cut tee. 

 

Q: How will I receive my swag?

A: All swag will be mailed out, shipping date TBD. We will have an optional swag pickup for Anchorage, Alaska locals that would like to pickup in-person.

 

Q: Can I create or join a team after I have registered?

A: YES! We love to see friends and families encouraging each other. The captain of the team can add teammates, or feel free to email Heather@turnagaintraining.com if you need more help! 

 

Q: We want to be a team; Can we sign up individually & does start - destination need to be the same for all?

A: Every racer is racing individually, for themselves but by joining a team you are working to improve your team overall miles. Please note, you are not working as a team to finish a specific distance (this is not a relay format), you are working individually. Also, if your teammates decide to do different distances, that's ok, they just won't be able to work together to get the largest mileage, since the races are considered several different races within 1 race. Ex: If 5 racers are doing the 150 but you're doing the 300mile race, your total won't be combined into the 150mile team total. The point of the team is a way to motivate one another and try to get the most amount of miles total done first. On the results page there will be a team page that shows total miles that your team has completed, which in theory will help motivate everyone on your team to reach their distance goal! We encourage strong leadership skills ;) We will have a prize for the BIGGEST team!

 

Q: Can I register for more than one event?

A: No. This is not necessary. You are able to transfer your registration to a shorter or longer distance if you decide you want to change your event, but you must do so by 6/1/2021 at 11:59pm. When you transfer your event your mileage will not transfer with you so you'll enter the total distance you have completed into the first entry to get your total up to date. 

 

Q: How do the results work? How is everyone being ranked? Will the winner be “the winner” based on time or distance, who finishes first?

A: Results are ranked by who has the greatest distance within your race (75mile, 150mile, etc.), time is just added so you can see at the end of the event how much time you've exercises but it is not factored into the ranking system. Additionally, tiebreakers are determined by the first racer to the 25% milestone. Most importantly, this challenge is about getting from A to B and pushing your self physically while seeing how others are doing. There are no prizes for "winning", aside from self pride and a finisher t-shirt!

 

Q: Do we earn rewards for referring friends?

A: YES! But, they must use your personal referral link. The link was emailed to you.

 

Q: My friend signed up for the race because I told her to but they forgot to use my referral code. Can I still get referral credit? 

A: Yes! You'll need to watch THIS video THEN email the race director at Heather.Helzer@turnagaintraining.com with the information. Please give her 1-3days to enter the information. She will get back to you when she has added them. 

 

Q: Can I change my shirt size?

A: Yes! Shirts are ordered on May 1st, you have until then to email the race director at Heather@turnagaintraining.com with any changes you may have. After that point, we will have very limited sizing availability to swap from. 

 

Q: My shirt doesn't fit! What are my options?

A: We will have a thread via on private Facebook page for racers to post their shirt details if they're looking to swap a shirt with another racer but the cost of shipping will be up for you to work out. We will also purchase a very limited amount of extra shirts we will have available on the races store page, if you'd prefer to go that route instead. 

 

Q: Are there any awards for this challenge?

A: There are no awards for this challenge (simply because there is no verification system). However, we will have weekly contests on the private Facebook page, which racers can find the link to in our weekly newsletters. The race director also will be giving away a handful of race director choice awards at the completion of the race for themes like most inspiring, most motivational, most determined, etc. 

 

Q. How do I refer people and get referral refunds?

A: 1. Register.

2. Once your registration is complete, you will receive a unique referral link. You can copy and past this link from (a) your confirmation page screen at the end of your registration, (b) your confirmation email, (c)  you can resend your confirmation email from you Runsignup account and get the link.

3. Get 3 friends to sign up using your unique referral link and you will automatically receive up to a refund of $15.00, refunded to your credit card. 

4. Get 6 friends to sign up and you get an additional $15 more!

5. Get 9 friends to sign up and you get $15 more! Total refund is the cost of your registration.

RULES:

The RunSignup system automatically keeps track and refunds the first $15-$45 automatically.
Don't email us constantly for updates. We will pull reports weekly and post. We will post top referrers here in the FB Group.

