If you’re looking to keep fit and help others less fortunate than yourself, here’s a list of some of the events coming up in Glasgow. These are an opportunity for you to feel the benefit of physical fitness and the glow from helping other people. And there are lots of these events around. Please let us know others that are close to your heart in the comments section below.
Race for Life Pretty Muddy 16th Sept 2017
The women-only event run by Cancer Research UK takes place in Bellahouston Park and is a great way to show you care and raise funds to help fight against cancer. As Cancer Research says “Cancer plays dirty, but so do we’. There’s a 5k and a 10k race. Both involve climbing over, crawling under and charging through a series of obstacles. And they encourage women of any ability to take part. Enter as an individual or as part of a team. They even help by offering a training plan to help you get into shape for the start line.
Join them and get caked in mud as you help to beat cancer.
Big Fun Run, 29th July 2017
A family-friendly event that offers a 5k course in the beautiful surroundings of Bellahouston Park. These runs are untimed, so you can run for fitness, run for charity or just run for fun. They have affiliate charities you can run to support – they’ve raised over £5 million since 2007. Get the whole family involved and see how big a difference this can make to your lives and to the lives of others.
The Luss Highland Gathering, 1st July 2017
This highland games event was first held in 1875 and it’s still going strong. The event is equally welcoming to local farmers and sportsmen (and women) and it epitomises the local spirit of endeavour. People come from all over the world to seek their ancestral heritage at the annual gathering of the Clan Colquhoun. This is a true highland games that offers field events, highland dancing, piping competitions and lots more unexpected things to enjoy. Situated about 45 minutes from Glasgow this is one day out you really shouldn’t miss.
Pedal for Scotland, 10th September 2017
A well-established cycle event, PFS returns for its 19th year. The main event of the day is a 45-mile ride from Glasgow to Edinburgh. And, for the hard-core cyclists out there, there’s also the Big Belter – a 110-mile ride from Glasgow to Edinburgh via the Southern Uplands. They also offer what they call the ‘Wee Jaunts’ – shorter rides that are announced closer to the event. The partner charity of the event is the STV Children’s Appeal. In 2015, over 10,000 cyclists took part across Scotland. With your help they can continue to grow and to help even more people.
Ultm8 Warrior, 27th August 2017
The UK’s first junior-only obstacle course race (OCR). It’s a great way to get kids away from their games machines and show them the excitement of racing an obstacle course. It takes place in Mugdock Country Park and offers a fun way to get or keep fit. The course boasts hurdles, net crawls, ramps, mankey (not monkey – wait until you see them!) bars and balance beams. And the grownups can get involved too – by throwing sponges at the competitors during some of the obstacles. It’s a great way to bond with your kids and have a fun day out in a stunning park.
Dog Jog, Glasgow 29th July 2017
A fun way to get fit for you and your beloved pet. This is a 5k ‘race’ that offers a relaxed and fun approach with no times for the course (and no pressure). It lets you raise money for charity (if you choose to) and meet like-minded dog lovers. The course takes you through some fantastic parkland and also offers views across the city. We’ll leave the final word to them: come and have a bark in the park with your four-legged friend.
Whatever you decide to do this summer, make sure you get out there and enjoy the fantastic wide-open spaces that our beautiful city offers. And please let us know of any new events you come across, or old favourites we haven’t yet included on our list.