April is here, the blossoms are out, and it’s time for the seventh running of the Errandonnee. Do you like transportation cycling or running, or have you been wanting to give it a go? Then the Errandonnee is just right for you!

This challenge is designed for the utility cyclist and transportation runner with errands to do, no matter the season. The short version of the Errandonnee is:

Errandonnee: Complete 12 errands in 12 days, and ride or run a total of 30 miles between April 12-23, 2019.

Errands are inevitable, but the Errandonnee is a time to appreciate the active transportation we often do, but seldom celebrate.

The term “errandonnee” is a hybrid of “errands” and the French word “randonnee.” Conceptually, these two words may not initially fit well together, but string 12 errands into one long ride interrupted by sleep and other diversions, and you have an Errandonnee. It’s true!

You are not limited to riding a bicycle. This challenge also features the Errandonnee: Run Option!

You can run or ride your way to the Errandonnee finish line – or some combination of the two. Same rules apply to the Errandonnee: Run Option (or “Errundonnee” if you’re fancy), as the bike version of the Errandonnee.

You don’t get to use words with triple double letters very often, so how can you resist participating in the Errandonnee?

Categories

Below are the 9 Errandonnee categories (or controls) in order for you to plan and map your Errandonnee accordingly:

• Arts and Entertainment

• Non-Store Errand

• Personal Care

• Personal Business

• Social Call (includes restaurants, coffee, and other social activities)

• Store (includes bike shop, running store, grocery store, etc. You know, a store.)

• You carried WHAT?!

• Work, Volunteering, School (includes dropping off kids)

• Wild Card (surprise me!)

As this is a Chasing Mailboxes challenge, I added some rules. I think after you read them you will find this challenge quite manageable.

Rules

1. Complete 12 errands by bike or on your two feet from April 12 through 23, 2019. You can ride or run all 12 errands in one day, do one errand per day, or whatever combination that works for you.
2. Keep track of your errands and miles. (I only need the cumulative number of miles you completed for the entire Errandonnee, NOT the distance per errand.)
3. There is no minimum length for each errand, but total cycling or running miles must total at least 30 over 12 days. (You can go multi-modal. You can combine running and riding. You can also walk! Note the number of bicycling miles vs. running miles on your control card/submission.)
4. Complete all 12 errands by the end of April 23, and use at least 7 of the 9 categories. Each category may be used a maximum of two times. For example, you may count a ride or runcommute to work a total of two times.
5. Wild Card is any trip you make that does not fall into any of the categories listed on the control card.
6. If you carry a baked good for the “You carried WHAT on your bike (or back)?!” please provide a before and after photo. For the run category, please briefly describe your main Errandonnee shoes and pack you use for carrying stuff around. If you ride, I’d love to see a photo of your main Errandonnee bike.
7. To evidence your errand, take one photo during your outing and submit at least one thing you learned or observed during your trip. Photos may be provided in the following ways:
   • The Errandonnee Facebook Group.
   • The Errandonnee Strava Group.
   • If you have a blog, you can post them there and send me the links.
   • You may also use a site like flickr and link me to your photos.
   • Instagram! Hashtag #errandonnee
   • Tweets! Hashtag #errandonnee. (Note that I am not using Twitter, but other people still are.)
   • Finally, I will accept 12 photos via email if that works best for you.
8. Earth limitation still applies. All participants must be from somewhere on Earth.
9. If the Errandonnee stresses you out or has too many rules or makes you feel some kind of way, you should stop. This is designed to be fun and if you are not having fun then please do not feel that you must continue.
10. Deadline for all Errandonnee submissions is around midnight in your area, April 30 or so, 2019. Email me when you’ve finished (gersemalina “at” gmail “dot” com), and tell me where you’ve posted your errands. I’ll verify them. Send all qualifying rides together.
11. Everyone who successfully completes the Errandonnee is eligible for a prize, which is $5 total, including shipping. International entries pay $6. New patch design for 2019 – more on that later! To purchase your prize, you may PayPal me at the gmail address above, or send your money by snail mail like grandma used to do (email me for my address). Please include an address with your submission so that I may mail your Errandonnee treasure.

If you have a blog and write about your Errandonnee, please let me know in the comments so we can follow along!

Additional questions?

Ask in the comments of this post or send me an email.

Get your to-do lists ready and mark your calendars. It’s time to ride or run and get stuff done!