With UK getting plenty of sports action this summer, including the Tour de France, the Ryder Cup and the Commonwealth Games, sports lovers are all set to have a great time. Furthermore, all such events also serve as an inspiration to get personally involved in some sport rather than being mere spectators on the sidelines. Or do something that works up those tired muscles!

UK has many options to get involved in bizarre and interesting sports events for the purpose of raising money, getting fit and having lots of fun, all at the same time. So, this summer don’t just laze around in your bed, hire a car or van and head out to different parts of the country to participate in all such interesting sporting events. In this short article I’ll take you through a handful of them, the ones that I keenly follow and also participate in sometimes.

Longest Day Golf Challenge

If you’re are a huge golf fan or know someone who is, and can last 72 holes, 300 shots and around 20 mile walk in one single day, Longest Day Golf Challenge could be the calling for you/him/her to raise some serious money! Year 2013 saw 850 teams participating and raising around £ 780,000 for the Macmillan Cancer Support. This event can be a perfect pastime for avid golfers while giving them an opportunity to raise money for good causes.

Race for Life

Organised by the Cancer Research UK, Race for Life features obstacle, group, 10 K and 5 K events. You don’t necessarily have to be an elite athlete to participate in this race. What sets it apart is that it is a women-only fundraising event which is non-competitive in nature and allows people of all age groups and abilities to take part in it. Its main motive is to raise awareness about cancer and strengthen the fight against this deadly disease. The Race for Life event happens at around 300 different locations throughout the United Kingdom and hence it is very easy to find one near your place of stay.

The World Alternative Games

After it was announced that London will host the 2012 Olympics, sporting enthusiasts from Wales came up with this concept of the World Alternative Games in order to not allow England hog all the limelight! These games feature a wide range of wonderful and weird sports events such as finger jousting, space hopper racing, egg throwing, penny farthing and many more. Held normally in August, the main highlight of these games is the International Extreme Bog Snorkelling Championships whose winner receives specific mention in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The Great Manchester Run

Considered to be Europe’s biggest 10 K running event, the Great Manchester Run happened on 18th May this year and featured over 40,000 participants. This weekend event also included BUPA Junior and Mini Great Manchester run, thus making it possible for entire families to soak in the sports atmosphere and raise some money at the same time.

Tough Mudder

Testing every participant’s teamwork, stamina and strength to the extreme, Tough Mudder features around 10 to 12 miles of military obstacle course. This event is not for the fainthearted to say the least. It’s a gruelling challenge which promises to extract the best or worst out of every participant as he/she leaps over fire, swims through ice and crawls through pipes. Anyone who thinks he/she is hard enough must give Tough Mudder a try. The event happens throughout the country with its main highlight being the September’s North-West event which takes place at the historic Cholmondeley Estate in Cheshire. You can hire a car/van from Manchester and reach this place within an hour.

Knaresborough Bed Race

If all the above events sound like too much hard work, why not enjoy a summer sport that requires you to stay tucked up inside a bed?! Every year around 90 teams come together to participate in the hugely popular Knaresborough Bed Race. They battle it out by carrying one bed-bound member per team across the Yorkshire countryside. This year’s edition was held on June 14th and featured some fiercely competitive performances. The race generates plenty of funds for good causes apart from providing lots of laughter!

Exploring UK on a bike

If cycling or biking is what you love doing, it is a must to participate in the British Heart Foundation bike rides which are held all over the United Kingdom. These rides feature the routes of varying difficulties and distances covering some of the most scenic locations in the United Kingdom.

On the other hand if you are more of a city person, you can get to see London in a completely different light by participating in London Moonriders night rides. These series of night rides cover all iconic landmarks and take you through and around London while the city is fast asleep. All this is done while making some money for good causes.

Colour me Rad

So, you’ve been there and done that! Looking for some new challenges after getting bored of the same old types of road races? Get the excitement and fun back into your run by participating in Colour me Rad. It is a series of 5K events which occur all over England and Scotland. What differentiates Colour me Rad from other events is that it tests your fitness routine to the limits, while you battle cornstarch cannons and colour bombs, brightening up your summer!

Wildswim

If you’re an outdoor swimming enthusiasts and have been thinking of going abroad to indulge in your favourite passion, there’s no need to pack your bags yet! You’ll be excited to know that there is a huge community of outdoor swimming enthusiasts that exists in the United Kingdom.

Go through the wild swim map drafted by the Outdoor Swimming Society of the United Kingdom which brings to you some of the best outdoor swimming opportunities and locations in the country. What is best is that you get to indulge in your favourite outdoor sport in the form of an organised event.

Ardbeg Swamp soccer World Cup

This year, the Ardbeg Swamp soccer World Cup took place on the 28th and 29th of June. It happened at the Scottish village of Blairmore in Argyll. The event is usually open to any individual who is at least 17 years old. Considering the fact that swamp soccer is becoming hugely popular throughout the world, teams from all corners of the globe come together to be a part of this World Cup. Many tourists and participants opted for hiring a car in Glasgow and went on a short drive westwards to participate in this weekend full of fun, food, music and memories.