NWU set to host first virtual fun run

While the country is still under strict restrictions which limit social interactions, the NWU has come up with an innovative way to bring students and staff “together” by hosting a 5km virtual fun run on Saturday 16 May.

The run will take place between 6am and 9am. The 5km virtual run is open to all staff, alumni and students, no matter their fitness level. People will run on their own around their homes, but against one another, as results will be calculated virtually. With several prizes up for grabs, all entrants need to do is register before 9am on Friday 15 May. 

In order to participate, all you need is a smartphone and fitness watch so that you can enter your time into a Wufoo online form at the end of your run. Thereafter, places will be allocated to all runners who successfully completed the 5km.

All entrants are strongly advised to adhere to the level 4 restrictions, by running within 5km of their home and obeying the exercise time limit. 

The lockdown has seen fitness enthusiasts go to interesting lengths in an attempt to stay in shape, and raise money for charity in the process.

Centurion resident and renowned trail runner Bennie Roux ran the Comrades Marathon in his garden in under 12 hours, and six sponsors offered him R50 per kilometre which would go to the Con-Amore school for the intellectually disabled in Kempton Park. 

Stuart Mann, who has completed 10 Comrades Marathons and 17 Two Oceans Marathons, took to Instagram on 6 April to show that he had completed the Ironman at his home to raise money for high school and university students who would not have had access to a proper education if it weren’t for the Just the One Foundation.