Staying motivated for training can be tough. Even as a marathon runner, with big races on the calendar, there are days when getting out for another long run feels like a grind. That is where The Conqueror Virtual Challenges come in.
I started using The Conqueror challenges mainly for motivation, a way to turn training miles into progress toward something fun and rewarding. I love race medals, and these virtual medals are some of the best I have seen. They have also become a great addition to my overall health and fitness journey.
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Getting Started and Signing Up
Getting started was simple. You purchase challenge codes from The Conqueror’s website, then apply them in the app to activate your chosen challenges. Not all codes work for all challenges, something I learned the hard way.
When you sign up for a challenge, you can choose to plant a tree through the veritree partnership or stop 10 plastic bottles from entering the ocean via the Plastic Bank collaboration for every 20% milestone of a challenge you reach. I think this is a nice touch. I usually choose to plant a tree.
When I first signed up, I bought a three-challenge bundle at a discount, planning to take on some of their licensed Star Wars challenges. It turns out those codes only work with original challenges, not the licensed ones like Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter. Lesson learned! Thankfully, there are plenty of original challenges worth doing.
My first challenge was the Marathon to Athens, which was fitting since I was training for an actual marathon at the time. The distance matched perfectly at 26.2 miles, and it felt great to earn the medal alongside my race training.
If you want to try The Conqueror for yourself, you can sign up using my referral link to get 10% off your first order.
App Experience and Tracking Options
The Conqueror app is clean, simple, and reliable. You can manually add activities or have them sync automatically through connected services. It supports popular fitness platforms including:
- Strava
- Garmin Connect
- Apple Health
- Google Fit
- Fitbit
I personally use Strava, which syncs my workouts from my Polar Vantage V3 automatically. It is seamless and takes no extra effort once set up.
The app also has a built-in step tracker, so if you carry your phone often, your walking automatically adds up toward your challenge. For non-distance workouts like weight training or rowing, you can use their conversion tool to estimate equivalent mileage. It is nice to get credit for more than just running, walking, or cycling.
You can take on multiple challenges at once, and your logged activities can count toward all of them or specific ones. I currently have more than one challenge going and decide where my miles go depending on my goals that week.
The Virtual Experience
When you sign up for a challenge you get a virtual race bib! I download these and keep them in a folder. I may print them and put them in a book like I do my regular race bibs.
Each challenge features a virtual map that shows your progress along a real-world route, complete with digital postcards and fun milestones. You can see other participants’ progress, which adds a little friendly motivation.
During my Thanksgiving Challenge, I even got reflective prompts about gratitude along the way, a small but thoughtful touch that made the experience feel more personal.
You also get invited to The Conqueror’s private Facebook group, which is surprisingly positive and supportive. Everyone celebrates milestones and medals, and the atmosphere is refreshingly encouraging.
When you complete a challenge, you get a digital finisher’s certificate.
The Medals and Merchandise
Let’s be honest, the medals are a big reason people do these challenges. And they are stunning. The designs are detailed, heavy, and high-quality, definitely display-worthy.
You can buy challenges with or without medals, but the medal option is the real draw for me. Each one arrives after you complete your challenge and confirm your shipping address.
My Marathon to Athens medal shipped from within the U.S. and arrived in under a week. My Thanksgiving Challenge medal came from China and took a little longer. Different challenges ship from different locations, but both experiences were smooth.
You can also buy optional challenge apparel, like T-shirts and tank tops, to match your chosen route or theme.
Final Thoughts
The Conqueror Virtual Challenges have become a fun and motivating addition to my training routine. The medals keep me engaged, the app works well, and the challenges add a new layer of purpose to my miles.
I like that I can log multiple activities, sync them automatically, and visualize progress on a virtual route. The community and medals make the experience feel rewarding beyond just the miles.
If you are looking for motivation to stay active or just love earning beautiful medals for your effort, I highly recommend giving The Conqueror a try. Use my referral link for 10% off your first order and start earning medals for the miles you are already putting in, or let it motivate you get more active!
