Great way to take part in North Run
WITH the cancellation of this year’s Great North Run sparking widespread disappointment, a virtual event to fill the gap is being seen as the next best thing – and everyone is being encouraged to spring into action when it opens for entries in August.
Race creator Brendan Foster had outlined the idea for an online mass participation event for September 13 to fill the day left vacant by the cancelled run, saying he did not want the date just to be “the day the Great North Run didn’t happen”.
And, having urged people to keep on running in preparation for it, it has been announced that the opening date for entries is now rapidly approaching.
Entries will open on Monday, August 3.
The official Virtual Great North Run will be free to take part in and is open to all runners, whether they had a Great North Run place or not.
Those who did, however, can still use it to raise money for their chosen charity while newcomers are asked to fund-raise too in order to ensure that good causes do not miss out on muchneeded sponsorship money.
Described as a “unique virtual half marathon race experience”, the event will take place on September 13 only without the cheering onlookers and finish-line crowds.
Instead, runners can clock up their own 13.1 mile route.
The world-famous half-marathon raises around £25m for charities each year and, as part of the new Great North Run Reimagined campaign, as many people as possible are being urged to support its charity partners.
Those who sign up to the virtual event can choose a charity and then raise sponsorship for it.
Another strand of the campaign is the Great North Run Solo challenge, which has been running during lockdown.
This costs £10 to enter – with money going to NHS charities – and entrants are tasked with completing 40 runs, to mark what would have been the GNR’s 40-year anniversary event, before September 13 and those who do will receive a special edition medal.