Run like the wind
Running is a great, fun and simple way to exercise and fundraise. It can improve your mood, co-ordination, fitness levels and cardiovascular health, and it’s easy for just about anyone to take up. Whether you take part in an organised event or create your own sponsored running challenge, just follow these five simple steps:
Step 1: Choose A Distance
Step 2: Decide When and Where and How
Step 3: Drum Up Support
Step 4: Get In Training
Step 5: Get Fundraising
Step 1: Choose a Distance (back to top)
Decide how far to run. This will depend on your fitness levels, whether you’re already a runner and how hard you want to push yourself. A 5k race is an excellent starting point for new runners. For more experienced runners the choices are endless; 10k, 15k, half marathon, or full marathon, road or cross country. The further you run, the fitter you’ll get and the more money you’re likely to raise!
Step 2: Decide When and Where (back to top)
An autumn event means you can train over the summer when it’s lighter for longer. Think about how long you will need to train for to prepare for the distance you’ve chosen. Do you chose an event close to home, elsewhere in the country or use it as an excuse for a holiday abroad? Visit the Find an Event page for some ideas of organised events. Or you can decide on your own route - visit www.mapmyrun.com to map one out.
Step 3: Drum up Support (back to top)
Invite friends, family and colleagues to join you in your challenge; the excitement keeps everyone motivated. The more people taking part, the more funds you will raise and the more fun you will have when you train and achieve your goal together.
Step 4: Get in Training (back to top)
Decide how many times a week to train and for how long. This will depend on your challenge distance, how long you’ve got before the event and the finish time you’d like to achieve. Be realistic and practical. 2-3 times a week is a good place to start and there are lots of running websites that can help you plan your training.
Step 5: Get Fundraising (back to top)
Set a sponsorship / fundraising target. This will depend how many of you there are and how far you’re running. £100 might be suitable as a target for one person if you’re running 5k and have never run before. Or up to £500 if you’re doing a half marathon. However you can set your sights much higher for a full marathon – it is 26 miles after all! Gather our useful fundraising resources and maximise your fundraising through Just Giving.
Set up a Just Giving page: This is a great way to tell people about what you’re doing and gather sponsorship online: www.justgiving.com.
Tell everyone! Use your social networks to promote your event and link to Nordoff Robbins using Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, email, websites etc. Use our sample press release on the resources page to contact your local press to tell them about what you’re doing.
Enjoy your event and run like the wind!