Don't see your question answered here? Shoot us an email, heather.helzer@turnagaintraining.com

 

Here are the detailed instructions on how you'll submit results once they become available to submit on 4/15/2024 at 12:01am through 6/15/2024 at 11:59pm. We ask that all racers submit results at minimum once per week to keep the results page +/- 7days of training accurate. Ideally, you would submit results within the day of completing a workout but we understand life is chaotic right now for many. Additionally, for your first time logging miles, I recommend using a laptop or computer, some have had iPad's and phones with glitches the first time when entering their results. Safari is also the best option for logging results, if that's an option for you. 

Below are the steps you'll need to take. The pictures follow along with the steps. 

STEP 1: Go to https://runsignup.com/forgetmenotchallenge and click on your image in the top right corner

STEP 2: Go down to Forget-Me-Not Challenge under the upcoming event and click on "Submit Virtual Results"

  

STEP 3: Submit your results manually! 

Note: You can upload activities from a file such as a Garmin (top right corner of the window)

Note: You can go to "Add Another Activity" before submitting results to add more than 1 workout.

Note: This is my example below.

 

Step 4: SUCCESS!!!! The workout is added!

Excited to see everyone achieve their goals over the next 2months!

Sincerely,

Heather Helzer

Race Director

**This is the 2025 Race Shirt**

When you sign up, you'll receive an athletic fit race synthetic t-shirt! (Sizing chart is in on our FAQ page!), sunglasses, & a pack of Forget-Me-Not seeds. PLUS, you'll receive a finisher medal, which is 1 piece of the Trifecta 3 piece challenge medal! 

This year we've partnered with Leslie Jordan for our race shirt because they stand behind sustainable shirts. By using recycled shirts for our challenge, it brings numerous benefits, aligning with global sustainability efforts and responsible event management. Recycled fabrics contribute to environmental conservation by reducing the demand for virgin resources, minimizing energy consumption, and decreasing waste in landfills, this eco-friendly choice also helps in lowering the event’s carbon footprint, conserving water resources, and promoting a circular economy.

Swag will be shipped out to racers. Shipping is included in the challenge pricing. Shirt, sunglasses, Forget-Me-Not seeds & medals will be shipped out all together. 

Racers will also get virtual race badges as you reach destinations along your race course! 

  

Lastly, all racers will receive weekly newsletters. The newsletter will have highlights for the week about our race along with an activity focus like "Road Biking", "Trail Running" or "Hiker Tips". 

What is it? 

The Trifecta Fitness Challenge is a 3 challenge event designed to keep athletes moving October 1st thru June 15th. We've recognized that many athletes are often struggling during these darker, colder (cooler) months and we wanted to make a special way to keep everyone active. We recognize how big of a piece physical fitness is to your mental health and we see how many people struggle with mental health during these colder months. These 3 challenges allow all kind of athlete to log their minutes/miles with an objective without the added stress an in-person physical event often has on individuals. We notice that often challenge athletes are those that are competitive in an intrinsic form though they love the motivation our leaderboards, weekly newsletter, private social media group and swag give them as far as being apart of something big.

All racers that sign-up for all 3 challenge events by November 15th will receive this Trifecta Challenge ring FOR FREE. After November 15th, there will be a limited quantity of rings available yearly for purchase at a first to purchase, first served basis but once they're gone, they're gone! 

Learn more about the BRR BER Challenge, October 1st through December 1st. 

Learn more about the Race Across Alaska Winter Challenge, December 21st through March 20th.  

75mile Forget-Me-Not Spring Challenge: Challenge T-shirt, bonus swag + a finisher medal

150mile Forget-Me-Not Spring Challenge: Challenge T-shirt, bonus swag + a finisher medal

300mile Forget-Me-Not Spring Challenge: Challenge T-shirt, bonus swag + a finisher medal

500mile Forget-Me-Not Spring Challenge: Challenge T-shirt, bonus swag + a finisher medal

1000mile Forget-Me-Not Spring Challenge: Challenge T-shirt, bonus swag + a finisher medal