One Big Thing 5K run enjoyed by staff and students

The second One Big Thing 5K charity run took place on Friday 16 May in Hyde Park with students and staff participating.

Imperial students and staff took to pounding the paths in Hyde Park for the One Big Thing 5k Anyway race on Friday 16 May. 

This ukactive initiative, now in it’s second year, saw universities up and down the country take part in a bid to encourage students to get involved in sport and promote long term physical activity participation. The event also coincided with the end of the College’s 12-week Go F’it Challenge which saw student and staff teams battle for the most minutes of movement each week. 

After a record number of 252  sign-ups, participants made the most of the sunny evening to bust the exam blues and complete the 5k Hyde Park course anyway. A colourful array of costumes competed for the prize of ‘Best Dressed 2014’ from bananas and oranges to link ladies, judokas and crocodiles to supermen. With many commuters walking through the park on their way home, the runners gained some enthusiastic spectators cheering and high fiving around the route encouraging participants all the way. 

With Imperial's cross country athletes and triathletes leading from the front, fast times were expected and delivered. First place went to three students who crossed the line hand in hand with a time of 17.02 minutes – Gary Hoare, Matt Douthwaite and James Ellis – jointly winning the ‘Fastest Male’ prize . Annie Goranssen came storming over the finish line in a time of 19.31 minutes to take the ‘Fastest Female’ prize, closely followed by Hannah Thompson with 19.50 and Ellie Fielding with 20.37. The ‘Best Dressed 2014’ prize went to Martha Riach for her efforts to run in a full banana suit, particularly in the 22 degree heat. 

Download the full results table here. 

The event was followed by an after party in Ethos where winners were awarded their One Big Thing prizes and Go F’it team prizes and completion certificates. Congratulations to IC Judo for first place, Treadmill Warriors for their second place win and Diggers Midnight Runners for third place. 

Sport Imperial staff and other volunteers helped to make the day a huge success. Donations can still be made to Marie Curie Cancer Care, the event’s charity, at http://www.justgiving.com/ImperialOBT. 

To participate in other 5k runs in your local area, visit www.parkrun.org.uk.