Chips in the Park are put on the menu for Britain’s Unfit Teens!

A new hi-tech chip system went live today in Regent's Park, launched by young footballers from the Crystal Palace FC Academy, Sports TV presenter Charlie Webster and Great Britain's young Tae Kwon Do star, George Lee. This is the first time that technology of this kind has been installed in a UK public park. The system, which features micro chips embedded in the path of the Park, is often used to train elite athletes, but this time it will help teenagers get into shape for Pulse3K, a youth race sponsored by Haven holidays, taking place in October in Hyde Park. The chips will allow the young people to record their running times, chart their progress and compare their efforts with their friends online.

The Royal Parks Foundation, the charity for London's eight Royal Parks, installed the new technology as party of its drive to encourage young people to get fit for their sport, culminating in a trilogy of activities on Sunday 10 October: the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon, a sponsored walk and Pulse3K, a 3km race exclusively for 11-16 year olds.

With sixteen weeks left to train for Pulse3K , the Royal Parks Foundation hopes that the new technology will particularly appeal to technology-loving, teenage Londoners. New research commissioned by the Foundation as part of their focus on fitness, provides a shocking insight into British teens' relationship with sport.

• 83% of teenagers could not run 3km without stopping
• 70% of parents are concerned about the child's lack of fitness
• 45% of parents blame competition from screen based activties, citing Facebook and computer games as reasons for lack of fitness
• 40% of teens ‘can't be bothered' with sport

Pulse3K takes in the last stretch of the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon course, through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens and takes in some of the capital's historic landmarks.

Sara Lom, Chief Executive of Royal Parks Foundation, says, "We were particularly delighted that the next generation of football stars could launch this new technology for us today. We hope lots of young people will use the chip system for training - as well as for fun - as they prepare for Pulse3K. "

Matt Roberts, the UK's leading Personal Trainer and currently a visting Professor at London Metropolitan University, where he is working to find a national solution to encourage children and their parents to increase their sport and acitivity levels, says, "This is a fantastic training tool, available to all Londoners. Running is a core requirement of every sport - each England team player will run an average of between 6-7 miles every match. Let's inspire the World Cup, Wimbledon and Olympic dreams of our teenagers - for many of our current elite athletes, it all started in the park!'

Pulse3K is sponsored by Haven, Britain's largest provider of domestic holidays, with award winning family holiday parks throughout England, Scotland and Wales. They will be joined by race partners Brakes and SportsAid, who will provide nutrition and training advice in the run up to race day.

Those wishing to take part in Pulse3K can find out more information on how to enter by visiting www.pulse3k.com

For further information, route map, training tips and more, please visit www.royalparkshalf.com