Carrie Hope Fletcher (pink), Bryony Gordon (centre) and Shareefa J (right of centre) celebrate with runners after crossing the finish line in the Celebrate You wave.

Run to Overcome

Run to Overcome, in association with Mental Health Mates, at the Vitality London 10,000

The Vitality London 10,000 is encouraging participants to #DoItForYou in 2023, and take part in the distance for their mental health and wellbeing.

The hugely popular 10K, taking place on Sunday 24 September, will welcome thousands to complete the distance on a spectacular course through central London, taking in some of the capital’s most famous landmarks.

The well-established mental health benefits of activity include improving self-esteem, stimulating chemical changes in the brain to boost mood, improving sleep and managing stress and anxiety.

This year, the goal is not just to #DoItForYou, but also to Run to Overcome.

The Run to Overcome wave

We're delighted to offer a special Run to Overcome wave, in association with Mental Health Mates, at the 2023 Vitality London 10,000 on Sunday 24 September in central London. This will be the final wave to set off in the mass participation event, with no pressure on participants to achieve a fast time – it’s all about running for your head and your heart and having fun in the process!

As part of this wave, you may even see Bryony Gordon, journalist and Mental Health Mates founder, and the inspirational Mental Health Mates community walking, jogging and running alongside you.

Enter the Run to Overcome wave
Click here to join the Run to Overcome wave, in association with Mental Health Mates, at this year's Vitality London 10,000 on Sunday 24 September

Participants holding hands at the Vitality London 10,000

Tell your story

There's no better way to discover the benefits of physical activity on your mental health than by getting out there to train for your incredible Vitality London 10,000 experience.

We want to hear your story. If you have an inspiring tale to tell ahead of the Vitality London 10,000 in September, please email luke.lambert@londonmarathonevents.co.uk.

The Run Happy & Healthy Plan

We’ve always provided participants – especially first-time or novice runners – with plenty of advice and encouragement to help them achieve their 10K goals, and our step-by-step Run Happy & Healthy Plan is at the very heart of this.

Each week of the plan has simple suggestions on how to boost self-motivation, beat boredom and mark successes big and small, helping those training for the Vitality London 10,000 to feel better both in body and in mind!

Run Happy & Healthy Plan
Download our 10 weeks to 10K plan to help you achieve your goals and feel fantastic along the way

Run to Overcome, in association with Mental Health Mates

Mental Health Mates was founded by Bryony Gordon in 2016 to encourage women to get active and celebrate body positivity.

Following the pandemic, it’s evident that the number of people being impacted by mental health concerns has risen. A recent survey by London Marathon Events of Vitality London 10,000 participants to understand their motivations for running found that 92 per cent of respondents said running was important or very important to their mental health and wellbeing, while 90 per cent of respondents said that the mental benefits of running were equally important or more important than the physical benefits. Run to Overcome works to inspire people of all ages and abilities to get moving for their mental health, alongside those at Mental Health Mates.

Mental Health Mates is a broad and trusted peer support network for people experiencing mental health challenges that can be accessed both online and in real life. Mental Health Mates also organises walking groups across more than 150 locations in the UK, providing a safe space for people to get active in a positive, supportive environment.

Bryony, journalist, bestselling author and campaigner, says: "I set up Mental Health Mates when I was really suffering with my own mental health. My obsessive-compulsive disorder was terrible – I was depressed and in the grip of alcoholism.

"I knew that there were other people out there like me – I just didn't know how to meet them. So, I created this peer support group that allows people to walk and talk together without fear or judgement and connect with each other.

"I'm incredibly proud of the extraordinary community it has become today, and I only hope that we continue to grow, thrive and reach as many people who need this sort of help as possible."

Visit Mental Health Mates to find out more.