The Ultra MK Challenge 2021

Big Cow Sports are delighted to introduce The Ultra MK Challenge. A brand new event that challenges you to run or walk the 30km or 60km routes on offer, around the wonderful city of Milton Keynes in aid of the British Red Cross. 

The event will be run as a virtual event in 2021, although it takes place on a real-life course and can be completed at any time between Thursday 1st July – Sunday 3rd October 2021.

This event is designed to be completed in one go; that means you start and finish on the same day. We’ll also mark the course with directional arrows, although you’ll need the RunGo App’s voice navigation to guide you as well.  

The start and finish location of both routes will be at the British Red Cross charity shop in Stony Stratford.

Once you have signed up, the athlete information pack will be emailed to you. 

Ahead of this summer’s Tokyo 2021 Olympics Games, the British Red Cross are launching ‘Be Your Best’ in partnership with Team GB, to raise vital funds for people in crisis. Big Cow Sports are supporting the campaign through the Ultra MK Challenge and donating 10% of ticket sales to the British Red Cross.

The British Red Cross partnership with Team GB is all about community. Whether it’s a Team GB athlete relying on their coach’s support, or someone turning to a Red Cross volunteer to get them through a tough time – connections and relationships are vital. From the front line to the finish line, we can achieve so much more when we work together.

From 28 June, Be Your Best and the British Red Cross is working alongside the nation’s Olympians, past and present, to inspire people to be their best. This last year has proven that we can achieve so much more when we come together and look out for each other. Together, we are more powerful.

Saturday 18th September from 10:30am – 4:00pm there will be a Fun Day at the British Red Cross charity shop in Stony Stratford (38 High Street, Stony Stratford, MK11 1AF) to celebrate The Ultra MK Challenge.

We hope people will run one of the distances, either as a group or individually on the same day. This will be a great day to run it as you can bring your whole family along to enjoy all the fun activities planned. There will be a yummy cake sale, guess the number of British Red Cross badges in a jar and a raffle – with prizes including: beauty and wellbeing care sets, headphones and restaurant vouchers. We also have a very special guest making an appearance on the day, the Mayor of Milton Keynes Councillor Mohammed Khan who will be celebrating everyone’s achievements for this event.

Why not enjoy the Ultra MK Challenge with some friends in our relay option?

You and three friends can take part, splitting the course up between you.

Only the team captain will need to register for the event, and you’ll have to register under your team’s name rather than your real name (i.e., Team Ultra, rather than Joe Bloggs).

You will still need to scan each checkpoint as normal, we recommend using the checkpoints as changeover areas, although you can split the distance up in any way you wish.

When it comes to scanning the QR codes, your phones will act as the relay baton. Each member will be responsible for scanning the QR codes by using the edit-code found on the Captain’s receipt and then scanning the checkpoint code.

(The edit code is a hyperlink and can be sent to all members of the team, so each team member can use their own phone to scan the codes.)

For the Ultra MK Challenge, we will be using the Results Base QR Tag Timing system to generate splits and finish times for you all.

This is achieved through scanning QR codes at the start, finish line and other checkpoints on course.

It’s important that you scan all of the checkpoint QR codes as without them, there will be no way to record your time!

You can read more about the QR Tag Timing system here.

• Technical T-Shirt
• Bespoke wooden medal
• QR Tag-Timing
• Awesome signposted routes and voice navigation

There are two ways you can enter the Ultra MK Challenge.

1. Fundraising entry
2. Non-fundraising entry

Fundraising entry:

• Enter for free and commit to raising £150 for the British Red Cross (Individual)
• Enter for free and commit to raising £600 for the British Red Cross (Team)

Non-Fundraising entry

• £25 for Individual Entry + booking fee
• £100 for Team Entry (4 members) + booking fee

For each ticket sold 10% of the ticket fee will be donated to The British Red Cross Society, registered with charity no. 220949 in England and Wales and SCO37738 in Scotland towards its General Funds

Entry into the Ultra MK Challenge is completely free for charity places, although if you choose a charity place, you are committing to raising £150 (Individuals) or £600 (Relay Team) for the British Red Cross.

If you do not reach the fundraising target, you will be required to pay the outstanding amount of the £25 registration fee (Individual) or £100 (Relay Teams), of which 10% will be donated to the British Red Cross. 

Once you have entered the event, the British Red Cross will contact you to set up your fundraising page. 

This is included in the events Virtual Terms and Conditions which can be found here.

If you purchase your own place, you can still fundraise for the British Red Cross. The only difference is that there isn’t a fundraising target.

To set up a Just Giving page, please visit www.justgiving.com/redcross. If you have any questions about fundraising for the British Red Cross, you can get in touch with LeanneSinclair@redcross.org.uk

I’m running in a relay team, do we all need to complete an equal distance?
No, you can mix and match the distance however you’d like! If you choose to changeover at the checkpoints, then you can scan the QR code and generate the split for that leg!

Do I need to scan the checkpoint QR codes?
Yes you do! These checkpoints will generate times for you around the course.

I’m fundraising for the British Red Cross but I haven’t managed to raise £150, what will happen?
If you do not reach the fundraising target, you will be required to pay the outstanding amount of the £25 registration fee (Individual) or £100 (Relay Teams), of which 10% will be donated to the British Red Cross.

I haven’t signed up for a fundraising entry but I’d still like to raise money for the British Red Cross. What can I do?

If you purchase your own place, you can still fundraise for the British Red Cross. The only difference is that there isn’t a fundraising target.

To set up a Just Giving page, please visit www.justgiving.com/redcross. If you have any questions about fundraising for the British Red Cross, you can get in touch with LeanneSinclair@redcross.org.uk