More than 77,000 people run simultaneously in global charity race

Thiem and Hirscher among those taking part in global charity race

SHOWS: VARIOUS LOCATIONS (MAY 3, 2020) (RED BULL CONTENT POOL - EDITORIAL USE ONLY) 1.

DOMINIC THIEM PREPARING FOR RACE 2.

MARCEL HIRSCHER LOOKING AT APP ON HIS PHONE 3.

PARTICIPANTS WARMING UP 4.

HIRSCHER STARTING RACE 5.

RUNNERS STARTING 6.

PEOPLE RUNNING THROUGH WOODS 7.

MAN IN WHEELCHAIR ALONGSIDE OTHER PARTICIPANTS 8.

RUNNERS GOING PAST MAN WITH FLAG 9.

WOMAN RUNNING WITH CHILD IN BUGGY 10.

HIRSCHER RUNNING 11.

MAN RUNNING 12.

MAN RUNNING IN DARK 13.

MAN ON TRACK WITH WALKING FRAME 14.

PEOPLE ON SKIS 15.

THIEM AND PARTNER IN WHEELCHAIR ON TRACK 16.

HIRSCHER IN MOUNTAINS 17.

MAN TAKING TO CAMERA 18.

THIEM AND PARTNER FINISH RACE 19.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) DOMINIC THIEM SAYING: "Of course there are more than 70,000 participants, I'm really happy that I was one of them, and also a very good endurance session for myself so it's a very good day for me." 20.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) LINDSEY VONN SAYING: "Having the format where anyone can do it, you don't have to be a professional athlete, and there being a virtual finish line instead of a physical one.

I think it just makes it really inclusive for everyone, and easy for everyone to participate even during this time." 21.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) MARCEL HIRSCHER SAYING: "It was a different situation than all the other years but it was hard, I mean every year it is hard if you go to your personal 100%.

But running with the App was definitely something new, but during the run there is time to think about all the people who are running at the same moment right now.

"The real good thing is taht everybody is running for something good and this is really nice and gives you a lot of confidence during the run, so it was great to be part of this Wings for Life World Run." 22.

RUNNER FINISHING STORY: Over 77,000 people took part simultaneously in the Wings for Life World Run charity run across the globe on Sunday (May 3).

The annual race, which benefits spinal cord injury research, saw competitors from 104 countries, including Austrian tennis player Dominc Thiem and ski legend Marcel Hirsher, all start at 1100UTC.

Everyone ran according to local distancing regulations.

It was made possible by an App, which enabled everyone to run individually following their own course.

Every participant ran or rolled as far as they could until they were caught by the Catcher Car, the moving finish line.

The women's race was won by Nina Zarina of Russia, her second consecutive triumph, who covered 54.23 km, while Michael Taylor of Great Britain captured his first men's Global Championship with 69.92 km.

The participants efforts raised nearly three million euros for spinal chord research.

(Production: Andy Ragg)