Great Manchester Run announces February challenge to get your heart racing

The Great Manchester Run is an annual fixture in the calendar, a marker point for Mancunians to reach their peak physical fitness and raise money for charity. 

Each year tens of thousands line up on the start line, running for good causes, for PBs, and for fun.

This year, the event has moved from its usual May date, and is now scheduled for Sunday 26th September. 

That may seem a long way away. But Great Manchester Run has created a series of virtual running challenges to help you start the year strong, and build your fitness ready for the start line in September.

And whether you’re feeling racy or you just love running, their February challenge is guaranteed to get your heart racing.

The Valentine’s themed challenge is to complete 14 runs of any distance in February.

You can run at any pace and distance comfortable for you, and your reward is a special medal and digital certificate – the best Valentine’s gift a runner could ask for, surely?

To spice things up, the challenge also includes an optional distance element.  

Depending on how far you run, you will be awarded with a bespoke digital finishers certificate to download and share.

Running Head Over Heels is for those who cover 35 miles in the month; It’s A Love Hate Thing is for 70 miles; and distance fans might want to aim for Love Bitten By The Running Bug, if you think you can manage 125 miles.

You can use the Great Run online tracker to log your runs – live from 1st February – or use your own tracking app or device to record your activity.  

Once you have completed 14 runs (or more) and your target distance, simply submit your results and confirm that you have completed the challenge. 

Whether you do it for fun, for me time, to raise money for charity, or to challenge yourself… whatever your intentions, run your heart out in February.

The challenge starts on 1st February and ends on 28th February. You can join anytime from now up to Monday 8th February at 10am, when entries close. It costs £15 to join, and your challenge joining 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.