
Family fun zone confirmed for North Lanarkshire Half Marathon
North Lanarkshire is gearing up for an exciting day of community celebration and athletic achievement as the inaugural North Lanarkshire Half Marathon.
The event takes place on Sunday, August 24, at Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility. To ensure this event is a fun-filled day for all ages, a vibrant family fun zone will be set up to provide entertainment for children and families alike, making it a perfect day out for the whole community.
While participants are pounding the pavement, families can enjoy a wide array of free activities designed to entertain and engage. From soft play areas and bouncy castles to lively games and interactive activities.
North Lanarkshire Provost Kenneth Duffy expressed his enthusiasm for the event.
He said: 'I am delighted to see the launch of the Family Fun Zone as part of the North Lanarkshire Half Marathon weekend. It's a wonderful opportunity for families to come together and enjoy a day of fun and activity at Ravenscraig.
'I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our sponsors, Albert Bartlett, whose support has been instrumental in making this event possible. We look forward to welcoming families from across the region to enjoy what promises to be a fantastic day.'
The Family Fun Zone is free to attend, and visitors can secure their tickets in advance by visiting www.q-buster.co.uk/north-lanarkshire-half-marathon-family-fun-zone.
The zone will be open throughout the event, providing a safe and welcoming environment for children to play, explore, and connect with others.
Local businesses and community groups are also coming together to support the event, offering food stalls, music, and entertainment to enhance the festive environment.
The event is expected to draw visitors from across the region and beyond.
It offers something for everyone - from seasoned runners to first-timers - with a friendly community vibe and exciting race options.
There are distances to suit all abilities with the route literally running through the heart of North Lanarkshire.
Alongside the North Lanarkshire Half-Marathon, the event will feature a 5K, 1K, 400m and a Toddler Dash, making it a truly inclusive experience for the whole community.
Councillor Geraldine Woods, convener of communities, welcomed the new event, saying: 'This is a fantastic addition to North Lanarkshire's sporting calendar.
'We want to encourage people of all abilities to get involved, whether they're experienced runners or just looking for a fun way to be active.
'The mix of race options and family activities makes this a brilliant event for the whole community.'
Runners can still enter the half marathon by logging onto https://q-buster.co.uk/run-nl-lanarkshire-half-marathon
*Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Sun
9 hours ago
- The Sun
I tried the viral ‘53 method' to banish my ‘chins' without going under the knife and the results were astonishing
SITTING in a crowded pub with a group of my journalism colleagues, I could feel my eyes starting to well up. 'Did you hear me?' a booming voice demanded. 'I said, take it on the chins.' 6 6 A sozzled male colleague of mine who I barely knew had made a joke about my biggest insecurity in front of a group of ten people. I instinctively raised my hand to my jaw to cover my jowls. I felt embarrassed and annoyed that tears started to fall, but I couldn't stop them. I'd been ridiculed for the thing I hated most about my appearance. Fast forward several years and I've never forgotten that comment. I'm now a 42-year-old mum, with a toddler and a new born and arguably, bigger things to worry about. But, despite many fad diets such as the 'no sugar' diet and the 5:2, personal trainers and expensive gym classes that have seen me slim down to a size 8 at my smallest, those 'chins' have remained - as have my deep insecurities. So, imagine my delight when I heard about the '53' method, a supposedly easy way to get a snatched jawline, using nothing but makeup. It's already gone viral on TikTok, with almost 30m videos uploaded to the site with the hashtag #53method featuring people trying it out and offering tips on how to do it. In theory it seems easy enough - in order to 'sculpt' the face, you apply concealer in the shape of a '5' to each cheek, and contour in the shape of a '3' next to it. Blend, pout and enjoy a chiselled jawline. Sounds simple, but full disclosure: I've never, ever contoured before. Up until about three years ago I didn't even use a brush to apply my foundation, I'd slather it onto my face with my fingers before puffing some loose powder on top and hoping for the best. It was only when Instagram started sneaking makeup tips into my feed that I was finally 'influenced' into buying a brush. Clearly my algorithm was trying to tell me something. And now, as I continue to age like a corked wine, social media is at it again. With statistics indicating that 56 per cent of women with a double chin would contemplate surgery, and a whopping 36 per cent of people would avoid being photographed because of it, it seems like as good a time as any to log into TikTok and learn the art of contouring. It's long overdue. For years I'd be terrified of someone snapping a candid photo when I wasn't looking, as I would never look nice unless I was front facing, chin tilted to a perfect angle. Frankly, it's exhausting. I thought about a thread lift, an invasive surgical method that would involve using threads to pull back the skin and create a mini face lift, but figured I'd prioritise having kids before I did anything too drastic. I even contemplated Kim Kardashian's recently launched SKIMS 'shapewear for the face' - a mask that retails