“It will help us to raise such valuable awareness in Edinburgh and across the whole of Scotland.”
We’re delighted to be part of a tram-endous new running event taking place in Edinburgh later this month.
Thanks to the efforts of our long-term supporters Alan and Ruth Glynn and Team Alexis Rose, Meningitis Now is the official charity for the inaugural running of the Edinburgh Race the Tram! event on Sunday 22 June.
Runners are being challenged to race a tram across Edinburgh. Those taking part will board an eastbound tram at Edinburgh Park Central and alight at either St Andrew Square or Newhaven and run back.
Their goal is to get to Edinburgh Park Central before their tram has completed its return journey after turning round at the Newhaven terminus.
Runners will need to cover the 5.5 miles from St Andrew Square in about one hour ten minutes or the 7.5 miles from Newhaven in 50 minutes.
Tom taking part
Up to 500 runners will take part in Race The Tram! One of those will be our own chief executive, Tom Nutt.
He told us: “I’m really looking forward to racing the tram across Edinburgh. One of the fun things about this event is that you don’t follow the tram lines back – you can choose your own route across the city in your bid to beat the tram. I’ll be carefully studying my A to Z of Edinburgh to work out the best route to take.
“We’re really grateful to Alan and Ruth and Team Alexis Rose for getting us on the map for this challenging new event, in memory of their daughter. It will help us to raise such valuable awareness in Edinburgh and across the whole of Scotland.”
Inspired by the ‘Fulham Dash’
Race director Catriona Bruce, of Blast Running, said the event was inspired by the ‘Fulham Dash’ in London, set up nearly 30 years ago to celebrate Roger Bannister’s record-breaking four-minute mile in 1964.
This 1.5-mile race involves trying to beat a Tube train between the stations of South Kensington and Fulham Broadway.
She added the choice of Meningitis Now as the event’s charity was inspired by Blast Running competitor and marshal Alan Glynn. Alan and his wife Ruth founded the Alexis Rose Fitness Family in memory of his daughter, who died from the disease in 2011. You can read more about Team Alexis Rose here.
Our volunteers and supporters from across Scotland and further afield will be cheering runners on throughout the race and helping to raise awareness. You are invited to join them on the day.
