Reverse Running - gninnuR esreveR

Turn your back on sport!
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WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL UK SITE FOR REVERSE RUNNINGTM

 

Reverse running is the sport of running backwards and is known more widely around the world as Retro Running and Backward Running.  It is also a 'Super Exercise' and could be the next big fitness craze.  If running forwards isn’t your forte, maybe going backwards is. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you’ll never look forward again.

 UK BACKWARD RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS - CLICK HERE FOR THE RESULTS

 1st UK Backward Running Championships

in association with Forever Manchester

 

Heaton Park, Manchester       Sunday 22nd August 2010

 

aka THE BACKWARD MILE - RUN IT OR WALK IT

  

 

 
Winners of the UK Backward Running Championship 2010
Garret Doherty and Rachel Butterfield (Harry Shakeshaft/www.hsphotos.co.uk)
 
'Turn your back on sport!'  (Harry Shakeshaft/www.hsphotos.co.uk)
 
RACE REPORT

34 competitors turned their back on sport in Heaton Park yesterday for the UK's very first backward running race. In sunny conditions, entrants from all over the UK, including Ireland, Scotland and Wales tackled a scenic one mile course (including a hill) around the Park watched by over 400 spectators, many of whom looked somewhat bemused as the competitors passed them.  There was even one entrant from Venezuela in the line up to make it a truly international field. 

 

Irishman Garret Doherty breezed home in a spectacular 7 minutes 30 minutes (not a bad time running forwards!), almost two minutes ahead of his nearest rival, but then this was no surprise after Garret admitted afterwards he was actually a world champion at backward running. But everyone who entered did themselves justice, completing the course in very respectible times notwithstanding the wobbly legs towards the end and cries of 'Never again' as they crossed the finish line.  

 

Rachel Butterfield, from Hartlepool, was the clear winner in the ladies race finishing the course is 12 minutes 40 and for those who think that sport is strictly for the young, then think again. Andrea Lennon, from Prestwich, belied her 68 years when she completed the course in twenty minutes. 

 

Both the mens and womens winners received a trophy and a pair of Vibram Fivefingers for their efforts. Contrary to popular (and incorrect) opinion on the safety of backward running, there were no injuries. This was in no small part thanks to the official race charity, Forever Manchester who provided the much needed marshals and encouraged the competitors to complete the course.  The race will hopefully return to Heaton Park next year and there are also plans to expand the event to London! 

 
More photo's can be found here.
 

THE UK BACKWARD RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS WILL RETURN TO MANCHESTER IN 2011.  ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING THE OFFICIAL SPONSOR?

 

WE ARE ALSO PLANNING THE FIRST 'LONDON BACKWARD MILE' IN 2011 AS WE BEGIN TO TAKE BACKWARD RUNNING AROUND THE UK.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A SUITABLE VENUE OR ARE INTERESTED IN SPONSORING THE EVENT,

PLEASE GET IN TOUCH AT reverserunning@hotmail.com  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 Backward Running Facts

 

1.  Exercise's best kept secret? One lap of backward running is said to be equivalent to running six laps forwards

 

2. Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard ran backwards as part of their punishing training

 

3.  Backward Running burns a third more calories than forward running

 

4.  The 3rd World Championships took place in Austria in August 2010.  RESULTS HERE

Only 2 English competitors have entered with very mixed results (don't mention starting blocks to me!).  Congrats to Sally Raynes for her 4th place in the 800m and Irish entrant Garret Doherty with his victory in the 3000 metres.

 

5.  The 100 metre backward running world record is 13.6 seconds.  Can you manage that forwards?

 

6.  Backward walking goes back to ancient China times

 

7. In 2009 there was a backward running half marathon in Italy in 2009 and incredibly Switzerland hosted a backwards running race in the mountains

 

8. Serious backward runners customise hats with rear view mirrors.  As if running backwards didn't attract enough derision!

 

9.  There are innumerable benefits to be felt from running backwards – it offers a superb workout, is gentler on your knees than normal running and compliments your lower body by working your shins and quads.  It's also great fun!  Check out BENEFITS for more information and click here for a BEGINNERS GUIDE.

 

10. Got a bad back? Backward running could sort it out. Give it a go and notice an immediate difference. 

 

11.  Christian Grolle has just written a book, right, on the merits of backward walking.  If running backwards sounds too risky, this is the book for you. 

 

12. Can reverse the ageing process...well maybe not, but you will feel younger! 

          

 Finally, in the words of Reverse Running, 'If you want to take your running to a higher level, if you suffer from chronic pains and niggles in the back or lower body or just need a lift, then you really should consider backward running as an alternative.  It's more than a last resort.  Sorting out an injury need not mean several trips to the physio or wearing those nasty orthotics.  Running faster and stronger need not mean adding junk mileage on top of junk mileage.  Backward running is an intelligent way to train.  Don't be ignorant of its potential. Try it and see!'

 

 

 

IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF RUNNING FITNESS MAGAZINE THERE IS A FOUR PAGE FEATURE ON BACKWARD RUNNING BY OUR VERY OWN JAMES BAMBER 

 

 

 

 

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