Feature /// Challenge
HALF AND FULL MARATHONS Feb 27 Belvoir Challenge 26 Melton Mowbray
The Belvoir Challenge first took place in 1990, with the aim of raising money for Harby Primary School. The race is organised by the Vale Striders running club and the Friends of Harby School. It takes place every year regardless of weather conditions. www.belvoirchallenge.co.uk
Mar 6 Cambridge Boundary Run Cambridge
The Cambridge Boundary Run is organised by Cambridge University Hare & Hounds, The University Cross-Country Running Club. The race stems from when three men and a dog ran around the boundary of the borough of Cambridge non-stop. Inspired by this, twentyfive years later, James Hasler and Derek Shorrocks decided to organise a similar event when about fifteen runners ran around the boundary in February 1949. Although originally
an irregular event, the Cambridge Boundary Marathon is now an annual event. www.cuhh.org.uk/competition/boundaryrun/
June 11 Market Harborough Carnival Half Marathon Market Harborough
The Market Harborough Carnival of Running Half Marathon raises funds for local charities. There is also a Market Harborough Carnival of Running 10K. The race starts at The Robert Smyth Academy on Burnmill Road and fisnishes at the Symington Recreation Ground on Mill Hill Road. www.raceharborough.co.uk
Oct 23 Leicester Marathon Leicester
The race starts and finishes at Victoria Park. From there, runners follow a loop, heading out into surrounding countryside, then back towards the finish line. www.leicestermarathon.org.uk
PERKINS GREAT EASTERN RUN Entries are now open for one of the biggest running events in the East Midlands – the Perkins Great Eastern Run. It was a record-breaking event in 2015 with almost 7,000 runners taking part across the half marathon, Anna’s Hope 5K Fun Run and wheelchair race. The half marathon winner, Kenyan Philip Koech, ran its fastest time yet of 61 minutes and 40 seconds. This was also the second fastest time in the UK during 2015. Annette Joyce, service director for city services and communications at Peterborough City Council, said: “We had such a great response to last year’s race and, with hundreds of people already pre-registering for the 2016 event, signs already look encouraging for October.” The event has a great reputation among half marathons in the UK, as its fast, flat course gives runners an excellent chance of a personal best. Close to the event, novice runners can get all the running support and training advice they need for the race. Free weekly training sessions take place at the Peterborough Embankment Athletics Track from July and on race day pacers will lead runners around the course. www.perkinsgreateasternrun.co.uk
COUNTRY WALKING’S 1,000 MILES BRITAIN’S BEST-SELLING walking magazine has launched a challenge for people to each walk 1,000 miles in 2016. It’s increasingly well known walking is the best form of exercise – adding years to your life, cutting the risk of diabetes, dramatically reducing the risk of hip fractures, boosting self-esteem and shedding pounds pleasurably and painlessly. But did you know walking an average of just 2.74 miles a day – less than a lunch hour – will not only see you hit an astonishing 1,000 miles this year, it will halve your risk of becoming obese, cut the risk of suffering depression or stroke by over a third, trigger your body to slow its ageing and repair its DNA, and turn your body into a fatburning machine even when you’re sitting at your desk? Now thousands are harnessing walking’s extraordinary powers as a panacea by pledging to hit the magical grand in 2016 – encouraged by
a vibrant social media support network, and routes, advice and recognition from Britain’s biggest walking magazine, Country Walking. Editor Guy Proctor said: “#walk1000miles shouldn’t be thought of as a tough, no-pain-nogain challenge. It works out at an average of 2.74 miles a day, and is eminently fit-in-able, involve-the-kids-in-able and pursue-in-slackmoments-of-your-day-able. Part of the joy we’ve heard reported again and again in the Facebook group for people doing the challenge lies in discovering all the walking there is local to you and how enjoyable it is to do! “Most of my miles will be earned in Stamford, Rutland, Leicestershire and Northants, and I constantly make new discoveries that remind me walking isn’t about travelling large distances to ‘resort’ locations – its pleasures and benefits are all around us. And the more you do it, the better everything gets!”
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