We’ve had a fleeting glimpse of summer, a whispered hint of normality returning, and some of us have even taken part in a real-life race (big up the organisers of the Escape Lockdown Trail Run which took place on 4 April and must have been one of the first in the country). Whether you’d prefer real or virtual right now, there’s no denying the sense of exhilaration you get from racing with others and really feeling the full force of our wonderful running community. Sign up and get out there! It’s a blast!

TEAM AND ALL LEVELS

90-MINUTE URBAN DASH [VIRTUAL]

► This inventive, socially-distanced treasure hunt now has a September date. Assemble your team of up to five people and you’ll be given a list of 60 items you have to find out on the streets. You’ll have 90 minutes to find and add them to your team sheet. It all has to be done while running – no cycling or driving. There’s even a league table for teams that take their treasure hunting seriously.

£19.50 for a team of up to five, 18/19 Sept 2021, secretlondonruns.com/90-minute-dash

BLACKBURN 10K [REAL]

► The perfect team race for a football-loving group of friends or family. This 10K race around Blackburn town centre starts and finishes at Ewood Park, home of Blackburn Rovers FC, and takes in the local landmarks. One end of the stadium is the event village with music, food and entertainment, and the other end is open for spectators.