Greater Manchester

Newsdesk

Race Listing for Greater Manchester

About the area

The reintroduction of the marathon in 2012 is a sure indicator of a flourishing running scene. The city was already home to Europe's biggest 10K - 40,000 runners pounding the springtime streets in a massive televised extravaganza; and with 15 local Saturday events, the area is the unofficial parkrun capital of the UK.

Other great local events like the We Love Manchester 10K, the City of Salford 10K, the English Half Marathon (Warrington) and the Wilmslow Half Marathon mean a full and varied calendar so good opportunities to build on those regular parkruns and take your running to the next level.

Progress at beginner level is highlighted by our group profile of Chester Roadrunners. Leader Louisa Dallas sketches the group's progress from a standing start to a 40 strong group. Our club focus is on Burnden Roadrunners and the colourful story of the Bolton based set-up that has come a long way in its 30 year history.

We round-up our whistle-stop tour of the area at the Manchester Regional Arena. The arena is the home of several running clubs, the arena boasts an eight lane 400m track with capacity for over 6,500 spectators.

Check out some of what Greater Manchester has to offer to runners below.

Running clubs in Greater Manchester

• Altrincham & District AC
• Andems Runners
• Astley & Tyldesley Road Runners
• B J’s Jogging Club
• Barton Athletic Club
• Belle Vue Racers
• Blackley North Manchester AC
• Bolton United Harriers & AC
• Burnden Road Runners
• Bury Athletic Club
• Cheshire Tally Ho. H &H
• Didsbury Runners
• Dragons Running Club
• East Cheshire H & Tameside AC
• East Manchester AC
• East Manchester Harriers
• Fitness First Gorton
• Greater Manchester AA
• Gt Manchester Fire Service AA
• Gt Manchester Police AC
• Gt Manchester Schools AA
• Horwich R M I Harriers
• Hyde Village Striders
• Leigh Harriers & AC
• Lostock AC
• Mancastrian Club
• Manchester Front Runners
• Manchester Harriers & AC
• Manchester Road Runners
• Manchester YMCA Harriers
• Middleton Harriers
• Mossley AFC Runing Club
• Moston and District Harriers AC
• Northern Veterans AC
• Oldham & Royton H & AC
• Radcliffe AC
• Rochdale Harriers & AC
• Royton Road Runners
• Saddleworth Runners Club
• Sale Harriers Manchester
• Salford Harriers
• Salford Metropolitan Athletic Club
• Stockport Harriers & AC
• Stoneclough Striders
• Swinton Running Club
• Trafford Athletic Club
• Wigan Allstars Athletics Club
• Wigan & District H & AC
• Wigan Phoenix
• Winston Runners
• Worsley Harriers

Have we missed something? If you know of or operate a running club in the Greater Manchester area and would like to add it to our list, then get in touch with us here

Spotlight On Burnden Roadrunners

Burnden Roadrunners’ history can be traced back more than 30 years and involves a wonderful tale of feathered tales, klaxons and a challenge laid down to their local football club, Bolton Wanderers…

A Little Club History? In 1983, Vince Regan, a former international runner approached John McGovern (manager of Bolton Wanderers) to run in Bolton’s Adidas British Marathon. John rose to the challenge and invited others to join him under the name of the Wanderers Lifeline Team. Following the event, they continued to run and raise money for local charities, thus the Lifeline Running Group began. In 1985, the group became a fully-fledged athletics club whose name was a nod to the then home of Bolton Wanderers, Burnden Park.

Why Roadrunners? This part of the name is inspired by one of its early members renowned for his participation in events dressed as the original roadrunner with a feathered tail flowing and klaxon blaring.

Claim To Fame? In 1988, 16 runners completed the ‘Pebble Relay’, a non-stop relay run from John O’Groats to Lands End, when they chopped 16 hours off their scheduled five day slog. The pebble collected from John O’Groats beach at 6am on 5 June was hurled into the sea at Lands End, four days, eight hours and 30 minutes later. Although many clubs had completed this feat, especially during the 1960s, it is believed that Burnden were the first club from the area to attempt it.

How Many Members? We have 124 members, with a dramatic increase in membership over the last four years. We have a Facebook page, website and regularly appear in the athletics section of the local paper. Our VET membership is particularly strong, but we also have athletes under 40, or ‘infants’ as we call them!

We Train… On Mondays we meet at Smithills Sports Centre, Bolton. There are usually about three different sessions on offer, varying from new starters/beginners/lighter effort to faster pace. In summer, we offer off-road options on the trails/moors above Bolton. On Wednesday evenings, a more informal grouping meets at Rivington and Blackrod School and on Thursdays at Smithills, an indoor circuit training session runs 7.30-8.30pm.

We Compete... Members compete in road, fell and cross country leagues. Central Lancs Grand Prix, National Relay Championships, British and UK Fell championship and South East Lancs/Red Rose Cross Country respectively; and regularly win championship, team and VET categories.

Favourite Training Run? Has to be the Mast or its kid brother, the Half Mast. The Mast is a seven mile loop that takes us up onto the moors above Bolton, the Winter Hill TV mast and sometimes Two Lads, before returning to base via Barrow Bridge and Moss Bank Park.

