Big race runners ready to hit road
HUNDREDS of runners will take to the streets tomorrow (Sunday) for the Rochale Half Marathon, 10km and Fun Run - and there’s still time to enter.
Staff will be on hand at the town hall today from 10am to 4pm and, if there are any places left, runners can also enter before 8am tomorrow.
Cost is £35 for the half marathon (£33 for clubrunners), £23 for the 10K (£21 for club-runners) and £7 for the fun run.
Councillor Janet Emsley cabinet member for neighbourhoods, community and culture at Rochdale council who will be taking part in the fun run to raise funds for Rochdale Victim Support and SafeNet, said: “Last year the support our runners enjoyed from crowds lining the route was encouraging and the atmosphere was fantastic.
“We will have over a thousand runners taking part and I hope residents will come out and cheer them on.
“The half marathon gets underway from 10am, the 10K at 10.20am and the fun run at 10.25am.
“There’s lots going on at the start and finish by the town hall and many other great vantage points along the routes for spectators, including around Hollingworth Lake in Littleborough.”
Everyone who completes the courses will receive a t-shirt and a medal.
This year’s race announcer has been announced as festival, Revolution 96.2, club and Rochdale AFC DJ Dave Sweetmore.
Dave will be warming up the runners and spectators around the town hall with music as well as providing regular race updates throughout the morning.
Runners will start at Rochdale Town Hall and set out on new traffic-free courses taking in town and some of the borough’s best countryside scenes.
The half marathon leaves the town hall along the Esplanade and runs the edge of Broadfield Park, before heading through to the Rochdale Canal at Oldham Road basin. The route then heads past Kingsway Business Park and Smithy Bridge along the canal.
Close to the Waterside Restaurant the route leaves the towpath and heads up Hollingworth Road towards Hollingworth Lake, making a clockwise loop of the lake.
It then returns down Hollingworth Road and back on to the canal.
The race retraces its outward route from the town hall until it reaches Broadfield Park, where runners will go through the park before re-joining The Esplanade for the final sprint to the finish line.
The 10K follows the same route as the half marathon on to the canal, but leaves the canal at the swing bridge at Kingsway Business Park, making a loop of scenic cycleways, before returning to the canal and the same finishing route as the half marathon.
Once the half marathon and 10K runners have set off, the fun runners will be under starter’s orders.
A new one-mile route sets out from the town hall up into Broadfield Park, taking a scenic route around the grounds.
There is a steep challenging climb up past the John Bright statue before entering the park.
While the rest of the course climbs gradually, once you reach the bandstand it’s all downhill to The Esplanade for the return to the finish line at the town hall.
Sponsored by Williams BMW the event is organised by Middleton Harriers, Rochdale Harriers and Rochdale Triathlon Club and supported by the council. To enter online visit rochdale.gov.uk/run.
Springhill Hospice is the official charity for the races.