Usain Bolt, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Hongkonger Nicky Inge inspire compatriots to join Running World Cup
- The online competition pits countries against each other, trying to accumulate the most kilometres per person
Hong Kong runner Nicky Inge has been selected as a country captain for the Vitality Running World Cup, joining the likes of legendary Usain Bolt (Jamaica) and Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill (UK) in their attempts to inspire their compatriots to run.
The Running World Cup is an online competition where runners complete their kilometres, then upload them to the event’s official website. The countries with the most kilometres, using a formula that takes into account population size and smartphone penetration, wins.
The first round takes place on March 5 (12am) to March 11 (23.59pm) with the top 14 teams going through, along with the two wild-card countries with the most runners, even if they don’t have the most kilometres. There will then be a series of knockout stages until the final in April. The dates for the latter rounds are yet to be announced.
The role of the country captains is to spread the word and get as many people running as possible.
“I’m an extrovert but I do enjoy running by myself,” Inge, 28, said. “I like listening to my own footsteps, my breathing, it clears my mind. In terms of balancing work and finding time for myself, I find so many benefits in running, so it’s natural for runners to try to encourage others to take it up.”
Inge only took up running three years ago after being a competitive golfer. But as she entered her first year as a qualified lawyer, golf was not enough of a stress relief.
