DoItForCharity 5k Santa Run 2008

The 2008 DoitforCharity Santa 5km run will take place on Sunday 7th December 2008.

Where

The run will take place at Greenwich Park just a few miles from the centre of London. Greenwich Park is one of the largest parks in the London area and is a wonderful setting for your 5km run!

How fit do I need to be?

Hundreds of thousands of people take part in 5km runs every year - many of them for the first time. It's therefore perfectly achievable for the 'average' person to take part in this event but to maximise your enjoyment you DO need to train - and that means more than just a couple of jogs in the park!

However, help is at hand in our fitness advice pages where we give you a sample training plan. Your chosen charity may also be able to give you help and support in terms of your training plan but whatever you do don't do nothing!

What kit will I need?

Santa suits will be provided but running is one of those great sports where you won't need lots of expensive equipment. Admittedly running shoes can be costly but they should last for around 500 miles which is 8 months on an average 15 miles/week training schedule. Once again help is at hand in the form of our Kit Advice pages where you will learn the importance of choosing the correct running shoes. But it's not enough to just choose the correct shoes - you've got to buy them at least a couple of months before the event itself so that you can wear them in!

How can I raise the sponsorship money?

Most charities will ask you to raise £100 or more to take part in the Doitforcharity 5km Santa Run - the reason for this is that places are extremely limited and the charities obviously want maximum benefit from the places they have been allocated.

However, you shouldn't find it difficult to raise this money - after all you don't run 5km every day do you?! Top tips include asking your employer to match everything else you raise pound for pound and asking people to sponsor you per kilometer (so the minimum you'll get from anybody is £5 which means you only need to find 20 people to reach the £100 fundraising target!) 

Once again more advice is available is on doitforcharity.com on our Fundraising Advice pages and your chosen charity should be able to help out as well

What do I need to do next?

Simply click the 'Register Online' link below to claim your place in the DoitforCharity Santa 5km Run. Hundreds of charities on doitforcharity.com have places available and as long as you commit to raising the minimum sponsorship they will be delighted to have you running on their behalf!