Register here to officially enter the Digital Virgin Money London Marathon and run it from a treadmill anywhere in the world.
You can choose to do one mile, four miles or the full 26.2 miles. This year, 37,000 runners will be running the Virgin Money London Marathon as the London event celebrates 35 years since it began. In signing up here to join on Sunday via a treadmill, you will be joining the first ever digital version of the London event.
Run with Tim live from Space!
Whether you run the 1 mile, 4 mile or 26.2 mile event, you will be running with British ESA astronaut Tim Peake as he runs live from the International Space Station.
Tim is Britain's first citizen to participate in the European Space Agency astronaut programme. He is also the first person to run the Virgin Money London Marathon from space. He is running to raise awareness for The Prince’s Trust.
Like you, Tim Peake will be using the RunSocial app and running on a treadmill. However, Tim will also need a harness to keep him tethered to the treadmill and will have orbited Earth over 2.5x as he runs London (the ISS travels over 37,000mph and orbits every 90 minutes).
Follow Tim on Twitter for more on his adventure: @astro_timpeake
Setup RunSocial and join Tim Peake running the Digital Virgin Money
London Marathon
1. Sign Up
Sign up FREE at the Digital Virgin Money London Marathon registration page. You will be asked to choose whether you want to run the 1 mile, 4 miles or full 26.2 miles.
2. Download App
Download FREE the app “RunSocial” from the Apple App Store.
Once you have signed up, installed RunSocial and logged in you will see a countdown clock appear in your RunSocial app.
3. Download Video
Download FREE the Digital Virgin Money London Marathon video route in the RunSocial app. The route comes in 6 video sections. More detail on video route is provided below. IMPORTANT: Please be on WiFi when downloading the video route to avoid potentially high network charges.
4. Digital Run Set Up
- Before the event, go through the Checks and Tips List.
- With your Apple device on your treadmill console, log into RunSocial and select your Input Speed Method.
- Be ready as the RunSocial countdown clock approaches zero. The video will auto-load at 30 seconds (you can also tap on clock before then if you want).
- When the clock reaches zero your input speed will start your video. The event has started and you are running!
- Others in front of you will appear live as avatars. You can also see name tags of runners near to you as well as Tim Peake on the side of your screen.
- Good luck!
INPUT SPEED METHOD:
Input speed should reflect your treadmill running speed and controls the route video playback. Via the menu icon, you can choose three input speed methods:
- Manual: in this mode, simply adjust the video speed once in the video by swiping side to side or using the buttons that appear when you touch the screen.
- TreadTracker: this treadmill speed sensor is placed under the treadmill allowing it to make light contact with the rotating tread to calculate speed. The treadmill speed is sent in real time to RunSocial. TreadTracker can be purchased at www.runsocial.com »
- Life Fitness: if you have access to a Disocover console (with the QR code displayed on the screen) or the Track+ home treadmill you can connect RunSocial directly.
CHECKS AND TIPS LIST:
- RunSocial app is up to date: You can check this by going into your App Store app on your device and selecting Updates. If RunSocial is there, click to update, if it is not, your version is up to date.
- Video is fully installed: each video section thumbnail should have an orange corner strip with RUN written on it. If not, the section needs to be downloaded.
- Apple device is safely mounted on your treadmill and fully charged: ideally, it is also connected to a further power source via the lighting cable or a second battery case.
- Internet is connected and working: the bandwidth does not need to be big – it needs to be reliable.
- View it on the big screen: if you have access to a TV you can connect your apple device to that via HDMI or Apple TV. However, it is essentialy your Apple device also has access to power or it will not last the distance.
CHECKS AND TIPS LIST:
- RunSocial app is up to date: You can check this by going into your App Store app on your device and selecting Updates. If RunSocial is there, click to update, if it is not, your version is up to date.
- Video is fully installed: each video section thumbnail should have an orange corner strip with RUN written on it. If not, the section needs to be downloaded.
- Apple device is safely mounted on your treadmill and fully charged: ideally, it is also connected to a further power source via the lighting cable or a second battery case.
- Internet is connected and working: the bandwidth does not need to be big – it needs to be reliable.
- View it on the big screen: if you have access to a TV you can connect your apple device to that via HDMI or Apple TV. However, it is essentialy your Apple device also has access to power or it will not last the distance.
