About Us and Frequently asked questions

About Us

Race The Distance was founded in Bournemouth, UK, with one simple mission: to make fitness challenges fun, motivating, and accessible to everyone.

Since launching, we've helped thousands of people stay active, achieve their goals, and earn beautiful finisher's medals that celebrate every mile completed.

Our virtual challenges are designed for all abilities. Whether you walk, run, cycle, row, swim, use a wheelchair, or combine multiple activities, every challenge can be completed in a way that suits you.

There are no set times, no cut-off dates, and no pressure. You choose when, where, and how you complete your challenge.

To make the experience even more engaging, every participant receives access to our online tracking platform. Your personalised challenge link allows you to:

  • Track your progress in real time
  • Follow your route on our virtual maps
  • View challenge leaderboards
  • Upload activities manually or via Strava
  • Monitor your journey from start to finish

Once you reach your target distance, we'll be automatically notified and your medal will be prepared for dispatch.

Customer service remains at the heart of everything we do. We pride ourselves on providing fast, friendly support and aim to respond to enquiries within minutes during working hours.

Together with our incredible community, we've raised over £150,000 for charities including Help for Heroes, SSAFA, Royal British Legion, Cancer Research UK, Mind, UNICEF, RSPCA, Alzheimer's Society, Dogs Trust, The National Forest, and many more.

We're also proud to work alongside British Rowing through our dedicated rowing platform, helping even more people stay active and achieve their fitness goals.

Whether you're taking on your first challenge or your fiftieth, we're delighted to have you join us.

Set your challenge. Track your progress. Earn your medal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Virtual Challenge?

A virtual challenge allows you to complete a distance wherever and whenever you choose.

You can walk, run, cycle, row, swim, use a wheelchair, or combine different activities. There are no restrictions and no organised events to attend.

Complete the distance at your own pace and we'll send your medal once you've finished.

How do I track my progress?

Every participant receives a personalised tracking link by email.

You can upload activities manually or connect your Strava account and import activities directly into your challenge log.

I haven't received my tracking link

Please check your spam or junk folder first.

If you still can't find it, contact us and we'll resend it straight away.

I haven't received my medal

Medals are usually dispatched within 2–4 working days of challenge completion.

If it has been more than a week since finishing your challenge, please get in touch and we'll investigate immediately.

Do I need Strava?

No.

You can manually enter your activities using any fitness tracker, smartwatch, app, treadmill, rowing machine, exercise bike, or other tracking method.

My Strava activities aren't appearing automatically

Activities must still be imported into your challenge log.

Simply:

  1. Open your challenge link
  2. Click "Add to Log"
  3. Select the activities you'd like to import

Can I send screenshots instead?

Absolutely.

If you're having difficulties using the tracker, simply send us screenshots of your activities and we'll be happy to help.

I purchased multiple entries but only received one tracking link

No problem.

Contact us with the names of the other participants and we'll create individual tracking links for everyone.

Can I backdate my mileage?

Yes.

Most challenges allow mileage to be backdated to the start of the challenge period. If you're unsure, simply contact us and we'll be happy to help.

I'm stuck on the Date of Birth screen

Please enter your date of birth using the following format:

YYYY-MM-DD

For example:

1985-06-15

I have another question

We're always happy to help.

Simply contact us via our Contact Us page and we'll get back to you as quickly as possible.


Our Most Recent Challenges

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Health Benefits of Virtual Challenges

Boost Your Physical Fitness

Whether you choose to walk, run, cycle or swim, virtual challenges encourage regular movement that helps improve cardiovascular fitness, build endurance and strengthen muscles. Completing your chosen distance over time can make everyday activities feel easier and increase your overall energy levels.

Support Heart Health

Regular exercise is one of the best ways to keep your heart healthy. Taking part in a virtual challenge can help improve circulation, lower blood pressure, and contribute to maintaining healthy cholesterol levels when combined with a balanced lifestyle.

Improve Mental Wellbeing

Exercise is well known for its positive effect on mental health. Completing regular activity can help reduce stress, improve mood and boost self-confidence. Working towards a goal and celebrating your achievement with a finisher's medal can provide an extra sense of accomplishment.

