Calling people of Thames Ward - from first time joggers to seasoned marathoners - could you run the length of the River Thames to raise money for charity and win prizes?
What is it?
In partnership with Sporting Events UK, the Barking Riverside Limited (BRL) team, local people and schools are challenged to collectively run a total of 346KM – which is the length of the River Thames!
Run as many kilometres as you like across Thames Ward and beyond before 5pm on Saturday 24th October to help us reach this target!
How do I get involved?
Step one: Register for free on this website! You will be posted a running bib number (don’t worry if this doesn’t arrive in time for you to do your run, you can start running without it!).
Step two: Complete your run (or walk!) – you can run any distance, anywhere, any time! For tips on how to run safely, please visit: https://www.sportingeventsuk.com/barkingruntips
Step three: Login to your profile on this website to upload your distance and a picture. To add your result, click on the 'Results' tab above, click on the yellow 'Results' button, and then 'Add my Result'. You can run as many times as you like before the 25th October – just login and register each new distance, to contribute to the total.
Step four: Tag us on social media using the hashtag #BRLVirtualRun - share your local area pictures, selfies and times!
Step five: Congratulate yourself for a great run when you receive your Barking Riverside Virtual Run medal, which will be posted to you in November.
What about the charity?
If we meet the target, BRL will make a donation to national charity Sporting Equals – which promotes ethnic diversity across sport and physical activity, and delivers projects across the country, including ‘The Breaking Boundaries programme’ in Barking and Dagenham. Find out more about the work of Sporting Equals here.
FAQs:
Do I have to live, work or go to school in Thames Ward to take part?
Yes, you must live, work or go to school in Thames Ward (Thames View or Barking Riverside) to take part.
Is there an age limit?
The challenge is open all ages. However, anyone under 18 must run with an adult or in a supervised school or community group.
How do I keep safe when running in the area?
Make sure you adhere to the Government Social Distancing Guidelines when on your run. Please keep a safe 2M distance from anyone outside of your household, and if you are running in a group, do not run in a group of more than 6 people. We recommend you run in daylight hours and stick to routes you are familiar with. For other tips on how to run safely, check out our latest blog post from Sporting Events UK https://www.sportingeventsuk.com/barkingruntips
I am part of a local community group, can we get involved as a group?
Yes! A number of groups and schools in the area have expressed an interest in getting involved as a group! Contact us via the BRL Facebook page and we will be able to help you.
How can I track how far I am running?
The easiest way to do this is to use an app on your smartphone that tracks your run for you. Free examples of this include the Nike Run Club, Google Fit and Strava.
If you don’t have a smart phone, here are some approximate distances around in the Barking Riverside area –The Rivergate Centre to Thames Road is roughly 1KM, while the length of Footpath 47 (from Barking Riverside Project Office, along the river and down to Choats Road) is about 1.6KM.
Can I take part before my running number arrives? My running number didn’t arrive – what should I do?
Don't worry if your running number hasn't arrived yet - you can start running without it and it should be with you soon. If it hasn't arrived at all, then please message us on Facebook @BarkingRiversideLondon and we will look into this for you.
When does the challenge end?
The challenge ends at 5pm on Saturday 24th October 2020.
Good luck everyone! Don’t forget to let us know how you are getting on using #BRLVirtualRun on Instagram and Twitter.