at £52 and promises you a 'sculpted jawline'. However, I was slightly put off when Dr Rosh, a respected aesthetics practitioner, called the product 'an utter load of rubbish', which would have 'zero benefit.' Since having my children, Sophie, three, and Marnie, four months, I've been surviving on Diet Coke and air as I juggle night feeds and toddler classes with my job as a writer. I don't think the fizz has helped my face. It means the spare 'gullet' beneath my pointy chin is hanging lower and seems saggier than ever. 6 Without ditching my fave drink, how on earth could a simple makeup hack change that? Was the 53 method the answer to my prayers? Or was it really too good to be true? The main draw of the method is its simplicity. I've watched various contouring videos and aside from the fact it appears to use up a hell of a lot of product, at no doubt huge expense, the whole operation looks complicated and time consuming. Some videos show the entire process done and dusted in under a minute. Which, as someone who likes to be ready in five, is very appealing. I give it a go using two products: Mac's full coverage foundation and Anastasia Beverly Hills contour palette. Top beauty trends for 2025 Hayley Walker, Beauty Expert at Justmylook spoke exclusively to Fabulous about the big beauty trends for 2025. Haircare Hair gloss treatments are a must-have as beauty enthusiasts love the salon-quality shine and enhanced colour delivered by the trending treatment. Hair glosses are multifunctional, as they nourish the hair while offering a vibrant, healthy-looking finish, combining 2025's core trends. This treatment is perfect for those seeking an affordable, at-home glow-up. 2025 will focus on skin repairing and texture-enhancing treatments. Skincare Rejuran treatment, a celebrity-endorsed procedure, will see a rise in demand this year as many seek to enhance their skin's appearance. The procedure entails injecting polynucleotides derived from salmon DNA to enhance skin texture and elasticity. 'Rejuvenation is expected to dominate 2025 skincare trends as many seek to achieve a flawless, youthful complexion. Skincare will also include back-to-basic products for a simplified routine. Ginseng cleansing oil and panthenol cream are among the trending products for 2025. The cleansing oil is excellent for dissolving make-up and impurities without clogging pores and is enriched with nourishing properties to leave the skin feeling and looking refreshed and radiant. Make-up Make-up trends will follow suit to achieve youthful and radiant looks. Under-eye brighteners will be sought-after products for delivering coverage while enhancing natural radiance. This beauty tool will complement natural beauty while improving and brightening dull skin. Make-up looks will be bigger and bolder in 2025 with cluster lashes expected to surge this year. These lashes bring the glam to glamorous looks as they deliver dramatic volume to enhance everyday or special occasion looks. Peel-off lip stains circulated the beauty industry in 2024 and are expected to dominate in 2025. The growing popularity of this product is due to its ability to provide long-lasting, transfer-proof colour to lips, enhancing a natural aesthetic. Additionally, cherry-coded aesthetics are expected to be everywhere this year as the deep, rich hue can be achieved using peel-off lip stains or bold lip looks for a dramatic effect. Nails 2025 will be another year of countless, show-stopping nail trends. Goddess Nails and Aura Nails deserve an honourable mention as these designs channel an ethereal, celestial aesthetic for bold, self-expressing nails. I've now watched many 53 videos for research, to try and perfect the technique but on my first try with actual makeup I find it quite difficult. I have to keep practicing the shape with a clean brush and then I have to ensure I use enough product. It turns out you need a fair bit of it to make it work. Luckily, I have makeup artist Lisa Sloneem on hand to help me and with some gentle guidance from her, I'm finally done. My face feels heavy and I worry that in daylight I'm going to look like a clown. I'm not used to wearing so much product. But that's beside the point, I want to see if this really will give me the 'snatched' jawline it promised. And the answer is… it really does. There's no doubt that when done right, the 53 method can give you the illusion of a firmer jaw. The trusty jowls are still there, but I must confess they aren't as noticeable. The colour on my cheekbones seems to make my whole face more angular, the contouring has worked as a mini facelift, it makes it look like everything is pulled up towards my eyes. It's incredibly clever. I look like I've been airbrushed. That said, I'm not sure I'd be inclined to do this daily. Yes, once you get the hang of it it's not that difficult to master. But you use a lot of product and it takes a lot longer than the speedily edited TikTok vids would have you believe. Lisa agrees. 'It's not as straightforward as you'd think, it takes a lot more blending and a lot more time,' she says. 'In terms of the positioning of the 5 and the 3, it's a good hack. The numbers highlight the face in the perfect way to lift the face, so it's great for beginners but you need to take time to blend properly.' I get home to show my partner Jamie, who seems fascinated by the artistry. 'Your face is a different colour,' he muses, helpfully. However, he doesn't mention my chins – or lack of - which was my main aim for trying this. As one of three people, along with our daughters, who look at my face the most, he is used to me, and it's clear that the method hasn't made a big enough difference for him to comment. I'd better start saving for that thread lift.


BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Husband transforms into mermaid to support Guernsey Motor Neurone
Four friends are swapping their running shorts for mermaid tails as they take on a themed marathon to raise money for the Guernsey Motor Neurone Falla, whose wife Daisy was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in 2020, and his friends Dominic Heaume, Adam Dorey and James Draper are taking part in the Marathon du Mé challenge, which takes place in France on 6 September, takes runners on a 26.2-mile (42.16km) route through scenic vineyards, with 23 wine tasting stops, oyster tasting at the 38km mark, and steak at the 39km Falla aims to raise £10,000 for the charity because it supported him and his wife. "They're a brilliant charity... any form of support you could imaging they are there, they are ready to help and willing to help, they are amazing," he said."I wanted to do something to mark my birthday, I'll be 42 this year... I was thinking about it and at my birthday party I stood up and told everyone I was going to do it and that was that." Mr Falla explained every year there was a different theme and this year's was Under the Sea. "As Daisy heard about it she said 'you've got to go with Ariel', so that was it," he said."I said I'd better check with the boys first and they were all great sports and they said 'if that's what Daisy wants, that's what's happening', so the four of us are dressing up as mermaids and doing it." Mr Falla added: "Three of the boys came through and said 'yes I'll do that with you mate'... I'm so thankful for their support."I think any marathon, whether it's got alcohol involved or not, a lot of people say the event gets you through and I'm sure this will be just a load of fun on the day."He said he was more worried about the food than the alcohol. "I do love food and drink but running around and eating oysters and steak and cheese I'm not sure," he said."I'll be thinking about my wife when I cross the finish line... and then I'll be really proud of all the money that we've raised and be proud of finishing the distance."


BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Paula Radcliffe: ‘The mindset of a marathon is a great precursor for going through life'
One of Britain's most successful ever sportspeople, distance runner Paula Radcliffe, may have retired 10 years ago, but this year she completed two marathons for the first time since hanging up her professional running shoes. 'It was definitely with a view to taking part,' the 51-year-old says, with a laugh, and she has to manage a foot joint niggle doing 26.2 mile races these days. Advertisement 'And the camaraderie of runners together on marathon day – it's very special. You have 50,000 or 60,000 people, largely going through the same motions, on the same day and sharing that together.' Radcliffe, who held the women's marathon world record from 2003 to 2019 after setting a time of 2:15:25 in London, completed the Tokyo and Boston marathons in the spring and plans to run the Kielder Marathon, Northumberland, in October. But her relationship to running has evolved in the past decade. Previously, 'pushing myself and seeing how good I could be was this huge motivating factor – now it's just like, OK, I feel a bit better after I've run.' Paula was a previous winner of BBC Sports Personality of the Year (Anthony Devlin/PA) Plus, the three-time winner of the London Marathon says running gives her time to think. 'That's one of the reasons I try and encourage kids to find the sport that's good for them. It may not be running, but it was running for me, and when I was going through the stress of exams or trying to work on homework problems, I would find if I went out for a run, part way through that run, sometimes, [I'd realise] 'Oh that's how you do it'. Advertisement 'Even now, if I've got a full day of work, it's like that. My mind is a little bit sharper. If I'm trying to write something, I'll go out for a run first and then come back and start writing. [It could be] the increased oxygen to the brain, I don't know. 