ATW Blues Foundation 10k, Half Marathon and Fun Run Launched

Blues Foundation are delighted to announce that we have once again been granted sole charity partner status for this July’s running meet in Bedford, in partnership with event organisers Active Training World.

The first time an event with such distances has been run at this time of the year, the race event on Sunday 23rd July – with a start and finish line at Russell Park – will be officially named as ATW Blues Foundation 10k and Half Marathon.

This follows sole charity partners status as the 10k event last year, while we have partnered the Bedford Running Festival – which again takes place in September this year – for the past two events.

The Event

This chip timed event is a sure-fire guarantee to give you the best chance of a PB in the Half-Marathon or 10k while supporting Blues Foundation.

The one lap 10k course starts and finishes on the beautiful Bedford Embankment and runs out alongside the flat, tree lined River Ouse. After heading out towards Priory Park and a lap of the beautiful Priory Lake you’ll return to the Embankment over the Town Bridge and hearing the cheers of the crowds at the finish line.

Those tackling the Half Marathon will head back out for a second lap with a slight extension to make up the accurate 21.1km (13.1 mile) Half Marathon distance.

The course will have both kilometre markers for the 10k and mile markers for the Half Marathon.

The whole route is on traffic-free tarmac or firm paths and with less than 50m of elevation across the 10k, and 100m across the Half Marathon its bound to be a PB buster!

This event is more than just a run. You’ll be warmed up with personal trainers, welcomed home by a professional commentator and your cheer-squad will be kept fed and watered by quality caterers while you run.

A Children’s Fun Run will also take place before the race start, this will be £10 to enter and includes a finishers medal!

School’s Challenge

We want as many schools as possible to get involved this year so we’re setting the following challenge!

One of the key principles here at Blues Foundation is active living, whether that be mental, physical or emotional. Running can help tackle all three of these disciplines. Therefore, we want all children to run the equivalent distance of a Half Marathon in the build-up to July, leaving the final mile to be run on race day.

The Children’s Fun Run is the perfect place to complete the challenge, earning a medal at the end and hopefully raising fundraising support along the way!

We want to help you complete this challenge. Get in touch with the team on tom@bluesfoundation.org.uk and holly@bluesfoundation.org.uk to see how we can help your school, and also get involved by joining you for one of the runs to help make up the distance.

Blues Foundation Manager, Tom Harwood said: “We are really attempting to step up our fundraising and outreach activities this year and the ATW Blues Foundation 10k & Half Marathon will play a significant part in that, particularly with the vast amount of non-Bedfordians set to attend. It’s a fantastic chance for us to shout about the work we have achieved thus far and our plans for the future.

“We have designed the School’s Challenge as an extension of our work because we want to see as many young people be active on a regular occurrence. Please do get in touch with us if we can support and we may even get the running shoes on ourselves to help you along the way!”

Don’t forget, there are plenty of other ways to support Blues Foundation so keep checking our website regularly and all our social media channels to hear first about our latest initiatives; or sign up to our newsletter by clicking here for regular updates.

You can find Blues Foundation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Alternatively, you can contact Blues Foundation Manager, Tom Harwood via email at info@bluesfoundation.org.uk with any specific questions you may have.