INPUT SPEED METHOD:
Input speed should reflect your treadmill running speed and controls the route video playback. Via the menu icon, you can choose three input speed methods:
- Manual: in this mode, simply adjust the video speed once in the video by swiping side to side or using the buttons that appear when you touch the screen.
- TreadTracker: this treadmill speed sensor is placed under the treadmill allowing it to make light contact with the rotating tread to calculate speed. The treadmill speed is sent in real time to RunSocial. TreadTracker can be purchased at www.runsocial.com »
- Life Fitness: if you have access to a Disocover console (with the QR code displayed on the screen) or the Track+ home treadmill you can connect RunSocial directly.
The Digital Virgin Money
London Marathon Route
The entire route is available FREE in the RunSocial app - simply click on the video thumbnail and then select to download.
The full route comes in 6 video sections. Once downloaded, as you run the videos they will automatically connect into a continuous uninterrupted route.
IMPORTANT:
- Seeing a video section picture does NOT mean it is installed. There also needs to be an orange corner strip with RUN displayed. Only after it has been downloaded will it the section picture display the orange corner.
- Please be on WiFi when downloading the videos route to avoid potentially high network charges.
The total London video route file size depends on your Apple device:
- 1.9GB on more recent devices (iPhone 5S, iPad Air, iPad Mini 2, iPod Touch 6th gen, iPad Pro and any later of these models).
- 2.9GB on earlier devices supported (iPad 2 to 4, iPhone iPad Mini 1, iPhone 4S-5c, and iPod Touch 5th gen).
As with all RunSocial routes, the Digital Virgin Money London Marathon video is more than just a video. The route includes a special "mixed reality" capability which enables you to to see the avatars of others runners which will appear live inside your video, including Tim. For more info there is an FAQ here.
You can also email us at support@runsocial.com »
Or call support on: +44 333 344 0893
ABOUT THE VIRGIN MONEY
LONDON MARATHON
The Digital Virgin Money London Marathon is an innovative interactive virtual-reality experience, developed by London Marathon Events in partnership with RunSocial, the digital fitness technology pioneers. It offers runners anywhere in the world - and space - the opportunity to download and experience the entire world-famous Virgin Money London Marathon course.
The route was filmed in HD video during the 2013 and 2014 Virgin Money London Marathons and has been converted into an interactive 'mixed reality' video, which runners watch as they run on a treadmill. The video playback matches the running speed and runners can also see, and run with, virtual reality avatars of runners from around the world who are also using the download. A special avatar has been created for Peake, showing the astronaut running in his ESA flight suit.
- The 2016 Virgin Money London Marathon takes place on Sunday 24 April 2016.
- The London Marathon was first held on 29 March 1981 and celebrated its 35th race in 2015.
- Since 1981, The London Marathon Charitable Trust has awarded grants totalling more than £57.7 million to 1000+ organisations in London, Surrey, Silverstone, Birmingham and Liverpool.
- Sunita Williams (USA) was the first person to run a marathon in orbit when she completed the marathon distance on a treadmill in 4:23:10 in April 2007, the same day as the Boston Marathon.
For more information go to: www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com »
ABOUT THE EUROPEAN
SPACE AGENCY
The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe's gateway to space. Since 1975, the European Space Agency (ESA) has been shaping the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
ESA is an international organisation with 22 Member States. By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, it can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. ESA's programmes are designed to find out more about Earth, its immediate space environment, our Solar System and the Universe, as well as to develop satellite-based technologies and services, and to promote European industries. ESA also works closely with space organisations outside Europe.
For more information go to: www.esa.int/ESA »
ABOUT THE
PRINCE'S TRUST
Youth charity The Prince's Trust helps disadvantaged young people to get their lives on track. It supports 13 to 30 year-olds who are unemployed and those struggling at school and at risk of exclusion. Many of the young people helped by The Prince's Trust are in or leaving care, facing issues such as homelessness or mental health problems, or they have been in trouble with the law.
The Trust's programmes give vulnerable young people the practical and financial support needed to stabilise their lives, helping develop self-esteem and skills for work. Three in four young people supported by The Prince's Trust move into work, education or training. The Prince of Wales's charity has helped 825,000 young people since 1976 and supports over 100 more each day.
For more information go to: www.princes-trust.org.uk »
