The first in an exciting new series of women's events
Summary
HER VIRTUAL is an exciting new series of women’s events, designed as a call to action for those who want to celebrate their love of running – whether they are just starting, returning after some time off or run regularly.
The series, which has taken its name from the Welsh word for ‘challenge’, will kick-start with the HER VIRTUAL 5K in Spring 2021. It has been inspired by Cardiff University research that explored reasons women run and the barriers around participation and will be supported by Runderwear.
Those taking part will gain access to content and advice on some of the issues flagged in the research, covering topics including the runnability of streets, feelings of safety, family and work commitments, injury, illness, and working with your body. They’ll also be able to join an exclusive closed social media community, where they can engage with other women taking part, seek support, inspire one another, and celebrate success.
Research found, amongst other things that additional daylight and targeted women’s events were amongst factors that helped inspire and increase female participation in running, so the first event will take place during a one-month window, starting on 28 March, as daylight savings time begins, and the evenings start to become lighter.
The race will be supported by performance underwear brand Runderwear, who are passionate advocates of the female running community. As well as offering all of those taking part a 15% discount on any purchase made via their website (against their collection of women’s running bras, underwear, base layers and socks) they have supplied 200 complimentary spaces for women to participate in the event – distributed via running groups and a social media competition.
Entry Fee £10 – What’s Included
• A 5K training plan, to help prepare for the virtual race
• Access to the online virtual results platform to log finish times
• 20% of your entry donated to a women’s focused charity, including 10% to Women in Sport. Those taking part will be able to nominate a second beneficiary cause.
• Content and advice on some of the issues flagged in the research as motivations or barriers to running for women, covering topics including the runnability of streets, feelings of safety, family and work commitments, injury, illness, and working with your body.
• Membership of an exclusive closed social media community, to engage with other women taking part, seek support, inspire one another, and celebrate success (before, during, and after the event).
• 15% discount offer any purchase from the Runderwear website (excluding sale items). Choose from women’s running bras, underwear, base layers, and socks.
• Prize draws for finishers, chosen at random, including R4W Membership and a 2022 R4W race entry (winners chosen at random and not based on finish time or speed).
How It Works
You can participate from any outdoor location, or on a treadmill from any worldwide location. You’ll just need to collect some supporting evidence that you have covered the 5K (3.1 mile) distance such as a photograph of gym equipment or a screenshot from a fitness tracker or GPS activity. You can walk, jog or run the distance.
The race will run between 28 March – 28 April 2021. You can participate any time during this window but must submit your result by midnight on 28 April.
Please note that a small non-refundable booking fee is charged on top of race entry by ACTIVE, who manage our online registration platform.
Women in Sport
20% of your entry fee will be donated to a women’s focused charity, including 10% to Women in Sport. Those taking part will be able to nominate a second beneficiary cause.
Women in Sport is a UK charity working to ensure that no-one is excluded from the life-long benefits of sport and physical activity. Currently nearly 60% of girls are inactive and there are over 700,000 more inactive women than there are men across the UK. We must change this now, to secure our vision of a society in which men and women have equal opportunities. By tackling gender inequality in sport, we can give every women and girl the chance to take part in sport and inspire her to do so. A movement for change is happening. We’re in, are you?
