“RunIt” Contact Event Poses Serious Risk To Brain Health, Says Leading Sports Scientist

Auckland, New Zealand – Professor Patria Hume, internationally recognised sports scientist and injury prevention expert at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), has issued a strong warning against the newly launched “RunIt” Championship League, calling it a “reckless and dangerous spectacle” that contradicts decades of scientific evidence on head injury risks in contact sports.

The “RunIt” event, which involves participants sprinting directly at each other in high-speed collisions, has been widely criticised by medical professionals and researchers. Despite its viral popularity online, Professor Hume says the format is “a step backwards” in athlete safety.

“The deliberate design of this event to maximise impact is not only irresponsible—it’s scientifically indefensible,” said Professor Hume. “We’ve spent years building evidence-based strategies to reduce head and neck injuries in rugby and contact sports. This event ignores all of that.”

Scientific Evidence Against High-Impact Collisions

Research from leading New Zealand experts has consistently shown that high-speed, head-on collisions significantly increase the risk of concussion and long-term brain injury:

• Dr Ken Quarrie and Dr Will Hopkins found that tackles involving sprinting players resulted in injury rates 3 to 5 times higher than slower-speed tackles, with head and neck injuries being among the most common [1].
• Dr Doug King has documented the cumulative effects of sub-concussive impacts in rugby league, warning of the long-term neurological consequences.
• Professor Alice Theadom, a psychologist at AUT, has led longitudinal studies showing that even mild traumatic brain injuries can lead to persistent cognitive and emotional symptoms.
• Professor Mangor Pedersen, a neuroscientist at AUT, has used advanced brain imaging to demonstrate structural brain changes in athletes exposed to repeated head trauma.

“The evidence is clear: repeated high-force impacts to the head—even without immediate symptoms—can lead to serious brain conditions,” said Professor Hume.

"The posturing observed in several videos following the impacts in RunIt suggest involvement of the brainstem, and is clear indicator of neurological disruption,” said Professor Pedersen.

Call for Action

Professor Hume is calling on event organisers, sponsors, and public health authorities to reconsider the promotion of “RunIt” and similar events.

“This is not innovation—it’s exploitation. We should be protecting athletes, not putting them in harm’s way for entertainment.”

She also urges the public to think critically about the content they consume and support.

“We all have a role to play in shaping the future of sport. Let’s choose safety, science, and sustainability over spectacle.”

Reference

[1] Ex-rugby league star heads controversial new 'run it straight' comp ...

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