Paula Radcliffe is bringing Fun, Families and Fitness together in Paula’s Families on Track relay for the very first time as part of Monaco Run 2024.
This exciting new addition to Monaco Run is an opportunity for the entire family including children and grandparents to compete in a safe environment as one team in one continuous relay to complete a 10km distance.
The unique format was introduced by Monaco resident Paula Radcliffe, the British marathon world champion, in the UK in 2019. “The idea for the concept was born out of a desire to get families exercising together, spending quality time together and having fun,”‘ said Paula for NEWS.MC.
“It actually stemmed from my daughter Isla and I taking part in a 10km relay in Monaco together, after which she said I should do a family running event. I then worked together with Steve Cram’s event company in the UK to bring it to life in a fun, safe way so that all generations of the family could take part. That’s why we run it on a looped set up through the “Family Zone” or ‘Crazy zone”. That way the only time young children are not with their family is when they are running a visible loop. We have loops of 250m, 500m and 1000m usually and the family amasses 10km together. There is no winner, every family that completes 10km crosses the finish line together. In this edition due to limited space there are just two loops, 250m and 500m.”
Monaco is the first ever edition of Families on Track outside the UK and Paula is happy to be bringing it here with the support of Monaco Run and the Princess Charlene Foundation.
“ASM athlétisme and Monaco Run are giving us the space and venue to put it on, Fondation Princesse Charlene in helping us to put the event on as a Free to Enter event to boost the community and also working with me on a post pandemic venture to get Monaco children back into physical activity. We are also partnering with Pure Ionic Water and will have reusable bottles for everyone and a pure ionic, healthy filtered and alkaline water station on site. We are also looking to partner with Fondation Mora to be able to put on more events in the future, which is great news.”
Paula’s Families on Track hopes to get 50-60 families taking part. Teams are between 3 and 5 people, They must include one adult and one child. Everyone gets a Families on Track t-shirt and goody bag. There are no restrictions as to how many loops each runs or which you choose to do.”
Previously the fastest female marathoner of all time, Paula held the Women’s World Marathon Record with a time of 2:15:25 for 16 years (until 2019). She ran the final race of her career in 2015 in the London Marathon. Her life is still involved with athletics but also with her children, local community and life, here in Monaco.
“I spend time commentating for the BBC and others, acting as an Ambassador for big events and doing motivational speaking and charity work too. I get to travel and meet some amazing people. I love it as it is constantly changing,”
Families on Track will take place on Saturday February 10, 2024 from 16::00 on Quai Albert 1er. Free to enter on monacorun.com.
