Event Information
Schools Run South London 1.1mile fun challenge, presented by Merton School Sport Partnership
Be part of the Schools Run South London 1.1mile fun challenge, presented by Merton School Sport Partnership, taking place on Wednesday 10 March 2027.
Based in Mitcham, the day will celebrate participation, perseverance and personal achievement. The event encourages young people to set goals, challenge themselves and experience the many benefits of being physically active.
The event forms part of the Schools Run South London activity running from Autumn 2026 to race day in March 2027. All pupils taking part in the wider activity will cover 13.1 miles, the distance of a half marathon, in 12 x 1 mile distances and 1 x 1.1 mile distance. The festival day is a chance to be part of a borough-wide option for completing the 1.1 mile section of the activity.
A 1.1 mile course will be set up at Figge’s Marsh, with a route designed to allow participants to directly run the distance or to divert to tackle obstacle areas along the way for added fun.
Schools will be invited to come along throughout the day to take part in their own wave of the route. The event experience for each wave should take about an hour on site.
More than just a schools’ running event, the festival will also showcase music, culture and the arts, with a variety of activities taking place before and after each run to create a vibrant community atmosphere.
The event provides schools with an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the running activities already taking place within their school communities, while also building excitement and momentum ahead of the inaugural Run South London Half Marathon, in Merton, on 14 March 2027.
Bringing young people together through sport, creativity and community spirit.
Booking
- This is a 1.1 Mile Festival level event.
- Open to all schools participating in the ‘In School – SRSL Activity Challenge’ – Register your Expression of Interest HERE
- In the comments box, please indicate approximately how many children you intend to take part from your school for this challenge. This will enable us to allocate a time slot for your school based on participant capacity per wave of schools throughout the day.
Age Groups
- Years 3-13
Squad Size
- Please indicate participant numbers when registering – this will help us allocate your time slot during the day based on capacity.
Eligibility
- Mixed gender event
- Schools will be allocated a time slot during the day – participation will last for around 1 hour 15 minutes.
Kit and Equipment
Schools must provide:
- A school first aid kit
- A suitably qualified first aider
Participants should wear:
- Trainers
- Astro-turf boots
- Moulded or studded football boots
Not permitted:
- Metal blades
- Jewellery
If eyewear is required, plastic frames and lenses should be worn where possible.
Rules
- Children should report to the start line when instructed by event staff.
- Children will aim to complete two laps of the running course.
- Course distance approx. 1770m including several fun challenge obstacles along the way.
- Once the race begins, runners must keep the course flags and cones to their left-hand side, ensuring they stay on the running course throughout the race.
- If a teacher or coach needs to assist a child around the course, they must clarify this with MSSP before the start of the race and take a yellow sash to identify them as race support.
Activity Format
- Children will complete approximately two laps (1.1 miles – 1.77km – 1770m) of the course in an anti-clockwise direction.
- Participants can complete the course at their own pace.
- No timings or race results will be recorded.
- No draws, seedings or competitive rankings will be used.
Event Format
This is a non-competitive Inclusive Festival focused on:
- Fun
- Participation
- Physical activity
- Personal achievement
The event takes place on a grass surface and includes several fun challenge obstacles around the course. Please note that uneven terrain may present additional challenges for some participants with physical needs.
Venue Information
- Parking: There is no dedicated car park directly on-site, so attendees generally rely on local residential street parking surrounding Figges Marsh. Check local street signs and restrictions before leaving your vehicle.
- Public Transport: The park is accessible via local bus routes along Streatham Road and London Road.
- Toilets are located in the Lavender Nursery building by Tamworth Recreation Ground
Awards and Results
- All participants will receive a participation certificate.
- No results will be recorded.
- A post-event report will be published in the News section of the MSSP website.
Progression Pathway
- There is no progression pathway from this event and no overall winner.
Staffing
- Team sheets must be completed before or upon arrival.
- All attending staff must hold Enhanced DBS clearance and be fully vetted by their school.
- DBS details may be requested for events held on school sites.
Spectators
- London Borough of Merton are enabling spectator zones to permit access for this event.
MSSP Duty of Care
At Merton School Sport Partnership, the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of every participant is our highest priority. Our Duty of Care framework outlines the measures we take to ensure all events are safe, enjoyable and accessible, covering key areas including safeguarding, health and safety, equality, diversity and inclusion, risk assessments, medical provision, codes of conduct, photography and data protection.
We ask all schools, staff, volunteers and participants to familiarise themselves with these expectations before attending MSSP events.
For full details, please download the MSSP Duty of Care document or visit the relevant section of our website HERE for further guidance, policies and event information.