Tuesday 29 July could be a night to remember for junior runners wanting to make their mark on the sands of Swansea Bay.
On that evening, runners of all ages will be taking part in the RNLI’s Summer Sprint, to raise funds for the charity’s lifeguards, and for those under the age of 16 there will be the chance to take part in a special 500-metre fun sprint event.
Hundreds of runners are expected to take part in the main 10k and 5k events happening that evening in aid of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), the charity that saves lives at sea, but for the youngsters there will be the extra attraction of showing off their sprinting prowess in the 500-metre event.
The starting horn for the 10k event will blast at 7pm, marking the beginning of RNLI Lifeguard Week, 10 days of activities across lifeguarded beaches in England and Wales, the aim of which is to help raise funds for the service and increase awareness of the sea safety messages the charity promotes.
The runners will also link up with participants in a sponsored Welly Walk, to raise funds for the RNLI’s Mumbles Tamar Lifeboat appeal, which is starting at the Junction Café, Blackpill and will walk to Swansea’s Civic Centre to the starting point of the Summer Sprint. Members of Mumbles Surf Livesaving Club will also be doing their bit to help raise funds for the RNLI by supplying volunteers on the day to help the Summer Sprint run smoothly.
This challenging 10k and 5k run is a unique running event, with an evening start to ensure low tides and a clear beach stretch.
All events will start on the beach outside the Civic Centre in Swansea and the 10k run will head towards Blackpill, taking in the spectacular views of the bay and beyond.
The 10k race begins at 7pm and the 5k race begins at 7.30pm. The series of 500m sprints for the under-16s to take part in, starting at 7pm.
Entries cost £12.50 for the 10k race and £10 for the 5k race, and entry is on a first come, first served basis for the 499 places available.
Registration will be held in the Civic Centre, where refreshments, cloakroom, and parking will be available.
There will be prizes for the race winners (male and female) courtesy of Up and Running Swansea and The George.
There will also be squash and nibbles for all participants at The George (Salt) The Mumbles after the race.
RNLI events manager Wales and the West, Charlotte Bird, said: ‘The RNLI is there to assist people of all ages, and it will be great to involve under-16s in an event like Summer Sprint. Who knows, many of the youngsters taking part will catch our eye as potential lifeguards by proving their fitness in the 500-metre sprints.
‘And by entering, all the participants will be doing their bit to help fund the vital lifesaving work done by RNLI lifeguards.’
Anyone interested in participating in the race or being a volunteer assistant should contact RNLI events manager Charlotte Bird on 0121 780 6960 or email [email protected]
