The Awards

Which event do you feel deserves to be recognised as the ‘Best 5K’ in Northern Ireland at the Spirit of Running Gala Awards on 29th February 2020 in Armagh City Hotel?

Vote for your winner now by clicking here!

The ‘Best 5 Mile’ in Northern Ireland will seek runners views on their favourite 5 Mile run/race. It will be a standout event for you personally and we expect that for every runner those reasons will be different.

It may include but not limited to the organisation involved; the route; volunteers and marshals; supporters; hospitality; medals; atmosphere and so on. We want you to not only vote but if possible share why this is an event you enjoy so much!

The ‘Best 10K’ in Northern Ireland will seek runners views on their favourite 10K run/race.  It will be a standout event for you personally and we expect that for every runner those reasons will be different.

It may include but not limited to the organisation involved; the route; volunteers and marshals; supporters; hospitality; medals; atmosphere and so on. We want you to not only vote but if possible share why this is an event you enjoy so much!

The ‘Best Half Marathon’ in Northern Ireland will seek runners views on their favourite Half Marathon run/race. It will be a standout event for you personally and we expect that for every runner those reasons will be different.

It may include but not limited to the organisation involved; the route; volunteers and marshals; supporters; hospitality; medals; atmosphere and so on. We want you to not only vote but if possible share why this is an event you enjoy so much!

The ‘Best Marathon’ in Northern Ireland will seek runners views on their favourite Marathon event. It will be a standout event for you personally and we expect that for every runner those reasons will be different.

It may include but not limited to the organisation involved; the route; volunteers and marshals; supporters; hospitality; medals; atmosphere and so on. We want you to not only vote but if possible share why this is an event you enjoy so much!

The ‘Best Endurance Race/Event’ in Northern Ireland will seek runners views on their favourite Endurance race/event. It will be a standout event for you personally and we expect that for every runner those reasons will be different.

It may include but not limited to the uniqueness of the event; the organisation involved; the route; volunteers and marshals; supporters; hospitality; medals; atmosphere and so on. We want you to not only vote but if possible share why this is an event you enjoy so much!

The ‘Best Original Running Event/Series’ in Northern Ireland will seek runners views on their favourite race/event series.  There is an increasing number of one off ‘unique events’ (i.e. not standard distances) or ‘multiple events’ (i.e. more than one run/race over a period of time).

It will be a standout event for you personally and we expect that for every runner those reasons will be different.

It may include but not limited to the organisation involved; the route; volunteers and marshals; supporters; hospitality; medals; atmosphere and so on. We want you to not only vote but if possible share why this is an event you enjoy so much!

There is an increasing use of social media forums and platforms (e.g. websites, running forums, podcasts, personal runner profiles) which supports the running community in Northern Ireland through various ways.

We want you to nominate any individual/organisation who you feel has made a significant contribution to the running community through their ‘online presence.’

It may be a person/organisation that you follow which you find incredibly useful, practical or motivational to support you in your running journey.

We know the important contribution that many individuals make to the running community in Northern Ireland, whether that be through their leadership and/or coaching role.

We want you to nominate anyone you feel has made a significant impact – whether this be on you personally, within your running club or among fellow runners.

Running has been an important vehicle for a significant amount of fundraising for many important causes.

This category is about recognising how a runner from Northern Ireland has used running to raise funds for a good cause.  You may be nominating them because of the amount raised (either through one or multiple events), the scale of the challenge undertaken or the uniqueness of the event. It may also include how it has helped involve or inspire other people to run.

We want you to nominate someone who you feel has made an outstanding voluntary contribution to the running community in Northern Ireland.

This could include anyone who has given a considerable part of their lives to running; someone who has made a real difference in promotion and growth of running; someone who gives up significant time or makes sacrifices so that others can participate and enjoy the benefits of running. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list and is only a guide.

This is a very special award which has been named after our 2020 Charity Partner, Aaron Kerr.  The ‘Aaron Kerr’ Award will recognise someone who has overcome a significant challenge and/or barrier in their personal lives to participate in running.

There is no restrictions on what this challenge or barrier may have been but it could include unique personal circumstances, illness, disability etc.

This person will have inspired others through their own personal running journey.  They will have shown immense qualities of persistence, determination, self belief, courage, motivation and bravery to name just a few.

We all know someone to inspires and motivates us through their commitment to running or perhaps their enthusiastic and engaging personalities.  It may be someone who has been a source of inspiration to others to take up or continue in their own running journey.

This is a very personal nomination and for each runner it will be different.  We will consider all nominees based on what you tell us about this individual so please provide us with as much information as possible to help the decision making process.

We want you to consider a runner aged under 18 Years (if turn 18 by end of 2019 they will be included) who has made an impact on the running community in Northern Ireland.

This may be a young runner who has shown exceptional talent or potential or simply a young runner who has achieved something special in terms of running in 2019.

Male Runner of the Year will go to someone who has made a huge impact on running in Northern Ireland in 2019.  It may be something they have achieved and/or a reflection of the work and commitment they have shown.

Male Runner of the Year will go to someone who has made a huge impact on running in Northern Ireland in 2019.  It may be something they have achieved and/or a reflection of the work and commitment they have shown.