1) It’s Not Your Usual 10K Run

Look. You know how it is. You get home from a long day of work, put on your running shoes and end up pounding the same pavements you always do. Sure, you’re running but you’re not really getting out amongst it are you? Well, that’s where Tough 10 comes in. Instead of those busy streets near your house, you’ll be taking on 10k of slippery slopes and rough terrain. It’ll be a challenge sure, but challenges are fun. They get you out of your same-old, same-old, routine.

2) There’s Tough 10 Events All Over The Country

If you were sat there reading this and thinking “Yeah, maybe this sounds good but there’s no way there’ll be a Tough 10 happening near me”… think again. Tough 10 events, you see, are like Ed Sheeran fans. They’re everywhere. Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester, the Peak District, Cannock Chase, London, Essex and Surrey are all hosting one between October 20th and November 17th.

3) You’ll Be Running In A Stunning UK Location

Epping Forest in Essex will serve up uneven trails and steep slopes, Heaton Park in Manchester will hit you with grassy slopes and slippery trails, Roundhay Park in Leeds – muddy trails and rocky streams. The different settings for these events might offer different challenges for the runners but they all have one thing in common. They’re absolutely stunning places to go for a run.

4) Chance To Run A New Kind Of Personal Best

Anyone who’s ever caught the running bug before can testify how easy it is to become consumed by ideas of times, and splits, and average pace per kilometre. Running apps, in particular, have made it simpler than ever before to fall down a pit of numbers, and statistics, and charts that pinpoint the exact moment your speed dropped. The Tough 10 will transport you to a simpler, purer, more natural form of running. Yes, you can still try and get a good time but you can do it knowing that it’s not the be all and end all. Difficult trail running terrain at Tough 10 means you won’t finish with your best ever 10k time, but that won’t stop it being your best/favourite ever 10k.

5) You’ll Have Fun

While certainly challenging, Tough 10 isn’t the type of horrifically gruelling event where you’ll rock up and endure a couple of miserable hours crawling through mud and wishing you’d done something else with your free time. It’s not about being an elite athlete, with a laser focused approach to running. It’s an event by the people, for the people. An event that will push you outside your comfort zone, but not so far that it sucks all joy from it. Normal, average Joe, runners are very much encouraged to get involved here.

6) You’ll be Making A Real Difference

Sort of feels like we’re repeating the introduction here, but it’s a point we feel is definitely worth making again. By taking part in Tough 10 and fundraising, you’ll be actively helping to raise money which will positively impact on the efforts of those working to beat cancer sooner. As a result of this, you’ll be making a real, tangible. difference to the lives of real people. That’s something we can all get onboard with.

For more information on Tough 10, or if you’d like to sign up to an event, pay a visit to the Cancer Research UK website.