Virtual 10k race hailed as a great success...
Attracts 630 runners and nets £5,700 for hospice
A VIRTUAL 10k race organised by Barrow Runners has been hailed a great success with 630 entrants raising £5,700 for Rainbows Hospice.
The race was held over the weekend of June 20/21 when the club was due to hold the Prestwold 10k before it was cancelled because of the coronavirus.
Eager to do something to raise funds for Rainbows Hospice, the club’s chosen charity for 2020, the ‘ Virtual’ race was created where participants made a contribution to Rainbows, then ran or walked 10k alone or in socially distanced groups over the race weekend and submitted their time to the “race” organisers.
The winner was Simon Birch (Hinckley Running Club) in a time of 30:33, with Chris Baxter (South Derbyshire) in second and Barrow’s Tim Hartley in third place.
The women’s winner was Gemma Steel (Charnwood AC) who was fourth overall in a time of 34:38 with Katie Parker (Wreake and Soar Valley) second and Natasha Newton (Poplar RC) in third.
Race director Andrew Unitt said the idea has caught on and became the first in a series of races organised by the Leicestershire Road Running League.
Andrew said: “Many runners said it felt weird to be racing on their own and there were varying stories - lots of personal bests and lots of groans about how lock down hadn’t improved their fitness!
“However, there was one consistent message from everyone ‘Thanks Barrow Runners for organising this event – good to be out running and a great cause.’ “