ABOUT
NI RAVE RUN

NI Rave Run kicked off when one mum thought, “Why not mash a bit of cardio, a night out, and bringing people together one mad 5K?”

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Athlete and running coach, Tracey Atkinson, is that mum.

 

In 2009, Tracey was diagnosed with epilepsy and a brain tumour caused by a brain haemorrhage she had as a child. Over the following years, while juggling 3 young daughters and finishing a degree, the seizures got worse and more frequent. She hit her boiling point of feeling her life slipping away - she needed a solution, and fast, or she was going to die. 

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In 2012, Tracey did her own research and pushed for a brain surgery that hadn't been done in NI before. It required her to be awake for a portion of the surgery, and she needed to be in fit condition. Doctors told her that the best way to look after herself was to get more oxygen to her brain.

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So, following a successful surgery - with a shaven and swollen head, Tracey, age 36 at the time, was more determined than ever to live for her girls. She picked up a pair of trainers and went on a short jog. I mean, she was literally weeks out of surgery and her head was still bare.

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And yes, her family thought she had lost the plot. In reality, this was just the start of watching as their mum found her freedom and took her life back. 

 

So, that brings us to where we are today.

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Tracey is the perfect example of how physical activity can offer you more than just feeling like a chore. It supports mental and physical health, challenges you, motivates you, and more importantly, it can be fun!

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This is where NI Rave Run was born. 

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We wanted to combine all the positive effects from physical activity with the fun of a night out with your mates. We wanted a place to find friends, where you feel safe, and an alternative to nightclubs and bars. 

 

This is the place to find the most fun you’ll ever have on a run — we don’t care if you’re fast, slow, walking, or dancing your way round. NI Rave Run is for everyone.

 

We’re not just about the one-off buzz either. We’re building a wee community — where you can meet sound people, do something fun that isn’t all about drink, and feel safe getting your steps in, especially for the girls.

So come for the tunes, stay for the people — and maybe even catch the running bug along the way.​