Calling racing’s home heroes to join the 2.6 Challenge #TwoPointSixChallenge

Many keen, and certainly brave runners from across racing would have been taking on the huge challenge of the London Marathon this weekend to raise important funds for charities. Instead, they are continuing their training in the hope that the iconic 26.2-mile race will now go ahead in October.

Organisers of the UK’s major mass-participation events, including the London Marathon have launched a campaign to help charities plug an expected £4bn income shortfall. The London Marathon – the world’s biggest annual one-day fundraising event – itself generated £66.4m for charities in 2019.

The 2.6 challenge has caught the imagination of many racing people who are dreaming up activities based around the numbers 2.6 or 26 that suits their skills and completing them on Sunday 26 April – when the 40th London Marathon would have taken place.

Why not get involved by documenting your 2.6 challenge on Sunday – it’s a great way to keep active and to support the campaign.

This could be something as simple as pledging to run or ride 2.6 miles as your daily exercise; holding the plank (not a piece of wood!) for 2.6 minutes, or even gardening for 26 minutes.

Racing-inspired ideas:

• Run 2.6 (or 26?!) furlongs
• Pretend to ride a racehorse in a race for 2.6 minutes
• Complete a Jockey Fit workout 2.6 times
• ‘Gallop’ around your garden for 26 seconds

There are no rules – apart from the Government’s guidelines on how to exercise safely during this time. The main thing is to get active, have fun, pledge whatever you can to help or fundraise to save the UK’s charities.

Find out more and donate to your favourite charity here: https://www.twopointsixchallenge.co.uk/

Racing charities taking part include Racing Welfare, the Racehorse Sanctuary and the Injured Jockeys’ Fund – simply visit the website and click the search bar.