With the evenings getting lighter and the weather getting warmer, it’s the perfect time of year to be out pounding the pavement on a lovely London run. But for a unique running experience, you might want to head down to Shoreditch this weekend (April 2 & 3), where Swiss running brand On is launching a wacky, wonderful pop-up that invites you to chase a monster through the streets of London…
Sounds a bit ominous, but don’t fret: the only ‘monster’ here is On’s new running shoe, dubbed the ‘Cloudmonster’. So named because of the extra cushioning it provides runners, On have proudly called it their “weirdest creation yet” – and with that in mind, they’ve taken the opportunity to launch one of the weirder pop-ups to grace London’s streets. Your quest starts at the ‘Monster Den’ in Boxpark Shoreditch, and from there you’ll be joining a group of runners from Your Friendly Runners club, all chasing a GPS signal that’s tracking the monster all around east London.
The Monster Chase is a 5k run designed to welcome runners of all abilities, from total novices to seasoned runners, and best of all, it’s entirely free to take part. Once you’ve tracked down the monster and snapped a selfie at the finish line, you’re invited to return to the Monster Den to pick up your reward, with all sorts of prizes and delicious refreshments on offer to celebrate your race. Oh, and if you fancy checking out the Monster Den without working up a sweat, no worries: members of the public can wander in without needing to sign up for the run.
Sneakerheads will get an exclusive chance to try out the Cloudmonster, whilst for the rest of us, it’s a good excuse to get out of bed and work off the previous night’s early-hours kebab. And after all, how many times can you say you’ve chased a monster around London?
You can sign up for The Monster Chase here, and you’ll be given all the information and a QR code upon arrival. Find The Monster Den at Boxpark Shoreditch on Saturday, April 2 (10am-6pm) and Sunday, April 3 (11am-5pm).