Light Night Run Challenge engages local runners

In early February, 100 runners took to the streets of Nottingham to take part in the Light Night Run Challenge, organised by Nicola Cranshaw, Run! City Nottingham Activator.

The Nottingham Light Night festival, hosted by Nottingham City Council transforms the city and brings it to life after dark through illuminations, spectacles, music, street theatre and much more. This year Nottingham City Council’s Sport and Leisure team encouraged local NGBs to join in and offer some sporting activities to the community, as part of the Light Night event.

The Light Night Run Challenge engaged beginner and intermediate runners as well as young people from a local Youth Group; the main focus for the run was teams having fun and socializing with other runners!   In teams of between 2 and 4 people, participants were required to reach 8 major landmarks within the City Centre, including the Robin Hood Statue (pictured top), Brian Clough Statue and Market Square, complete a challenge at each location and take a team selfie. The team who completed all of this and got back to Market Square the quickest was the winning team. As part of the challenge participants were encouraged to take part in the other sports on offer in the City, including basketball, archery, tennis and football.

Feedback from the event has been excellent; one particpant noted, “Thanks for the incredible night - many reasons why - but it was genuinely one of the best nights I’ve had in ages!  Can’t wait for the next one!”

As an added bonus, the event engaged people who weren’t aware of the Run! City Nottingham Project, and the beginner and intermediate recreational groups on offer in the City.