Schools Half Marathon partners Athletics Northern Ireland in Belfast

05 November 2019

Schools Half Marathon partners Athletics Northern Ireland in Belfast

Athletics NI are delighted to announce a new partnership with the Schools Half Marathon, part of Schools Running Movement by UK Run Events, in order to bring Schools Half Marathon Northern Ireland to Belfast.

This is the first official collaboration of Schools Half Marathon with a National Governing Body and it is an exciting step for this inspiring movement that is encouraging young runners across the nation to #MoveForLife.

Athletics Northern Ireland will be working with Schools Half Marathon to deliver Northern Ireland’s very first event in Belfast in March 2020. The event will take place on 31st March 2020 at the fantastic Mary Peters Track which is set to welcome hundreds of local school pupils to run the final 1.1 mile of their very own cumulative Schools Half Marathon.

Race day at the Mary Peters Track will treat young runners to a full race experience, including race bibs, a marshalled 1.1-mile route, music, commentator and a finish line gantry. It is a thrilling chance for the youngsters to experience a big sporting event and to be cheered over the finish line by teachers, family and friends. They will wear their Schools Half Marathon technical t-shirts for the final event and receive a large bespoke medal at the end to celebrate their achievement.

As a cumulative non timed running event, the pupils run the initial 12 miles of their Schools Half Marathon at school or on their own, receiving rewards along the way. Fully inclusive and non-competitive, it is fantastic motivation for children to develop healthy habits to exercise regularly, reduce screen time and build confidence through sport.

Schools Half Marathon is part of Schools Running Movement by UK Run Events, a collaborative evolution for movement and change. The movement has increased to over 35 events in 2020 with further expansion planned for 2021 onwards.

Schools Running Movement has the support of 12 Foundation Partners who are working together to continue to drive Schools Half Marathon forwards and make a difference to the next generation and beyond. Foundation Partners confirmed so far include specialist running retailer Up & Running; sports and fitness technology leaders Polar; leading ethical water brand One; global communications company Poly and global charity partner Save the Children

Schools Half Marathon Director Rebecca Richardson commented, “We are extremely proud to announce our first official collaboration with a National Governing Body, Athletics Northern Ireland. This is an important relationship for us all, we are excited at the enormous potential and opportunity this brings to pupils in Northern Ireland. We have had such a positive response to Schools Half Marathon over the last year and are thrilled to expand our offering into Belfast for the upcoming school year. We look forward to working with Athletics Northern Ireland to help further make a difference to future generations through running and by working together.”

Jackie Newton, Director of Coaching and Athlete Development at Athletics Northern Ireland, added, “We are delighted at Athletics Northern Ireland to be bringing Schools Half Marathon to Belfast to give young runners the opportunity to experience this event. Doing what we do, we know first-hand the many benefits that regular exercise and movement can bring and the difference it can make to general health and overall wellbeing. We are looking forward to helping school pupils in Northern Ireland achieve their very own cumulative half marathon and to supporting the development of Schools Half Marathon going forwards together.”

Any school wishing to take part in the Schools Half Marathon Northern Ireland can find out more and fill in an Entry Form on the event website: www.schoolsrunningmovement.com/race-map/, or get in touch by emailing NI@schoolshalfmarathon.co.uk .

Go to www.schoolsrunningmovement.com for further details, like Schools Running Movement by UK Run Events on Facebook and follow @ukrunevents on Twitter and Instagram to keep up to date with all the latest news #SchoolsHalfMarathon #MoveForLife.