Backward running events confirmed in London and Manchester

April 9, 2011 - PRLog -- REVERSE RUNNINGGNINNUR ESREVER

Backward running events confirmed in London and Manchester.  

Backward running, also known as reverse running and retro running has amazing benefits and is considered a super-exercise for its benefits. In fact there are a staggering 100 reasons to start running backwards.  Yet it is a relatively new phenomenon in the UK with mostly negative connotations.  But that is about to change with the announcement of two ground-breaking events in 2011.

Following on from the success of the UK Backward Running Championships last year, it has been confirmed that later this year London and Manchester will both be hosting official backward running races.  On Sunday 17th July, the London Backward Running Championships will take place in Crystal Palace Park, South London.  There will be 1km and 3km races for men and women.

Then on Sunday 14th August it will be the turn of Heaton Park in Manchester, who will host again the UK Backward Running Championships.  Entrants will race around a one mile triangular course and there will be an extra race for seniors who are over 40.  In both venues, there will be prizes for the fastest men and women to guarantee some competition at the front of the field (or should that be the back) and everyone will walk away (forwards or backwards) with a T-Shirt and medal.  

Alongside the competitive races in London and Manchester, there will also be a 'charity fun backward run and walk' event for anyone who prefers to experience the backward concept without the pressures of competing.  The fun event will also offer entrants a fabulous and novel way to raise money. The UK Championships in Manchester have already teamed up with Forever Manchester, who will be the official race charity.  There will also be a special prize for the biggest fundraiser.

Backward running will appeal to absolutely anyone: from the fitness enthusiast looking for their next challenge to the competitive runner wanting to run even faster.  Even people who are chronically averse to sport will be attracted to backward running because of its ‘fun’ image. The charity race will also offer entrants a fabulous and novel way to raise money.  It will be a great day out for entrants and spectators alike.  

Both events are organized by James Bamber and Sally Raynes of Wacky Nation, who are both long time converts to backward running.  James says: ’Backward running is exercise’s best kept secret and could well witness the next big boom in sport and fitness.  Anyone looking to reduce the risk of injury, a stronger, more balanced lower body, a challenging workout, better posture or an exercise to aid rehabilitation would do well to try backward running’.

James has his own reasons to talk up backward running: ‘Over the last ten years or so I have suffered from repeated bouts of shin splints, ankle injuries and ITBS, with the only advice to give up.  I have run through three pairs of orthotics, seen literally dozens of sports therapists of various disciplines and even resorted to surgery (twice!).  Even I was wondering whether running was for me until I came across the benefits of backward running.  Just running a few laps around the track left me in awe of its power whilst the smooth running style suited my biomechanics.  With a steady and sensible progression, I have managed to maintain a high quality of pain-free training.  I now walk around with a real spring in my step and my legs feel and look stronger and I seriously recommend the exercise to anyone who suffers from any sport related injury or who just wants to reach their full athletic potential.’

Sally adds, ‘Yes, it may sound like a daft thing to do, you may get laughed at, you may even fall over a few times.  But if you can get just get past the skepticism and initial trepidation there are amazing, even life-changing, benefits to be had.  Once you start running backwards, you’ll never look forward again!’  

If you would like to find out more and register to take part, go to www.reverserunning.com  

For more information on either of the events or on backward running please contact Sally Raynes on 07980 287031 or email Sally and James at info@reverserunning.com
 


ENDS

Notes to Editor

About the organisers:  

   
Reverse Running (turn your back on sport) promotes backward running in the UK and have founded the website, www.reverserunning.com  
The aims of Reverse Running are:

1.   To create a series of successful backward runs around the UK
2.   To promote backward running as an alternative exercise and even kick start a new fitness craze
3.   Promote backward running as the perfect first step for attracting children into sport and as a novel antidote to the fight against obesity in children and adults
4.   To raise the profile of the UK’s involvement in backward running overseas
5.   Petition backward running as an Olympic sport for 2020

 
Wacky Nation (www.wackynation.com) is committed to promoting lesser-known sports in the UK and around the world.  The website is arguably the authoritative source for all unusual and unique sports, contests and races.  The Wacky Nation team have already written one book on 50 unusual sports around the UK with a second in progress.  Their aims are to further the popularity of alternative sports and exercise, such as backward running and invent new sports.  They are also organising the 5th Rock, Paper, Scissors Championships later in the year.

About the 1st UK  Backward Running Championships in 2010

34 competitors tackled the inaugural one-mile race around the park by running backwards.  Over 500 spectators witnessed the ground breaking sporting venture in Heaton Park, Manchester.  Most of the entrants were from the Manchester area, but there were also representatives from Scotland, Wales and even Venezuela. Garret Doherty, 32, from Ireland won the men’s title in just 7 minutes 30, a time most people in the field admitted they would struggle to achieve forwards.  Rachel Butterfield, 28 from Hartlepool won the women’s title in 12 minutes 40. The rest of the field managed to complete the course without any mishap, although the oldest entrant, 68 year old Andrea Lennon, from Manchester, did slip metres from the finishing line but recovered to record a time of 20 minutes.

About backward running:

Backward Running, also known as Retro-running and Reverse-running, is a growing phenomenon across Italy, France and Germany and is gaining credence as a super-exercise for its potential to turn mediocre sportsmen and women into outstanding athletes.  However, the sport is hardly known within the UK, until now.  The sport offers an incredible workout, restores balance to the leg muscles, burns more calories than normal running, forces the body to adopt a healthier posture and is the ideal rehabilitative exercise. It also places less stress on the knee and therefore reduces the likelihood of future injuries. Furthermore, it’s fun and the perfect psychological lift for anyone in the running doldrums.  

Some facts about backward running:

•   Burns a third more calories than forward running
•   Reduces the potential for future injury
•   Gives you a real sense of accomplishment
•   Has been shown to be up to 6 times more efficient than forward running
•   Can alleviate chronic back pain and can make the spine more supple
•   Improves your balance, co-ordination, peripheral vision and hearing
•   There have been three world championships.  Why not enter the next one in 2012
•   Running backwards gives you a fabulous cardiovascular workout
•   Running backwards works the muscles forward running (unless you do hill work) doesn’t touch i.e. calves, shins and muscles of the front thigh
•   Backward running races offer a unique fund raising idea
•   Mixed backward running can spice up your love life. Yes, seriously!

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Wacky Nation (www.wackynation.com) are committed to promoting and conceiving lesser-known sports in the UK and around the world. They have already organised the UK's first ever backward running race and have many more ideas for 2011 and beyond.