Strava Challenge: post your best 1k times… and get ready for a new mini-challenge!
January 28, 2021 | by Matt Halfpenny
England Boxing Strava Running Challenge participants are reminded not to forget to post their best 1k times for this week’s mini-challenge ending on Sunday evening – and prepare for an exciting new one next week!
Due to its popularity – more than 650 people have joined in across the Schools, Junior, Youth, Senior and Coaches and Non-boxers categories to help with their lockdown training – the overall challenge is being extended into February after the initial plan was to run it during January only.
And to celebrate, there will be a new mini-challenge for everyone to get their teeth stuck into starting on Monday (1st February) for two consecutive weeks – a 3k challenge (with two sets of weekly winners).
Designed to test not just fleet of foot but endurance too, 3k runs help prepare boxers for the kind of high intensity they can expect in a boxing bout.
It is also the distance frequently used in fitness tests for England and GB squad assessments.
England Development Coach Amanda Coulson said: “Having a second consecutive week of the same challenge means everyone gets a great opportunity to take on not only the previous week’s top competitors but, more importantly in my eyes, has the chance to show the inner drive to beat their individual previous personal best.”
You can set as many 3k times as you like, but it must be done in one continuous run, automated through Strava or, if on a private treadmill or inputted manually, must be supported by pictorial evidence of the data created.
Please see below the example of England Talent boxer George Liddard for how your 3k should show up on your Strava page.
In the example, the time that will be measured is the ‘moving time’, which in this case would be 12.02.
In order not to lose any time, it is in your interest to make sure that you run as close to 3km as possible. Equally, make sure you run at least 3km, as if you run 2.99k, your time will not count.
To get the best results, follow these pointers:
- Always find an-off road route away from traffic.
- Try to find a route as straight as possible, which prevents loss of time on cornering.
- Try to find a route with little or no inclines that will slow you down.
- Measure out the 3km exactly on a slow practice run, so you know where to start and stop to record the correct distance.
- Don’t forget to stop the timing of your run immediately after reaching 3k!
For the 3k challenge, participants must ensure they have their Privacy Controls under Settings set to ‘Everyone’ both for the Profile Page and Activities in order that results can be viewed.
To reiterate, you must complete your 3k without stopping and only those who were specifically targeting this challenge, and running no more than 4k, will be considered.
Please note that while boxers overall mileage will continued to be displayed on group leaderboards, these results will not be acknowledged in week 3’s challenge.
How to join in
If you want to begin your 2021 by getting in running shape but not entered yet, there is still time to join with Challenges running each week from Monday morning to Sunday evening.
To join in with the England Boxing Strava Running Challenge 2021, first sign up to Strava at https://www.strava.com/, if you haven’t already.
Then head over to the relevant group to complete your registration. Runs will automatically be logged in the challenge once you are registered:
Schools boxers – https://www.strava.com/clubs/englandboxingschools
Junior boxers – https://www.strava.com/clubs/englandboxingjunior
Youth boxers – https://www.strava.com/clubs/englandboxingyouth
Senior boxers – https://www.strava.com/clubs/englandboxingsenior
Coaches and Non-boxers – https://www.strava.com/clubs/englandboxingcoaches
Please state your club and position on your Strava profile. For example, put ‘Army boxer’, ‘Steel City Coach’, ‘Aberfeldy Welfare Officer’ or ‘Wearmouth Administrator’. If you are an official with no specific club, please state your region and role, such as ‘Eastern Counties Judge’.
Should you have any problems with registering, please email: matt.halfpenny@englandboxing.org
Key Information
Important: Please note that boxers and participants taking part are doing so their own risk and must ensure they have adequate footwear and clothing and no injury or health concerns.
It is recommended that participants do not to run alone in the dark or in adverse weather (such as snow or ice) and parents and coaches are requested to monitor the activity of under 18s and ensure that those taking part do not push themselves beyond their running capabilities, while also giving themselves adequate rest. Adults should also be careful to run within their limits and rest when appropriate.
You can also post pics that you’d like to share of you running in your England gear on our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter channels using the hashtag #EBStravaChallenge.
