Great Manchester Run launches festive December challenge

The Great Manchester Run 2020 may have been postponed, but they’ve certainly been keeping us busy and active over the past few months with a series of virtual challenges.

Now, as we head into December, things have got especially festive as they’ve just launched a new running challenge to stop us from going crackers.

The challenge is to complete the 12 runs of Christmas (or more runs if you wish), of any distance, between 1st and 25th December.  

Your reward is a tree-mendous medal that is sure to light up any Christmas tree.

Everyone who enters will be sent a unique medal that can be worn with pride or hung on your Christmas tree, but which will you get?  

Great Run have created three different festive medals – and inspired by Secret Santa tradition, you won’t know which medal is yours until it lands on your doormat.

The challenge also includes an optional distance challenge, if you’re feeling especially energetic – or competitive.  

Depending how far you run over your 12 (or more) runs, you will be awarded with a bespoke digital finishers certificate to download and share.

For 30 miles, it’s a Round of Santa-plause certificate; for 60 miles, you’ll get Run Run Rudolph; make it 100 miles and There’s Snow Stopping You.

There is a separate Christmas challenge for runners aged 14 years and under, too:  The Little Star challenge is for ages 9 and under, and The Nightmare Before Christmas challenge is for ages 10 to 14 years.

The weather outside may be frightful, but this challenge aims to fire you up to keep on running through December.

The challenge starts on 1st December and ends on 25th December, and you can join the challenge anytime from now up to Tuesday 8th December at 10am, when entries close.

It costs £15 to join, and your entry fee includes a unique finishers medal, access to training plans and tips, access to the Great Run online tracking tool, and support throughout the challenge.