Get A Life - Get running this November! We've found a way to make it fun!

By Mike Barham

I’ll be the first to admit that running confuses me. In an age where human beings have been top of the food chain for millenia, where we have invented machines to do the long, arduous trips to the Co-op and ferry us to our families’ caves for intellectual conversation, I don’t really get ‘running for the fun of it’. And my 6ft 8” frame makes me look like a giraffe falling down a flight of stairs.

However, even Sourpuss McLazy here is intrigued by the concept of Runvember. Alan Butler of Royal Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire organises the Swindon event aimed at raising money for local charities during the month of November (which he’s dubbed Runvember in a move that would make Lord Alan Sugar’s marketing team literally sick with envy).

Runvember is almost exactly what it says on the tin; 30 days of running any distance you choose from one mile minimum to 50 or more, with some key events throughout the month to help you along your way including a swimsuit run through Swindon on 13 November. Last year this caused complete chaos in Swindon town centre as crowds of people questioned the sanity of those willing to run through the streets in their speedos during the November chill.

The entry fee is simple; you have a Runvember stamped box which you must fill with non-perishable food and items from a pre-determined list such as sleeping bags, roll mats and wet wipes.

Mr Butler can be seen regularly competing at local races in his trusty pair of speedos (we are NOT kidding) and is not unaccustomed to running challenges. In 2014 he ran a total of 760 miles during the 30 days of November, with 227 of those coming in the last week alone. We aren’t even sure if we drive that far in a week!

In 2015, the challenge was taken up by over 150 people across the Swindon and Royal Wootton Bassett area and raised money for Christmas Care. This year, over 200 people had already signed up on the Runvember Facebook page by mid-October, with some even taking on the challenge early.

This year Runvember is raising money for Threshold Housing Link, a Swindon based independent charity which provides emergency, short, medium and long term accommodation to single homeless people in the town. But the Runvember challenge can be taken on by anyone, anywhere, and we really do urge you to dig out those dusty old trainers you bought for a New Year’s resolution and get yourself out there. You’ll meet some incredible people, you’ll get fitter and you’ll be helping those less fortunate than yourselves get a step closer to getting off the streets.

For more information visit: www.runvember.co.uk