Overview of activities
The first quarter of the new financial year was very much focused on making sure that the post-race actions were completed for The Queen of the Suburbs Ultra and Trail 25k event and, more importantly, working with partners to secure its future for 2026. The team spent time looking at feedback from both runners and volunteers and taking the learnings to ensure the 2026 event is even better.
During the quarter we have hosted
Two Blended Trails runs around Osterley Park and the Hillingdon Trail
5km run around the nature trails of Boston Manor Park
Social run through the Brent River Park to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the park
Work has also started alongside the Ealing Eagles to set up the Ealing Half Marathon training runs. These provide a valuable training resource for those planning to run the half marathon in September.
Activity Numbers
Blended trails – 58 runners
Boston Manor Park Run – 10 Runners
Brent River Park Anniversary Run – 24 Runners
Engagement
For the 2026 Queen of the Suburbs, we are in contractual discussions with Krono Sports and Camino Ultra to take up the licence to manage the event; this will ensure the continuation and growth of the event and reduce the financial risk for the Charity.
Early discussions have been held with:
Mulberry Centre re potential partnership opportunities
Ealing Council re development of an Ealing regional park
WRE Ambassadors
After the first year, we decided to survey our Ambassadors to find out what we, and they, could do differently to make We Run Ealing more successful. The results demonstrated that whilst there is a continued willingness to support the WRE charitable aims, there is a need to remind our Ambassadors that the expectation is for them to create and take on responsibility for new activities as well as supporting existing events.
We have recruited four new ambassadors:
Simon Maughan
Matt Mortimer Ryan
Maria Ellis
Caroline Rush
WRE Merchandise
In order to provide easier access to the WRE T-shirts and hats we have agreed that they will be available via the Ealing Half Marathon online shop from 1st August.
Social Media
We use social media as key communication channels. During the quarter:
Facebook: Our content had 16.3K views and reached 4.2k unique people.
Our followers increased by 32 from 586 to 618 (5% increase)
Instagram: Our content had 13.3K views and reached 1.3k unique people.
Our followers increased by 84 from 558 to 642 (15% increase)
Strava Club: 337 members currently, up from 317 (6% increase)
Overview of activities
The final quarter of the financial year was always going to be a busy one with both an inaugural fundraising quiz as well as The Queen of the Suburbs Ultra event. In addition, we hosted a Blended Trails run and worked with Good Gym on a Food Bank run.
Building on the interest in WRE merchandise we produced and sold some very timely and popular WRE beanie hats.
Queen of the Suburbs Ultra & Trail 25k
In support of QotS, four training runs were organized and gradually increasing in distance. They proved very popular not only with QotS entrants but also local runners who were marathon training.
The 2nd edition of the QotS attracted over 200 runners with just over half opting for the 25K route. Participants came from not just all over Ealing but from further afield including David Bone (Winner of the Tunnel Ultra and co-founder of Camino Ultra), Alice Walker (Malaysian Road Ultra Record Holder) and Ealing local, Jess Furness (Ironman finisher and presenter at The Running Channel). Jess is aiming to complete 42 marathons in 2025, and The Queen of the Suburbs Ultra was her eighth.
The route started in Boston Manor Park and took in the sights of Ealing, such as Horsenden Hill, the Northala Fields mounds, Hanwell Viaduct and the Grand Union Canal, finishing at Dickens Yard in Central Ealing.
Local organisations and businesses also supported the event by providing locations for checkpoint and aid stations, plus start and finish venues. Any leftover food and drink from the aid stations and finish was donated to Ealing Food Bank.
Feedback from the event has been very positive and of the 55 volunteers supporting the event 100% said they would volunteer again.
Activity Numbers
Blended trails – 25 runners
Food Bank Run – 6 Runners
WRE Charity fundraising quiz:
72 attendees
12 raffle prizes sourced from local businesses
£1055 raised to support the charity
QotS
Training runs attracted over 100 runners
Event day - 258 entrants split
o 110 for the 50k
o 148 for the 25k
o Plus 55 volunteers
Engagement
Our activity on QotS provides an excellent opportunity to engage with local stakeholders including:
Boston Manor Park – hosted the start of QotS
Dickens Yard – hosted the finish of QotS
Green Quarter – provided a check point and sponsor partner
The quarter has also seen engagement with:
Ealing Police & the Safer Neighborhood team - safer running programme
Ealing Council – sourcing marshals for schools XC and regional parks meeting
Social Media
We use social media and Strava as key communication channels and during the quarter
QoftS:
Facebook: Our content had 26.7K views and reached 2,800 unique people. Our followers increased by 44 from 88 to 132 (50% increase)
Instagram: Our content had 57.7K views and reached 10,400 unique people. Our followers increased by 184 from 326 to 510 (56% increase)
Strava Club: 142 members currently
WRE
Facebook: Our content had 20.8K views and reached 2,000 unique people. Our followers increased by 42 from 544 to 586 (8% increase)
Instagram: Our content had 21.7K views and reached 1,900 unique people. Our followers increased by 114 from 444 to 558 (26% increase)
Strava: 317 members currently