The remarkable worldwide game of chase is back. For the second year in a row, the Wings for Life World Run will be televised live on Universal Sports Network, on Sunday 3 May 2015, starting at 06:30 ET. For six consecutive hours, the network’s exclusive live national TV coverage of this global simultaneous running race will showcase thousands of runners competing in 35 races who will be pursued by a moving finish line – all to raise funds for spinal cord injury research.
With no traditional finish line, the innovative format challenges ultra-marathoners, elite athletes, casual runners and wheelchair racers. The Wings for Life World Run features a unique chasing finish line comprised of ‘catcher cars’ that pursue, catch and eliminate runners. The catcher cars will start 30 minutes after the global start signal and advance on runners at an accelerating pace.
Once the car passes a runner they are out of the race. The process continues until there is one man and one woman left running in each race, and eventually the world.
Last year’s inaugural global male and female champions were Lemawork Ketema in Austria and Elise Molvik in Norway, who ran for 48.82 miles and 34.04 miles, respectively, before being overtaken by the catcher car. In the United States, Santa Clarita, California runner Calum Neff (36.36 miles) and Sunrise, Florida, runner Haley Chura (28.34 miles) were the last male and female running before being chased down.
“My goal was to run 13 miles, but when the car hadn’t caught me yet at mile 23, I really wanted to win this,” said Haley Chura, reigning USA female champion of the Wings for Life World Run. “I loved the moving finish line concept and I think it made for a very fun, but still very competitive atmosphere. It’s great to think that people who might usually be back of the pack actually finished first!”
In the USA this year, runs will be held again in Sunrise, Florida, and Santa Clarita, California, where Universal Sports will have cameras well positioned to capture the action, while also feeding in live glimpses of the other runs happening simultaneously around the globe.
Universal Sports Network is available nationwide across the US on DIRECTV, DISH, Time Warner Cable, Verizon FiOS, Cox Communications, Bright House Networks, Google Fiber, and numerous regional cable and IPTV operators in markets across the country.
Hosted by Trace Worthington, with analysis by Toni Reavis and reporting by Ed Eyestone and Juli Benson, the broadcast includes a 30-minute preview show filled with interviews and perspectives from the US-based competitions in California and Florida. Coverage will also recognize, support and tell the stories of those affected by spinal cord injury.
Produced by Red Bull in partnership with the Wings for Life Foundation, this innovative worldwide race was first held in May 2014 to benefit spinal cord injury research, with the goal to find a cure, and more than US$4.1 million was raised in its inaugural year. 100% of the registration fees are dedicated to fund research to cure spinal cord injury.
In the inaugural World Run in May 2014, more than 35,000 participants of all abilities ran at the very same time on six continents in 34 locations and in 13 time zones. The average distance per runner was 9.3 miles, making the event accessible to more people than the traditional half or full marathon.
Each and every participant set their own personal goals, whether two or 60 miles, and every runner was guaranteed to finish because the catcher car eventually passes everyone. Ambassadors who participated and were caught by the catcher car included Denver Broncos star DeMarcus Ware, Summer and Winter Olympian Lolo Jones, snowboarder Louie Vito and America’s Cup champion skipper Jimmy Spithill.
Running for those who can’t
The Wings for Life World Run was introduced to support the not-for-profit Wings for Life foundation, which funds spinal cord research projects all over the world. 100% of the registration fees and sponsorship dollars from the World Run go directly to the Wings for Life Foundation to fund research to cure spinal cord injury.
Millions of people around the world are living with a spinal cord injury. Every year, at least 250,000 more sustain a traumatic spinal cord injury, with the majority coming from traffic accidents, tragic falls and slips.
