Like most runners, I love taking part in organised events and races. In my opinion, nothing beats the feeling of crossing the finish line of a race. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, the vast majority of organised events for 2020 have now been postponed or cancelled. For the first time I can remember, my race calendar is completely empty. In the absence of organised events and races, I’ve entered a few virtual runs as an alternative.

Last week I was asked if I’d be willing to promote a new virtual running event organised by the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation; the I Love the 80s Virtual Run. Unfortunately, the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation has lost a lot of income that supports people living with lung cancer due to postponed and cancelled events such as the Great North Run and the London Marathon. The charity has been using virtual runs to try and replace some of the income they have lost, including the I Love the 80s Virtual Run.

The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation is celebrating all things 80s during its I love the 80s virtual run –  the decade the UK’s most iconic races London Marathon and Great North run were born.

I Love the 80s Virtual Run

The 80s was a decade of big hair, cassette tapes, and some legendary TV shows – who can forget how good Only Fools and Horses was?! – so we are delighted you have chosen to celebrate the 80s decade next as part of our Retro Running series.

We’re inviting you to grab your hair spray, pull on your leg warmers and take to the streets listening to our totally rad 80s playlist as you complete your distance.

The 80s virtual run is the second decade, as part of our Retro running series we are visiting throughout 2020 and takes you one step closer to earning the exclusive Ultimate Retro running medal.

Simply sign up to one of the following distances, choose if you would like to complete your run in one go or over several days and complete your run throughout August.

• 5k
• 10k
• Half marathon
• Full marathon

Please note that all medals will be sent out at the end of August no matter when you complete the event, so anyone who completes their run at the start of the month please bear in mind your medal won’t be posted until the end of August when the 80s run finishes.

Every supporter that takes part will receive access to the ultimate 80s playlist, 80s event page, where you will find competitions, votes, and more as well as an exclusive 80s retro medal once the run is complete.

Even better, anyone who raises or donates £25 will receive an exclusive I Love the 80s technical top at the end of August with your 80s medal.

Why not sign up for the complete Retro Running Series?

Don’t want to miss out on any of the decades featuring the Retro Running Series? Why not sign up for each decade.

You can now sign up for every decade in the series, consisting of four or five races depending if you completed the I Love the 90s run.

Register now from just £24 with £150 minimum sponsorship. Find out more on our Retro Running Series page.

London Marathon and Great North Run Prize Draw

We can’t just thank the 80s for giving us Ryan Gosling, Britney Spears, and Justin Timberlake, it’s also the decade that gave birth to two of the UK’S most iconic races; the London Marathon and the Great North Run.

To celebrate, every person who enters the 80s Retro Run or the Retro Running Series will be entered into a prize draw. Two people will then be drawn, one to get a 2021 London Marathon place and the other to get a 2021 Great North Run place.

As well as your entry for signing up to the 80s run or running series, you can receive an additional entry for each of the following reasons, meaning each runner can get up to three entries:

• Sharing the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation 80s Retro Run through social media by tagging @roycastlelungcancer on Facebook or taking a screenshot of your post and emailing to sport@roycastle.org
• Setting up a Just Giving Page and receiving at least one donation. You can set up your Just Giving Page by clicking

To view the full terms and conditions of the draw, click Terms and Conditions.

**Please note that all medals and the I love the 80s technical top will be sent out at the end of August no matter when you complete the event, so anyone who completes their run at the start of August won’t receive a medal until the end of August**

Sign up options

• Register for the race only – £9
• Register for the race plus an I Love the 80s technical top – £25
• Register for all five decades of the Retro Running Series – £30 plus £150 minimum sponsorship – please visit the Retro Running Series page
• Register for four decades of the Retro Running Series (if you’ve done the 90s race) – £24 plus £150 minimum sponsorship – please visit the Retro Running Series page.

All prices include medals for each decade. Please note: you don’t need to get in touch if you would like to change your distance as your medal isn’t distance specific.

If you have any questions please visit the FAQ page.

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