Warriors Run goes virtual this August
IT was back in mid-April that news came through of the cancellation of The 2020 Warriors Run which was due to be held in Strandhill on 29th August.
Concerns over the risks associated with the Covid-19 pandemic was the reason for the cancellation much to the disappointment of a lot of runners and also of the organisers themselves.
But since then the run organisers, looking at national and worldwide trends within the running community, have decided that maybe the 2020 Warriors Run could be staged after all albeit in a vastly different format. The concept of a Virtual Warriors Run was planned and is now ready to be put into action.
Warriors Run PRO Micki Murray outlines what is happening for 2020.
“We were always hoping to stage some sort of event to continue the spirit of the hugely popular race and so we came up with the idea of a 15K Your Way Virtual Warriors Run.
“Whilst we can’t gather everyone together in Strandhill this year we do want people to run the length of the race, 15 kilometres, under the banner of the Warriors Run wherever they live and at the same time raise some needed funds for Focus Ireland.”
Registration opens today, Tuesday, July 7th at 4pm on the Warriors Run website (www.warriorsrun. ie) and virtual runners have up to midnight on July 31st to register. Then any time from 1st August to 5pm on the 29th August, entrants can do their 15k run wherever they are in the country or in the world, record their race using any running app (Strava, Map My Run etc), and upload their results to the organisers.
PRO Micki Murray explains, “Our main focus is to continue the spirit of the race for 2020 so we are focusing on the taking part rather than the competitive side of things so there’s no hard and fast rules.
“Runners don’t have to run up a mountain, a flat road is just as good, and also anyone that feels they might not be able to run 15k in one go, we are happy to see three 5k runs completed.
“But for those who have a competitive streak, you can run any 15k route a couple of times in August and submit your best time.
“We are working with Core Timing and Njuko on the registration site to add a leaderboard and we are looking forward to see all the various locations and routes that people run during August”.
So why do runners have to upload their times before 5pm on the 29th August, why so specific? “5pm would be the time most of the Warriors would be crossing the finishing line at the beachfront in Strandhill if we were able to stage it this year.” said Micki.
Basic registration is €15 with all monies going to Focus Ireland who work hard year round to challenge homelessness around the country. There will be other options at registration for Runners to purchase a souvenir
T-Shirt, a souvenir medal or both. For everyone who registers, they will be entered into a draw for a “Chill in Strandhill” vacation in the village worth over €500 which includes a stay in Strandhill Lodge & Suites, Lunch in the Strand Bar, Dinner in The Venue, a Voya seaweed bath, a surf lesson with Sligo Surf Experience and some ice cream in Mammy Johnstons.