Get Britain Running partnership launches the GBR HALF MARATHON VIRTUAL CHALLENGE.
The Get Britain Running team is made up of event organisers from some of the biggest in the UK; Great Welsh Half Marathon, Bath Half, ABP Southampton Half Marathon, rightmove MK Half Marathon, and Richmond RUNFEST.
Get Britain Running has put a new twist on the virtual event experience with the Virtual Winter Running Festival concept. Entry into the GBR Half Marathon Virtual Challenge will also grant access to a Virtual Winter Running Festival, where runners will get to experience a virtual Christmas market and fun for all the family. Here they will find delicious local recipes from partner events, bespoke playlists to listen to while running, and DIY decorations and activity packs for kids.
“Aside from the running itself, one of the things we all miss most about the event experience is the unmatched atmosphere before and after races,” said Tim Rogers, CEO of Realbuzz Group, creators of the Virtual Winter Running Festival website. “From the live music to the various stands and food stalls, the buzz about the place is always amazing to see. Our goal was to recreate that virtually, and we hope we’ve achieved that with the Virtual Winter Running Festival.”
One of the key goals of the Get Britain Running partnership is to improve public health through running. Before the COVID-19 pandemic almost two-thirds (63%) of adults in England were already overweight and unfit, obesity rates in the UK having nearly tripled since 1975. During the first national lockdown physical activity levels across England plummeted further, with 30 per cent of the adult population being 'inactive' between March and May, and almost 12 million adults doing almost no exercise. (Source: Sport England Active Lives Adults Survey – Coronavirus Report)
Recent studies have shown that being overweight and unfit also increases your risk of catching COVID-19 and increases your risk of serious complications, hospitalisation and death from COVID-19. (Source: Public Health England - Excess Weight and COVID-19 - Jul 2020).