The countdown is on until over 300,000 runners from 195 countries and territories – and counting – are getting ready to take part in a new global running competition, The Vitality Running World Cup.
With just 48 hours to go, registration is still open to take part – calling upon runners from around the world to sign up and contribute towards their country’s total, in a bid to help their nation win.
You can sign up until your country is knocked out, with team UK expected to get to at least the quarter-finals.
There are no gruelling training camps, nor scary selection trials – in fact, every participant who completes 3 kilometres in under 30 minutes on a smartphone or fitness device contributes towards their country’s total – you can even squeeze it in on your lunch break.
Leading the charge in their home countries are three iconic Olympic Gold medallists – each encouraging their respective nations to lace up and take part.
Eight-time gold medallist Usain Bolt will captain Jamaica, 2012 Olympic gold medallist and Vitality Ambassador for the UK, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill will captain the UK, and Rio 2016 Champion Wayde van Niekerk will lead for South Africa. Each inspiring their fellow runners to take part in this truly global competition.
As well as our Olympians, we also have a growing number of everyday runners and influencers from around the world (36 as it stands) – from as far as Australia, Chile, Egypt, Italy & Brazil – who have also been named as captains, inspiring their fellow runners to take part and share the same passion for getting people moving.
Founded in order to make the world a healthier, happier place, the Vitality Running World Cup is not about being elite, the quickest or the fastest, it’s just about getting out and enjoying yourself, regardless of ability. This forms part of Vitality’s commitment to get 100 million people 20% more active by 2025 – and addresses the pressing global issue of inactivity.
To take part, all you need is a smartphone or smart device and register via runningworldcup.com, pick your selected country and get ready to lace up and moving from 5th March 2020. You simply need to complete a minimum of 3km in under 30 minutes to contribute to your country’s total.
The Vitality Running World Cup will begin with qualifiers lasting one week from March 5th – 00:00 am to March 11th – 23:59 pm.
Following that the top 16 teams will enter a knockout-style tournament, going head to head over the remaining weekends in March culminating in the grand final in early April. Until your country is knocked out, you can sign-up at any time to take part.
Country captain for the UK and Vitality Ambassador for the UK, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill commented: “Whoever you are and whatever your running ability, the Vitality Running World Cup is a great reason to get active and have some fun along the way.
I am extremely proud to be the UK’s country captain and I can’t wait for the competition to begin. I hope that we can log those miles and can lead the UK to World Cup Victory!”
Nick Beresford, founder of The Running World Cup in 2018, commented: “I am really excited that we are on track to realise our vision of getting the world moving, giving everyone an opportunity to run for their country and in doing so creating the largest ever mass participation sporting event.
We have an incredible 317,000 participants signed-up and there is still time to take part in the tournament if your country hasn’t been knocked out. Good luck to all!”
To find out more and to sign up to the free-to-enter The Vitality Running World Cup, visit: runningworldcup.com.
Twitter: @runningworldcup / @vitalityint
Instagram: @runningworldcup / @vitalityint
Facebook: @runningworldcup/ @VitalityInternational