Merlin has 20 guaranteed places available for the 2010 Run to the Beat half marathon – London’s musical half marathon.
If you would like to join the Merlin running team, just download an application form and email it to challengingyou@merlin.org.uk or call 020 7014 1706. Once your place is confirmed, we ask you to pay a £40 registration fee and to pledge to raise £500 to support Merlin’s essential medical relief work.
A big congrulations to the 30 Merlin runners who took to the streets of London to run the 13.1 miles of the Run to the Beat Half Marathon 2009.
The runners raised a huge £10,700 (and still counting!).
It was a fantastic day and we'd like to say a massive congratulations to all our runners – thank you for all your efforts and we look forward to you joining us again!
Details on how to sign up for next year’s event will be coming soon…
 Find out more about our other challenge events
Katie Allen ran for Merlin in the 2009 Run to the Beat half marathon. Here she talks about her experience running the half marathon.
"On 27 September, a team of six novice runners from Coffey International Development decided to undertake the Run to the Beat Challenge for Merlin.
The day had been preceded by three months of training (or three weeks in some cases) and numerous fundraising activities. Our colleagues had been overwhelmed with cake sales, barbeques and dress-down days in order to support Merlin.
On the day, we all assembled nervously, although comforted somewhat by the thousands of people awaiting the same fate, and their many supporters gathered around. Unlike reports we'd heard from last year, the weather was beautiful for our run, and even too hot at times.
Quickly enough the starting point arrived and the nerves turned into adrenalin which pushed us all off to an exciting start. The first few miles were fun; being surrounded by other people, most of whom were running in aid of a charity, was a great inspiration and kept me plodding on. At one point I remember going downhill and feeling really positive about how well I was doing...then I turned round a corner to see a huge hill! The stranger to my side and I looked at each other and laughed in horror.
The highlight for me was at mile 10. We came out of Greenwich Park to a great crowd of people and a DJ playing one of my favourite songs. The cheering crowds were so energetic, waving anything they could get their hands on, and they really helped to motivate us all for the last few miles.
Eventually I reached the end and was thrilled to discover I had run the 13.1 miles in two hours and six minutes. All of the Coffey team finished the race and proudly headed to the pub with the other Merlin runners for a well-deserved pint!" |