The 10th annual ING Night Marathon takes over Luxembourg City streets on 30 May but prospective runners do not have sign up to run the full 42km course solo. Teams of two, three or four can field a relay team, and runners looking for support and community spirit can connect with several local outfits that are organising squads.

The fitness group Friskis&Svettis, for example, is taking part in the event simply because it is a good opportunity for members to enjoy themselves while running, according to its marathon organiser, Pirjo Lumme. Plus “the ING Marathon is a chance to be seen”, and “it’s something out of the ordinary”, she said. The group is looking to field two teams of ten runners (more than eight in case of illness or injury). For more information or to sign up, contact Friskis&Svettis via its website.

“We need still four participants,” Renata Niekras of the Luxembourg-Poland Business Club told Delano on Wednesday. Runners do not have to be club members to join its team, but will need to run wearing a LPBC T-shirt to help “advertise” the international networking group, she said. Runners will train Sundays at 10am. Contact Gregory Peczkowski at [email protected] for details.

Cancer research fundraising

Some groups are combining the run with raising money for a good cause. Think Pink Luxembourg expects about 40 people, running in both relay teams and individually, to sign up with its drive. The group’s Carrie Cannon told Delano that: “We participate in the ING marathon to raise awareness of Think Pink Lux as a group supporting women in Luxembourg with cancer but also to fundraise for the Marian Aldred Award which supports research here in Luxembourg. We have a goal of €21,000 for this award which is the cost of sponsoring a PhD student.

“We would prefer people to sign up as a full team but are happy to be emailed to see if we need runners in a team as from time to time individual spots become available,” she said. Get in touch via [email protected].

According to the ING marathon’s official website, individual runner registration is open until 30 April if the event is not sold out. But in the past two years all 10,000 slots have been filled before the cut-off date.

Around 100,000 spectators are expected to line the race route and attend the free concerts staged across the capital during the marathon weekend.

Reported by Cheryl Lam; edited by Aaron Grunwald