We’re back – mass participation running events return
After 15 months of virtual events, London Marathon Events is proud to be hosting two mass participation running events in as many weeks next month (July).
The Vitality London 10,000 and the Vitality Mile, both at Hatfield Park in Hertfordshire, will take place on Sunday 11 July, while the Standard Chartered Great City Race on Tuesday 20 July will become the first mass participation running event to be held on the streets of London since the outbreak of Covid-19.
The perfect welcome back to running events, the Vitality London 10,000 at Hatfield Park on Sunday 11 July is open to runners of all abilities (minimum age 15), offering a wonderful opportunity to celebrate being able to do what we love again. Hatfield Park provides runners with a fun and varied 10K course in a beautiful parkland setting with a choice of a socially distanced race with runners set off at two-second intervals and a race with runners set off in waves of 1,000 in a carefully planned start process.
The afternoon provides a great day out in the open air for families with the Vitality Mile – a series of family-friendly one-mile races through the leafy park. Best of all, every participant (any age!) will receive an official finisher medal and there’s a free family fun zone with exciting activities for children, including the Tumblelator – a giant treadmill for all ages.
Just nine days later, teams of runners will take part in the Standard Chartered Great City Race on closed roads in the City of London as the popular 5K corporate challenge returns. Teams can also include colleagues from outside London – and all over the world – in the virtual edition.
Hugh Brasher, Event Director of London Marathon Events, said: “These events in Hatfield Park and on the streets of London are a hugely significant moment and a cause for great celebration. All the research has shown that there is negligible chance of getting Covid-19 outdoors and the whole industry has worked together to bring back parkrun and events safely.
“It seems a lifetime ago since we delivered our mass participation running events. We’ve all missed the buzz, thrill and energy that these events provide and seeing people running together, inspiring each other.
"We look forward to welcoming everyone to Hatfield Park and the streets of London – it's wonderful to be back and thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to make this possible.”
Entries are now open for all events, with places in the Vitality London 10,000 at Hatfield Park and the Vitality Mile at Hatfield Park available until 17.00 on Monday 5 July, while teams of runners (minimum of four) have until 16.00 on Wednesday 14 July to register for the Standard Chartered Great City Race.
Entry for the Vitality London 10,000 at Hatfield Park costs £39 (with a £2 discount for British Athletics registered running club members). All finishers will receive the 2021 Vitality London 10,000 souvenir medal and New Balance technical T-shirt (worth £35).
Entry for the Vitality Mile costs just £8 for adults, £6 for 12 to 17 year olds, and is free for children aged 11 and under when accompanied by an adult. All finishers will receive the official 2021 souvenir medal.
The Standard Great City Race will take place on Tuesday 20 July from the HAC Grounds in the City of London and entry is £30 per person. All finishers will receive a medal and an exclusive New Balance technical T-shirt (retail value £35).
The Vitality London 10,000 and Vitality Mile at Hatfield Park, and the Standard Chartered Great City Race are organised by London Marathon Events (LME) and are part of its phased return of mass participation events.
Last month (May), LME hosted the Reunion 5K, a pilot event as part of the government’s Events Research Programme. The events at Hatfield Park and London build up to The Vitality Big Half on Sunday 22 August and the Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday 3 October.