'And equally, when I've been through tough times, when I lost my dad [in April 2020], it's like processing, it's perspective.' The retired athlete now makes regular appearances in the BBC Sport broadcasting team for athletics and long-distance events, as well as co-hosting the Paula's Run Club podcast with distance runner Chris Thompson. Learning to cope with the psychological journey of a marathon has been a great lesson in getting through challenging times too, she notes. Advertisement 'I think the mindset of the marathon is a great precursor for going through life. There are ups and downs in the marathon, and you basically get through them by using your coping techniques, by trying to stay in the moment, by focusing on what's good and what you can do rather than what you can't do. Paula Radcliffe during the 2015 Virgin Money London Marathon (Adam Davy/PA) 'It's essentially the same metaphor for life; what can you do? If there are things outside of your control, focus on them a bit less, because there's not much you can do [about them] and recognise that it does get better. 'And when you go through down times, either flipping back to previous good times or looking forward to ones that are to come. 'If you're having a bad patch, even just visualising a time where remember the time that felt really good and really in control, think about that,' she suggests. 'I'll just count, over and over, up to 100 – that was my coping technique for grounding me in the here and there, one foot in front of the other.' Advertisement She is now based in Monte Carlo, Monaco, with husband Gary Lough and children Isla and Raphael, leaving the UK after the 2004 Athens Olympics – in which she famously withdrew from the race around the 23-mile mark. The location lends itself to an outdoorsy lifestyle and these days, she would rather run through forests than pound pavements. 'I really appreciate when you're out on a beautiful trail run, [I feel] extremely fortunate to be able to be out there in the beautiful countryside, breathing in clean air that, sadly, not everyone has access to.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Paula Radcliffe (@paula_radcliffe) Health Equals says more than 12 million children in the UK are at risk of lifelong health problems due to toxic air, with more than 25,000 schools in areas that breach World Health Organization (WHO) air-quality guidelines. The campaigning coalition say the worst affected are Greater London, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and inner-city Birmingham. The impact on health can include asthma and other lung conditions, as well as an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, say the group, with Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups, as well as those of low incomes, more likely to be affected. For Radcliffe, the statistics hit hard. 'I spend a lot of my time trying to encourage people to get outside and kids to walk to school and to be more physically active, because of all the benefits that physical activity can bring. But breathing clean air is a basic right and if they're going to be active in an area that isn't safe for them, it's really scary.' Advertisement Running in heavily polluted areas might even be doing us more harm than good. 'It should be something that's good for you ≠ and it is, if you're exercising in clean air – but [if not] it actually works the other way. You're better off sitting down in a chair doing nothing.' As an asthmatic, she's conscious of the quality of air she's breathing in too. 'My asthma is induced largely by pollen, cigarette smoke is another [trigger] and pollution is a big one. So I became aware of it through my career, travelling to more polluted cities and noticing [the impact] it had on my asthma.' In her 50s, she likes to use running to explore new areas. 'It's a great way to explore new cities, new places when we're on holiday.' But also, 'as a mum of teenagers, there are times when you just want to escape everybody and shut the door on everyone!' And what about that elusive 'runner's high'? 'It's very unique to everybody,' she says, 'It's not like suddenly feeling euphoric. For me, it's more generally content, a little bit more relaxed, everyday things that annoy you, annoy me a little bit less.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Paula Radcliffe (@paula_radcliffe) Paula Radcliffe's tips for beginner runners over 50 1. Prioritise good nutrition and sleep – 'Try and eat immediately after running because it helps the body to recover better.' 2. Complement running with strength exercises – 'Everyone just wants to get an outdoor run in, but build a little bit of core exercises, basic planks, foot strength exercises, calf raises.' 3. Remember to stretch before and after. 4. Set goals – 'I really recommend joining a running club or group and once you've got the motivation, work towards completing your local Park Run or doing a half marathon.' To be part of the solution, visit and use the hashtag #MakeHealthEqual.