It’s been some year, and yet signs continue to show that the normality we all crave really is just round the corner. Race organisers up and down the country are now tentatively staging events with COVID-safe measures in place and they seem to have no bother at all in filling the places. Of course they don’t - every runner we speak to just wants to get racing again! 

One event which has now enjoyed a successful return is the Run Heaton 5K, 10K & Half Marathon which was held on Sunday (May 23) and saw some 650 runners leaving lockdown behind and joining in the fun.   

It was a perfect day for running with the weather gods opting to bestow favourable conditions. Participants across all three events started in waves based on their estimated finish time, with the faster runners at the start and slower near the back to avoid any congestion and the need to overtake on course. This was just one of many COVID measures which made the event possible… and safe!

Those taking part were still able to enjoy music, refreshments, chip timing, free race photos and a fantastic themed Heaton Park medal. Twitter user, Easier Said Than Run (@EasierRun) tweeted post race: “After 14 months we were back racing at Heaton Park. A race we could just enjoy even with a big hill that we had to do twice. @RunThroughUK have done done a fab job, from the staggered start to collecting the medals. We can't recommend their events enough #TeamAW #runthroughuk”

Blackburn Harrier, Ben Fish, was first home in the 10K with a time of 32:44 while first female home was Heather Semple in 39:36. 

The 5K event saw some quick times with Mark Dalkins taking the winning time in 17:12 while Megan Huxley took the fastest female title with a time of 18:50. 

A Scot, Andrew Kirk of Kirkintilloch Olympians, was on great form in the Half Marathon event and took the title in 1:18:08, first female was Lucy Cooke in 1:30:20.

You can take a look at all the results on the runABC North race listing page

Heaton Park is the biggest and best park in the North West, covering an area of over 600 acres. This beautiful park includes the grounds of a stunning Grade I listed, neoclassical 18th century country house, Heaton Hall. The next Run Heaton event will take place on Wednesday 14 July you can find out more and enter online here by visiting the event website