Stay Motivated

Many people struggle to stay consistent with exercise. A virtual challenge gives you a clear goal to work towards, making it easier to build healthy habits and stay motivated over days, weeks or even months.

Exercise Around Your Lifestyle

Unlike traditional races or organised events, virtual challenges fit around your schedule. You can complete your miles before work, during your lunch break, at weekends or while on holiday, making it much easier to maintain an active lifestyle.

Suitable for All Fitness Levels

Whether you're taking your first steps towards a healthier lifestyle or training for your next marathon, virtual challenges allow you to set your own pace. There are no cut-off times, meaning everyone can take part and enjoy the journey.

Encourage Weight Management

When combined with healthy eating, regular physical activity through walking, running or cycling can help you maintain a healthy weight or support your weight-loss goals. Every mile completed contributes towards a more active lifestyle.

Better Sleep

Regular exercise has been shown to improve sleep quality. Many participants find that increasing their daily activity helps them fall asleep more easily and wake up feeling more refreshed.

Build Lasting Healthy Habits

One of the biggest benefits of a virtual challenge is consistency. Logging miles regularly encourages positive routines that often continue long after you've earned your medal.

Explore New Places

Virtual challenges provide a great reason to discover local parks, woodland trails, coastal paths and countryside walks. Exploring new environments can make exercise more enjoyable and keep you motivated to continue.

Exercise Together

Although you complete the challenge at your own pace, friends, families and colleagues can all take part together, supporting one another towards a shared goal. This sense of community can make staying active even more enjoyable.

Celebrate Your Achievement

Every completed challenge is something to be proud of. Receiving a beautifully designed finisher's medal is a lasting reminder of the effort you've put in and can inspire you to take on your next adventure.

Note: While regular physical activity is associated with many health benefits, individual results vary. If you have a medical condition or are new to exercise, it's a good idea to consult a healthcare professional before starting a new fitness programme.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a virtual challenge?

A virtual challenge is a fitness challenge that you complete in your own time and at your own pace. There's no set location or event date – you simply choose your challenge, log your progress and earn your finisher's medal once you've completed the distance.

How do virtual challenges work?

After signing up, you'll receive details of your chosen challenge. You complete the distance however and whenever you like, then submit your completed distance through your Race The Distance account. Once verified, we'll send out your finisher's medal.

Do I have to complete the challenge in one go?

No. You can split your challenge into as many sessions as you like. Whether you complete a few miles each day or tackle larger distances at weekends, every mile counts towards your goal.

Is there a time limit?

No. Our virtual challenges are designed to fit around your lifestyle, so you can take as long as you need to complete your chosen distance unless otherwise stated for a specific seasonal challenge

Can beginners take part?

Absolutely. Our challenges are suitable for all fitness levels. Whether you're just starting your fitness journey or you're an experienced athlete, you can complete the challenge at your own pace.

How do I track my distance?

You can track your activity using any fitness app, smartwatch, GPS watch, treadmill, exercise bike or swimming tracker. Once you've completed the distance, simply upload your evidence through your Race The Distance account.

What activities count?

Depending on the challenge, you can walk, run, cycle, swim or combine activities where the challenge rules allow. Each challenge page explains which activities are accepted.

Can I complete my challenge anywhere?

Yes. Complete your miles wherever suits you—around your local area, on holiday, on a treadmill, at the gym, on countryside trails or anywhere else you enjoy exercising.

Do I receive a medal?

Yes! Every successful finisher receives a high-quality Race The Distance finisher's medal, designed exclusively for that challenge.

Can children take part?

Yes. Many of our challenges are suitable for children when completed under appropriate adult supervision. Virtual challenges are a fantastic way to encourage the whole family to stay active together.

What happens if I don't finish?

There's no pressure and no penalties. Simply continue your challenge whenever you're ready. Our aim is to encourage long-term motivation and enjoyment rather than rushing to the finish.

Why choose Race The Distance?

Race The Distance offers beautifully designed finisher medals, flexible virtual challenges, distances for all abilities and the freedom to complete your challenge anywhere in the world. Whether you're looking to improve your fitness, stay motivated or achieve a personal goal, we're here to help you every step of the way.