Looking for a new challenge to start the new year? Want to raise money for charity in 2024, or looking for a reason to improve your fitness? Here are a few challenge events happening in London over the coming months, which you can sign up for right now.
Vertical Rush 2024
We're getting things off to a lofty start with Vertical Rush, the annual climb of Tower 42 (aka the Natwest Tower) in the City. When we say 'climb', we don't mean the exterior of the building — the challenge here is to run all the way up the staircase inside the building, from the ground all the way up to the 42nd floor.
You can run, walk or jog the distance. A member of Team Londonist took on the challenge back in 2018, and ran the first six or so floors before admitting defeat and walking the rest. As long as you've got good enough fitness levels to make it to the top one way or another, you can sign up — and if you're anything like us, the promise of the views (and medal) at the top will keep you going.
The event supports homelessness charity Shelter. There's a £20 registration fee which helps to cover the cost of running the event, and each participant must pledge to raise £150 in sponsorship.
The good news? It takes place on 28 February, and as 2024 is a leap year, you've got an extra day the following day to recover.
Vertical Rush, 28 February 2024.
Walkie Talkie Tower Climb
Similar to the above, the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH) holds its own tower climb challenge event, this one taking place in the Walkie Talkie building (or 20 Fenchurch Street, to use its official name).
Sign up to climb 36 floors and 896 steps up to the Sky Garden, where a celebratory drink (and top-notch views) will be waiting for you. There's a registration fee, as well as a fundraising pledge of £250.
Walkie Talkie Tower Climb, 16 March 2024.
Kew the Run, Kew Gardens
As running locations go, Kew Gardens is up there among London's finest. Kew the Run is a two-day event taking place over Easter weekend, with a 10K route on Saturday and a half marathon on Sunday. The 10K course is entirely contained within the gardens, while the half marathon starts and ends in the gardens, meandering down to Ham House in Richmond and back. Could be a good warm-up run for the London Marathon three weeks later...
Every participant receives a t-shirt and medal, and free entry to Kew Gardens for you and four supporters on the day. It's not specifically a charity event, so there's no pressure to fundraise and collect sponsorship, though of course there's nothing to stop you supporting a charity of your choice if you're so inclined.
Kew The Run, 30-31 March 2024.
London Landmarks Half Marathon 2024
The ballot for places in the London Landmarks Half Marathon has closed, but you could still bag yourself a spot on the start line via a charity place. Macmillan Cancer Support, Alzheimer's Research UK, Guide Dogs, Shelter, The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, RNIB and Crisis are just some of the dozens of charities listed who may have places available — it's a case of contacting the organisation individually to find a place.
As for the race itself, it's a route through the City and Westminster on closed roads, starting at Pall Mall and passing landmarks including Trafalgar Square, St Paul's Cathedral, Bank, Monument and the Tower of London before doubling back and finishing at Downing Street. A great option if you've always fancied experiencing the London Marathon but don't think you've got a full 26.2 miles in you.
London Landmarks Half Marathon, 7 April 2024.
Hackney Half Marathon or 5K
Over the middle weekend of May, thousands of runners pound east London's streets for the Hackney Half Marathon and 5K. General places for the half marathon have all gone (though you may find a place via a charity), but registration for the Hackney 5K through Hackney Marshes has yet to open at time of writing. Keep an eye on the website if you're keen.
Hackney Half Marathon and 5K, 18-19 May 2024.
Ford RideLondon 2024
It's not all about running — Ride London is a huge cycling event which takes place in London and beyond each year.
The Ford RideLondon-Essex 100/60/30 are routes of 100/60/30 miles respectively, passing through London and out into rural Essex. The 100-miler is a loop out to Braintree and back, the 60-miler loops to Ongar and back, while the 30-mile route gets as far as Woodford, close to the Essex border. All begin at Victoria Embankment, and end in central London locations.
Not a serious cyclist, or don't think you could go that distance? The Ford RideLondon FreeCycle is a delight of an event which opens up a traffic-free route through central London to members of the public who wish to cycle around the capital in a safe environment. It's a circular route passing Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, Barbican, the City and St Paul's. It's free, open to all ages and abilities, and you can ride as much or as little of the route as you like.
RideLondon, 26 May 2024.
Around the World in 30 Days
Whether you're a walker, jogger, runner, swimmer, cyclist or even a rollerblader, you can get involved with the Around the World in 30 Days challenge, which raises money for ZSL, the conservation charity which runs London Zoo.
Choose whether you want to cover 2km (2,500 steps), 5km (6,250 steps) or 8km (10,000 steps) per day in June (or set your own target), and select your fundraising target (£150 is the suggested aim). Then, add your progress to a global tracker: the idea is that between everyone taking part, the distance around the world — that’s 40,075km — will be covered in June.
Around the World in 30 Days, June 2024.
Richmond RunFest
If you missed out on Kew the Run (above), there's another chance to run through Kew Gardens in September. Richmond RunFest consists of four different events: the Richmond Marathon and Richmond Half Marathon which start at Kew Gardens and end at the Old Deer Park in Richmond, the Richmond 10K which takes place entirely inside Kew Gardens, and the Family Mile and Kids' Mile races, in the Old Deer Park.
The latter raises money for WWF, with the whole family, including pets and pushchairs, invited to take part together. The marathon, half marathon and 10K events aren't specifically for charity, but again, there's nothing to stop you doing your own fundraising if you wish.
Richmond RunFest, 14-15 September 2024.
Royal London Hospital Helipad Abseil
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One for the daredevils among you: launch yourself from the highest rooftop helipad in Europe, on top of the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, and abseil 17 floors back down to the ground. It's a free hang abseil, meaning no contact with the wall on the way down, and raises money for London's Air Ambulance Charity, with a £40 registration fee and fundraising pledge of £300.
It's expected to take place in September 2024, exact date TBC. Keep an eye on the website and sign up for updates if you're interested in taking part.
September 2024.
