AW Ultra

Lockdown Ultra is becoming a movement

admin — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 12:27:12 +0000

While the running movement globally is pretty big our view is often limited to our own region or running speciality.

The Lockdown series of runs continues to grow as the number of countries requesting their population to stay home increases, and as such the realisation that runners worldwide are seeking either a competitive challenge or just the motivation to keep moving in these trying times.

I’m amazed at the response that this initiative has had. No more so than this week where from nowhere we’ve amassed almost 300 runners across almost 40 countries competing or participating simultaneously. Whatever the reason, it’s good to see.

Lockdown Ultra race instructions.

admin — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 06:59:30 +0000

Welcome to the Lockdown Ultra race instructions.

Ok I say race, this is really a bit of fun but with a serious edge. As a global event you can choose to run at any time over the two race days and be sure that you’re running alongside someone else in the world.

Getting your bib & checking in

You should receive full instructions and your bib the day before the event begins. You should print this out, take a selfie, and post it to the Facebook page, if posting on Instagram please use hashtag #lockdownultra and tag @andywilliams_ultrarunner

Your bib contains a unique QR code which is also contained within the email. You should scan this QR code with your mobile phone to go directly to the web app. For IOS users you should merely open the camera and point it at the QR code – it should recognise the code and a pop up will ask you to go to the web app. For Android users you may need to install a QR code reader and follow the same process. If all else fails the email contains a link to the app or you can simply go straight there by clicking here.

Once in the web app you have multiple options. You can:

- - - - View and select your race
      - Obtain and print your bib
      - Check in
      - Start and run your race
      - View the leader board
      - View race results
      - Enter your race time
      - Upload your race photos and evidence
      - View and download your certificates
      - Purchase medals

The first thing you should do is check in by clicking the check in button and choosing your preferred run day and time. Don’t worry if you change your mind you can always change this later.

Starting your race

As this is a global event there are rolling start times. When it’s time to start you should select the start race button in your web app. You should see the runners currently active in a list below your name. When you’re ready to go, click the green start button.

Recording your run

You should record your run either using a mobile phone app (Garmin, Strava, Runtastic, Nike, Fitbit etc) or you can use any other recordable means.

Examples of acceptable evidence:

Finishing your run:

When you finish your run you should click the red stop button, then you can either restart or finish and log your time. You should record in the app the time displayed on your device and submit this.

Uploading your evidence:

Once you’ve submitted your time you have the option to upload up to 5 photos. These should contain at least one photo of you with your bib, and another containing your evidence. The others are up to you. Photos uploaded via the app will be reviewed and posted on the Facebook page.

The finish

Whether you run 1km or 100km, in your house, outside, or on a treadmill, we want to know about it.

Please post photos to our Facebook page or to Instagram using the hashtag #lockdownultra and tag @andywilliams_ultrarunner

Leader boards and results

You can access real time leader boards here and full results here

Medals & certificates

All finishers receive a finishers certificate. You also have the option to purchase a medal. This can be done via the web app or you can click here

Lockdown Ultra finisher medal

$14.00

The Lockdown Ultra virtual run series

admin — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 08:53:35 +0000

So 2020 arrived and like most serious runners I had a schedule of events mapped out for the year with a few nice gaps for any opportunistic runs that mights appear. Travel at the start of the year meant I had to cancel my first few events but I did nevertheless get to run solo in some great destinations such as Thailand, Tokyo & San Francisco. From February though as we now know things went south pretty quickly and as of now it’s guessed that more than 1 in 4 people globally is in some form of forced lockdown. Here in Singapore we’ve been lucky – restrictions came in early but were pretty relaxed so going out for a run or using the gym hasn’t been an issue. My first planned events in New York and San Francisco got canned though as travel restrictions came into force and pretty soon colleagues around the world were relaying their various states of lockdown.

Fast forward a couple more weeks and the global lockdown is pretty much complete. What better way I thought than to host a virtual run? A quick post on a couple of the Facebook groups and the response was generally positive. And so the first Lockdown Ultra came together. In just a couple of days I had a logo, a Facebook page, some great prizes donated by others from the running community, and a long list of participants. The first run was held the last weekend of March and while several attendees didn’t show we still managed to scrape together around 15 runners.

Now in week three and we’re up to 100 runners across more than 25 countries. Logistically it’s somewhat of a nightmare, but all that aside it’s been a great way to bring people together and enable some form of participation, or competition for all involved.

Most of the dedicated runners taking part have had one of more races postponed or cancelled and more than a few have expressed gratitude for the extra push this has given them after months of hard training. While I hope the current situation doesn’t last too long, for as long as it does I hope the Lockdown Ultra will remain.

You can sign up for the races here

Or drop by the dedicated Facebook page here