Live Compere, Matthew Walker hosts main stage at Run Fest Run 2021
RunFestRun (@runfestrun) is the UK's biggest running party, taking place at Laverstoke Park Farm. Over a 3 day weekend, it boasts races including 5km runs, 10km runs, family fun runs and a half marathon, all designed by Steve Cram MBE and Events of the North.
In 2016, I was brought on board by the team at CarFest (@carfestevent) as one of 2 lead presenters. Between 2016-2019, I hosted multiple stages at CarFest, including ‘The Dance Stage’ featuring celebrity guests including Karen Hauer (@karenhauer) and Kevin Clifton (@keviclifton) of Strictly Come Dancing Fame and ‘The Tent of Inspiration’, where inspirational guests including Paralympic athlete, Ade Adepitan (@adeadepitan); Adventurer, Sean Conway (@seanconwayadventure) and Skipper, Dan Monk from Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust would hold inspirational talks about the incredible journey’s that life has taken them on.
At the time, RunFestRun was still just a glint in CarFest’s eye. To celebrate the final day of the CarFest weekend, celebrities and guests at the festival were invited to take part in a 5k fun run on Sunday morning. This event proved to be incredibly popular, with more and more people favouring their running shoes on Sunday morning over one last drink with Rick Astley (@officialrickastley) on Saturday night. And so, thanks to the popularity of this charming 5k on Sunday morning in the English countryside, RunFestRun was born.
This year, the event ran side by side with CarFest. In previous years, it has stood loud and proud on its own but with the pandemic throwing many spanners into the works throughout 2020, the decision was made that RunFestRun would join its older sibling across a 3 day weekend at Laverstoke Park Farm.
I arrived on site on Thursday evening and was greeted by a charming teepee glamping tent that I would call home for the weekend. My stage manager, Sarah and I were up early on Friday morning to a) ensure we got a good breakfast inside us and b) to run over the main stage schedule and sound check mics before the doors opened and audiences started to arrive at 12pm.
The entire weekend was a complete joy from start to finish. My opposite number, Dave Hellard from the Bad Boy Running Podcast (@badboyrunningpodcast) did an incredible job over on the Get Active Stage. My guests and RunFestRun team captains on the main stage, Paula Radcliffe (@paula_radcliffe), Colin Jackson (@colinrayjackson), Steve Cram (@stevecramtraining) and Natasha Evans provided wonderful inspiration to the 1000’s of runners who came out to join us across the weekend. It was also a wonderful opportunity to meet and interview guests whose careers I was less familiar with. Rob Pope (@run.robla.run) for example is a truly inspirational character from my home town, Liverpool. Rob is a hero of a man, running over 15,700 miles across America on the same route that Forrest Gump took in the film. Robs new book, “Becoming Forrest” is out now. Kirsty Gallagher (@kirsty_gallagher) is a Lunar Living and Soul Mentor. She joined us in front of the main stage on Friday and Saturday for a live Q&A with Chirs Evans (@achrisevans), Dr Rangan Chatergee (@drchatergee) and Megan Rossi (@theguthealthdoctor). Kirsty is a beautiful soul inside and out and as fellow Northerners, we got on like a house on fire from the off.
The highlight of the weekend however was an interview that I conducted on the main stage with Iwan Thomas (@iwanrunner) who was there to discuss his recent gruelling 100-mile ultramarathon, raising over £20k for Group B Strep Support, the world’s leading charity working to eradicate Group B Strep infection in babies. During our interview, Iwan casually challenged me to run with him in the RunFestRun 5k that was about to take place. It’s not often a European, Commonwealth Games and World champion sprinter (not to mention 400m British record-holder) challenges you to a race so it seemed rude not to. Running 5k with an Olympic champion through the fields on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, it was easy to see how this event has grown from a family fun run to the all inspiring festival that it has become.
A huge thank you to our entire team for producing an incredible festival that provided encouragement, support and laughter to 1000's of families and individuals. From first time runners to ultra-marathon machines, RunFestRun showcased the very best of the running community and celebrated the incredible things that can be achieved when we all put our minds to something. Here's to 2022, long may it continue.
Special applause to David Hellard - aka Dangerous David for knocking it out of the park on the Get Active Stage. Brian (@porterbrian) and Lewis (@lewismosesnlc), the best commentary team in the business and DJ Aston (@astonvibe) for providing the tunes. Not to mention, Georgina, Alan, Sarah, Hayley, Tess, Daisy, David, Megan, Neil, Georgia, Adam and everyone that worked tirelessly behind the scenes.
Until next time... 🏃♂️🏃♀️🧑🦽👩🦽
“Matthew made a great impression on everyone. His energy and passion kept the main stage alive throughout the entire weekend”