Weird incentive for world’s biggest fun run

Allen’s lollies are on a nationwide hunt to find eight people to become their official Allen’s party mix mascot and run in the world’s biggest fun run.

Allen’s, together with their party mix ambassador Laura Byrne, want to help Aussies take running a little less seriously after new research found 54 per cent of Aussies said their friends had become too serious about running.

Some runners went as far as admitting to lying to their boss about their whereabouts while running, while others snuck out of a celebration or faked a medical appointment.

To help inject a bit of fun back into running, Allen’s has put the call out for eight lucky people to become one of their official mascots in Sydney’s City2Surf dressed as their favourite Allen’s lolly.

Winners will get free entry into this year’s City2Surf, an Allen’s hamper and join the fun run dressed as one of the nation’s favourite treats, including snakes alive, frogs alive, a milk bottle, peaches and cream, a black cat, strawberries and cream or even a jelly baby.

Byrne will be joining the winners, and the official Allen’s party mix ambassador has called on runners across the nation to dob themselves in or give a subtle hint to a mate so they can be the next Allen’s mascot.

“It’s no secret that running is popular, and research shows over half the nation run because it gives them a sense of accomplishment and helps them feel included – but that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun too,” she said.

“We can’t all be Cathy Freeman or Nedd Brockmann, but why not pounce on Heartbreak Hill and leap over the City2Surf finish line with me for the sake of good fun.

“Enter to be an official Allen’s party mix mascot, or better yet, encourage a mate who’s become a wee bit too serious about their running … we’ve all got one.”

Lauren admitted she is a runner but her husband Matt Johnson, who she met on The Bachelor, was a serious runner who came from a competitive family that always took things to the extreme.

“I run less because he always puts me to shame,” she said.

“He has all the gear, but I have no idea.”

Lauren said she was really excited to be the Allen’s Party Mix ambassador at this year’s City2Surf as it was the perfect way for her to take part in the fun run.

“I will do the run and will have my daughter in the pram,” she said.

“I love to run but know I’m not very good and don’t like the idea of running against people who are competitive, so this is the perfect way for me to do it.”

Nestle head of marketing confectionery Melanie Chen said Australia had gone bananas for running, with 41 per cent of Australians admitting they wouldn’t join a run because they felt everyone was too serious.

“There’s clearly an appetite for a bit of fun, which is what we’re all about at Allen’s,” she said.

To enter for your chance to be an official Allen’s party mix mascot, visit allenslollies.com.au/pages/partymixmascots.