Somerset supporters urged to join Fans To 5K
In conjunction with Somerset County Cricket Club and Somerset Cricket Foundation, Fans To 5K is set to return in January 2026 with an expanded 10-week tournament designed to unite rival supporters through “Healthy Rivalry”.
Fans To 5k is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to get sports fans active by connecting their fitness journey with their beloved sports clubs. Fans compete to earn points for their clubs by following a 10-week 5k training plan, each activity mile is a point, and all points are totalled into a 10-week league table. The initiative uses the concept of #HealthyRivalry to motivate fans to participate and support their teams win!
Following a highly successful 2025 delivery, the Fans To 5K tournament has expanded to bring together supporters from football, rugby, cricket, basketball and ice hockey under one shared league table.
Participating clubs include: Bristol Rovers, Bristol City, Bristol Bears, Bath Rugby, Gloucestershire CCC, Somerset CCC, Bath City, Weston-super-Mare AFC, Bristol Flyers and Bristol Pitbulls.
At its core, Fans To 5K exists for supporters who want to be more active but don’t know where to start, as well as for those who may already be active but feel unmotivated, or in need of a fresh spark. Whether someone is taking their very first steps or rediscovering a lost routine, Fans To 5K is designed to ignite activity levels in a supportive, non-judgemental way.
Turning miles into points — and impact into communities
Fans To 5K challenges supporters to turn everyday movement into points for their club.
Walking, jogging or running miles are logged via Strava and converted into league points, as clubs battle it out at the top of the table across the 10-week tournament.
The competition builds towards a celebratory “Cup Final” park run in Week 10, where fans come together in person to mark the end of the journey — regardless of pace, background or previous fitness experience.
This blend of sport, community and friendly competition has coined the phrase “Healthy Rivalry” — proving that while fans may wear different colours, improving health can be a shared goal.
Free, accessible and designed for real life
Founded by lifelong sports fan Grant Rees, Fans To 5K has been intentionally designed to remove the most common barriers that prevent people from getting active — particularly for those who feel fitness “isn’t for them” or who have struggled to stay motivated in the past.
The initiative is:
- Completely free
- Accessible wherever fans live
- Suitable for complete beginners through to returning runners
Participants receive a proven 10-week training plan, including warm-ups, cool-down stretches and simple body-weight exercises, alongside weekly coached support calls to answer questions, build confidence and keep fans engaged throughout the journey.
Fans To 5K is the first of its kind — offering equal access to all fans, of all clubs, in all sports.
How to get involved
The Fans To 5K app will be available to download on the App Store and Google Play from December 22nd, with the tournament officially starting on Monday January 5th.
Getting started is simple:
- Download the Fans To 5K app
- Sign up and select your chosen club
- Start your free training plan on January 5th
- Link the app to Strava
- Log your activity, earn points and help your club climb the league
Fans can follow league progress, community stories and tournament updates by following @FansTo5K on X, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
