Students, Staff And Alumni To Get Active At Bristol 10K

Students, staff and alumni from the University of Bristol are being invited to lace up their trainers and take part in this year’s Great Bristol 10k on Sunday 3 May. 

Last year around 700 runners from the University ran the 6.2 miles around Bristol city centre and more than 300 participants from the University have already signed up to the annual event. 

This year the University is teaming up with its Children of the 90s research programme to help encourage everyone on campus, runners and non-runners alike, to get active to support more positive physical and mental health and wellbeing at the same time as raising awareness and funds for the University’s B: Active Healthy Minds initiative. 

In addition, alumni who live outside Bristol or indeed the country, are encouraged to take part ‘remotely’ and post their efforts on social media using #TeamUoBristol. 

Professor Hugh Brady, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bristol, said: “After a fantastic level of participation from our community in last year’s Bristol 10K, we are delighted to partner again with the Great Run Company for the 2020 Great Bristol 10K.  

“With a renewed focus this year on raising funds for our Healthy Minds programme, we are seeing even greater numbers of our students and staff sign up to run together.  

“Running has so many recognised health benefits, both physical and mental, and we are looking forward to bringing a diverse and enthusiastic group of students, staff and alumni to the harbourside on Sunday 3rd May to take part with our city in this fantastic event.”

David Hart, Partnerships Director, for the Great Run Company, added: “The link up was a huge success last year and the sight of nearly a thousand staff and students, of all athletic abilities, forming a sea of red streaming over the start line was brilliant. 

“The Great Run Company is proud to support an initiative promoting physical and mental well-being.”

Professor Nic Timpson, Principal Investigator of Children of the 90s, said: “Here at Children of the 90s, the Bristol community is integral to everything we do, so we’re thrilled to be part of the Great Bristol 10k which brings people together from across our city to run alongside each other.  

“Children of the 90s has been following the health and development of local parents and their children since the study started in 1991, and we believe that by better understanding what is affecting our health now, we can help prevent serious illnesses later. 

“What better way to help promote healthy hearts and healthy minds across Bristol than by taking part in the 10K? 

“We’re looking for people to join our team – whether participants, family or members of our community, you’ll be running alongside researchers and staff from the University and our study, helping to make our city a better place for generations to come.”

Kirsty Tomlinson, Events Manager for University of Bristol Sport, added: “The Great Bristol 10k is a huge event for Bristol and everyone who took part last year had a fantastic experience.

 “Community and belonging are key contributors to positive mental health and is a key outcome of this year’s event. By joining our University team, runners get the chance to feel part of something bigger. Many of our runners will be new to running this year, and we hope that the support of the wider #WeAreBristol community will be a huge motivation for them.” 

Amy Brook, Sport and Student Development Officer for Bristol Students’ Union said: “It's fantastic that hundreds of students are already signing up to the Great Bristol 10k. The run is an amazing way for our students and their supporters to come out and show our love for the city. Getting active is such a big part of looking after your wellbeing, so having this chance to join in the day at a student-friendly price is brilliant. I'm very pleased the SU is involved and wish all our members well in their training”.

This year’s 10K, which is expected to see over 12,000 people take to the streets of the city, passes some of Bristol's most famous landmarks as it sets off from the historic harbour taking in Avon Gorge, the Clifton Suspension Bridge and St Mary Redcliffe Church before finishing back on Anchor Road.

To sign up to the Great Bristol 10k click here