ASICS London 10K will return in July

The ASICS London 10K will return to London on Sunday, July 25 this year, in what organisers say is the largest closed road running event since the pandemic began in March 2020.

14,000 registered runners will be able to take part in the event, which is also part of a global study into the effect of movement and running on wellbeing.

The race will begin in Piccadilly, taking in famous Westminster locations like St James’s Palace, Trafalgar Square, the Victoria Embankment and Big Ben, before finishing in Whitehall, with live bands and DJs en route.The ASICS London 10K will return to London on Sunday, July 25 this year, in what organisers say is the largest closed road running event since the pandemic began in March 2020.

14,000 registered runners will be able to take part in the event, which is also part of a global study into the effect of movement and running on wellbeing.

James Robinson, Managing Director of Limelight Sports Club, which is producing the event, said: ‘It’s been a challenging 16 months, but community and running has played such an integral role with regards to people’s mental and physical health. We can’t wait to see runners back on the start line of the ASICS London 10K on 25th July.’

Everyone taking part in the ASICS London 10K will be invited to take part in a study into the effect of movement on mental wellbeing via the Mind Uplifter, a tool developed by ASICS, movement and mental health expert Dr Brendon Stubbs and technology agency Solarflare Studio. Using facial scanning technology and data collection from athletes themselves, ASICS says the tool can ‘capture the impact of different sports across 10 emotional and cognitive metrics, showing how they impact mood and brain function.’

ASICS recently launched its State of Mind Index, a survey which asked more than 6,000 people across 40 English counties to rate their mental state. The Index, produced in partnership with mental health charity Mind, revealed that London’s current mood is a rather low 59 out of 100, with 76% of respondents admitting to wanting an ‘uplift’.

Dr Stubbs, who lectures at King’s College London, said of the State of Mind Index: ‘At a time where we are turning a corner with a more positive outlook, the nation is still currently apprehensive, and this is reflected in our general mental wellbeing. The nation is clearly in need of an uplift and the summer of sport ahead has the power to give us all the boost we need.’

With tens of thousands of runners due to take part in the race, ASICS has put a number of measures in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19. These include a requirement to complete a health declaration before the event, proof of a negative lateral flow test, allocated arrival times, and an extended open period for the race start line.

posted Friday July 16th
by Jacob Moreton