IAU 6H Virtual Global Solidarity Run Summary
Over the last weekend of August (29th-30th) we organised our first IAU 6H Virtual Global Solidarity Run. It was our answer to the current difficult times caused by COVID-19, where all our Championships were cancelled. In addition, many global and local restrictions were in place that limited not only movement around but led to restricted training possibilities. This was our answer to keep our ultrarunning family together and motivate ourselves to stay positive.
We were overwhelmed with the responses. As we mentioned early in our publications we had 34 teams across the globe that registered for the run. This includes IAU and Presidents Teams as well. Over 430 runners committed to participate over the last weekend of August in our Run. The priority was not to make it a competitive event but rather to show our solidarity. In the end we recorded some 19 800 km - just less than 20,000 km which is the distance from the North Pole to the South Pole as the “crow flies”! Quite some distance! This means that average runner did more than a marathon. Fantastic performance and great comradery. However this is not all. In the end it was not only runners but the great number of supporters that took part in this initiative and were motivated by others. Great - thank you for this as well.
We would like to thank you all for sharing the results, great pictures, notes, reports, following our event on social media and contributions to all publications. In the end all the results were published and shared with you. Great - all really appreciated.
Thank you to each and every athlete and federation that ran in the 6hr IAU Global Solidarity Run. Runners from Great Britain to India, Norway to Nigeria, Belarus to USA, Argentina to New Zealand and everywhere in between joined in camaraderie and companionship embarked on this 6 Hour journey. My sincere thanks to the members of the Presidents Club who elevated the exposure of this event and my colleagues on the IAU Team who joined in this important initiative. Thank you to each and every one of you for making your own special stories through your run!
Nadeem Khan, IAU President
IAU 6H Virtual Global Solidarity Run Team
