Hour 24

We are not quite done yet. In some readathons this is where my brain really starts to tune out, just before the end. But, in one more hour, we’ll be done, reading champions for another season. I’ve tried using an audiobook for the last hour-long sprint, which works IF you can stay awake. I also have tried putting on an album of music that is an hour long, not classical music, to mark the hour. I am leaning towards a David Bowie album, or maybe Queen or Led Zeppelin. Something familiar enough to be background, but noisy enough to not lull me to sleep. I also am switching to a new book for this hour, something easy and fun (a Doctor Who novel, actually), so my brain will be super happy to stay alert and reading for one more hour.

Have you settled on your last reading sprint plan? Ok.

On your marks …. Get set …. Read!

Enter your finished books into the DATABASE here!

Hour 20

This is our second to last reading sprint. How has your readathon gone so far? When did you start reading? Have you really been reading for the past 19 hours? Fantastic! If you have adjusted your readathon plans to fit around other stuff, but are joining us for this one, that’s great too. I love reading sprints, and am looking forward to this one for a chance to refocus my rather tired brain. I am picking up a fresh book for this one, switching genres too, and yes, I have a snack and beverage (and a couple kittens) at hand so I can read without needing to get up for much during this next hour. I picked an hour-long piece of music on youtube so I can hear when the hour is over, and I’ll stop reading when the music stops. It’s tricks like that that keep me engaged during these last few hours of the hardcore 24hr readathons.

Are you ready for this reading sprint?

On your marks …. Get set …. Read!

Enter your finished books into the DATABASE here!

Hour 16

If you’ve been with us for the past 15 hours and are still reading, you are one of the dedicated. Seriously. I have a lot of friends who consider themselves readers, but most of them could not handle even 15 hours of readathon reading. I can’t imagine how reading would work as an Olympics event, or how NBC would cover readathons. ….

(It appears as if Reader 15 has dropped her book … and she’s snoring! Tough break for Uzbekistan. At least their other reader is still going strong. … Oh, no! Reader 3 is drooling in her book. We usually expect the Canadians to stay awake a lot longer than this. … She’s nodded back awake! The refs agree she was not quite asleep, so she is still in, but with a slight penalty for the drooling. Canada may not be taking home the gold in this event, but she is still in the running for bronze at the moment. … )

Anyway …

Have your book ready for this hour-long spring?

On your marks …. Get set …. Read!

Enter your finished books into the DATABASE here!

Hour 12

We’re at the Half-Way Hour, Hour 12, which is our next hour-long reading sprint. How have you done so far? Still awake? Still reading? If your eyes are getting tired, maybe try a graphic novel, or poetry, or read a play out loud to your pets, or listen to an audiobook(but actually listen- using audiobooks as background noise doesn’t count for a sprint). If you have tricks you’ve discovered for maximizing your sprint performance, leave them in the comments so your fellow readers can improve their own reading sprint experience.

Ok, have you picked your book? Great!

On your marks …. Get set …. Read!

Mid-Event Survey!

• What are you reading right now?
• How many books have you read so far?
• What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the readathon?
• Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?
• What surprises you most about the readathon, so far?

Enter your finished books into the DATABASE here!

Hour 8

We’ve reached hour 8, and another of our scheduled hour-long reading sprints. 8 hours is a full workday, so if you have not yet finished and healthy food, perhaps grab a healthy snack and some water or other non-sugary beverage to enjoy while you read for this next hour. Stand up, stretch, take some nice, deep breaths, and then grab your book for our Hour 8 reading sprint.

Ready? On your marks …. Get set …. Read!

Enter your finished books into the DATABASE here!

Hour 4

How have your first 3 hours gone? Well, if you need a bit of focus to kick your reading into higher gear, now is your chance. I often find that switching books every hour or two helps me stay focused on reading, so if you are finding your mind keeps wandering, maybe try picking up the next book from your TBR for this hour-long reading sprint. Ready?

Ok, on your marks …. Get set …. Read!

Enter your finished books into the DATABASE here!

Hour 1

What better way to get started with our 2022 Spring Readathon than with a reading sprint? If you have never done a reading sprint before, it is super easy- pick up your book (or turn on your audiobook), tune out all distractions, and just read/listen for the duration of the sprint. Can’t make it a whole hour? Try to hold your focus for as long as you can. Reading sprints are great exercise for your brain, and a great way to make progress reading a book you’ve had languishing unfinished for a while. Traditionally we do an hour long reading sprint every 4 hours, plus our initial one in hour 1, so if you missed this sprint, try again during hours 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24.

So, on your marks …. Get set …. Read!

Opening Survey!

What fine part of the world are you reading from today?
Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?
Which snack are you most looking forward to?
Tell us a little something about yourself!
If you participated in the last readathon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first readathon, what are you most looking forward to?

Enter your finished books into the DATABASE here!

READER Sign-Ups for April 30, 2022 Readathon!

Welcome, welcome one and all! The April 30, 2022 Readathon is coming up fast, and we would LOOOOVE for you to join us! Can’t read the whole day? No big deal! Make this Readathon your own with as little or as much reading as you want! We’re just happy to have you for a day-long celebration of books.