Today we are extremely excited to announce a new initiative called Run the Solar System. 

Produced by Six to Start, the team behind Zombies, Run! (the world’s most popular smartphone fitness game), and supported by Yakult UK, Run the Solar System will be an immersive running app, with the solar system scaled down to a 10k virtual race.  Broadcaster and space enthusiast Dallas Campbell will narrate the virtual race through space, which will also feature clips from the NASA archives. 

The website www.runthesolarsystem.com is live today for sign ups to the virtual race.  The app and a 5k training mission will be available in early March. The full virtual 10k race will be available to download and participate in during British Science Week (10 – 19 March 2017). To help kick start your training, why not download our 10k training plan?!

Runners anywhere in the world will be able to download the full 10k race app and take part in a virtual race during British Science Week; which will include a leaderboard for participants to track their performance against one another! 

Yakult UK’s support for Run the Solar System has also enabled the British Science Association to hold a live 10k race event, which will take place during British Science Week: on Saturday 11 March 2017 at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. There will be a special ‘space-themed’ race village featuring engaging activities for the families and friends of participants.

Ivvet Modinou, Head of Engagement at the British Science Association, said: “We’re really excited about Run the Solar System as a way of reaching people who might not ordinarily engage with science but are interested in sports and running. It also provides a fun physical activity for science and space fans looking for a New Year fitness boost. We are delighted to be partnering with the brilliant team at Six to Start on the app; and would like to thank Yakult UK for their support for this new initiative.”

Hiroaki Yoshimura, Deputy Managing Director for Yakult UK said, “Yakult was developed by the scientist Dr Shirota in 1935. Since then, science has always been at the heart of the company, and remains so to this day. This new initiative by British Science Week seemed a perfect opportunity, to support both science and fitness. The new campaign, ‘Run the Solar System’, enables people to take part by downloading a specially designed running app or through the unique live 10K race. Our aim is to get people moving and engage with science.”

Adrian Hon, CEO of Six to Start said: “Running across the solar system is the next best thing to taking a real-life spacecraft – and the good news is that you don’t need to train for years to do it! Whether you run every day or you’re just starting out, thanks to our cutting-edge app and the British Science Association, you too can dodge through the asteroid belt and run through the rings of Saturn!”

The app and participation in the virtual race is free, but – for a one-off donation of £15 to the BSA – entrants will receive a special Run the Solar System medal and one year’s free membership of the British Science Association. 

Entrants to the live race (race fee £15), will receive a race number, chip timing, a finishers’ medal and a goody bag.