Social Side? We don’t forget to have fun and have a dedicated social secretary in Julie Newton, who has arranged all kinds of events from Halloween and Christmas events through to the more unusual, such as scavenger hunts and bowling nights.

Club Stalwarts? Paul Christie, Neil Nuttall, Simon Marland all have 20 plus years association with the club in many different capacities as club officers and runners.

Our Club Run... Is the Trotters 5, which is part of the Central Lancs Grand Prix and is organised for 2 March this year.  It is growing in popularity and now attracts 350 runners. In the past we used Horrock’s Fold Trails for our ‘Smithills Serpent’ race, which local runners jokily referred to as the only flat run they had ever done that was located on the side of a hill!

Local parkrun?  Bolton parkrun is the club’s local event and we always aim to have a strong turnout. Our current chairman Robert Short has won the males points competition for the past two years.

For more information, visit their website.

Interview featured in Northern Running Guide Spring 2014

Running groups in Greater Manchester

• Active Tuesdays @ Sportcity
• Arrow Global Running Club
• Ashton Beginners/Intermediate Running
• Back 2 Running - Medlock
• Beginners Jogging Pennington Flash
• Beginners Jogging Wythenshawe Park
• Beginners Group, Horwich Leisure Centre / Bolton Arena
• Blackley Walk2Run Group
• BL5K, Leverhulme Park, Bolton
• Borsdane Wood Beginners Running
• Bramhall Runners Beginners
• Brinnington Running Club
• Bury Lunchtime Joggers
• Cale Green Runners
• Chorlton Runners
• Close Park Community Jogging Group
• Davenport Runners
• Failsworth Running Club
• Fog Lane Runners
• Gatley Runners
• Greenfield Greyhounds
• Haigh Hall Learn to Jog
• Hazel Grove Runners
• Heaton Park Runners
• Hollingworth Lake Morning Run
• Hyde Village Striders
• Jog Bolton (Leverhulme Park)
• Jog Bolton One
• Julie's Joggers
• Limeside Road Runners
• Manchester Frontrunners
• Moor Running Friends
• Moorside Motivators
• Mossley Plodders
• Nike Run Club Manchester, Runners Need
• OCL Running Club, Radclyffe Athletics Centre
• Oldham & Royton Harriers
• Pushy Mums
• Ramsbottom Runners
• Royton Roadrunners
• Run Bolton Arena
• Run England Sale
• Simply Jog, The Copley Centre, Stalybridge
• Sportcity Jogging Group for All
• SRC: Arndale - Sweatshop Store
• Stockport Harriers Starters and Improvers, Woodbank Park Athletic Track
• Stretford Runners (Cricket Club)
• Swinton Running Club beginners, Swinton Football Club
• Tangshutt Trailblazers, Cherry Tree Shops, Romiley
• The Factory Youth Zone (Manchester)
• Three Sisters Jogging Group, Three Sisters Country Park
• Timperley Trainers, Timperley Recreation Ground
• TMC Openshaw
• Travis Street Runners Beginners
• Up & Running Manchester
• Us-Divas, Boggart Hole Clough Trac
• Us-Divas, Plant Hill, Manchester
• Wigan & Leith Jogging Sessions
• Wythenshawe & South Manchester Runners
• Wythenshawe Park Run England

Have we missed something? If you know of or operate a running group in the Greater Manchester area and would like to add it to our list, then get in touch with us here

Focus On Chester Roadrunners

WELL KNOWN for its iconic racecourse, Chester is now gaining a reputation for a thriving running scene.  Here, we take a look at how one of its new groups, Chester Road Runners, reflects the growing popularity of the sport ...

CHESTER IS IN the enviable position of hosting one of the country’s most popular marathons - the race was voted the UK’s number one two years ago.  The critical acclaim of the event highlights how attractive the city is as a racing venue.  That and an eager core keen to get involved means that Chester is a city on the move.       
   One of the most recent additions to the scene, Chester Road Runners, have proven to be a hit with locals.  Established just over one year ago, the group already boasts over 40 registered members, with attendance consistently high.  Run England affiliated, Chester Road Runners is primarily aimed at encouraging newcomers and supporting beginners in a welcoming environment.  This ethos is promoted and instilled by group leader and UKA Level 2 coach, Louisa Hallas.
   Louisa explains why she set up Chester Road Runners: “I guess I just wanted to give people who were starting out in running some support and a reason to keep going.  Using the theories that I researched at university, together with my coaching badges I tried to create an environment that people new to running would find supportive and want to come back to week after week.”
   Louisa added: “We are a Run England group and as such we aim to encourage people to enjoy running as a sociable habit.  There are opportunities to join in on group races, parkrun, charity events and the odd social night.
   “Joanne Hutcheon (group leader) and I offer an ‘e-coach’ service via social media/email with posts and tweets designed to answer those burning questions about running.  Along with the usual motivation and banter from the rest of the family at Chester Road Runners, there are plenty of reasons to keep you going in between training.”
   A regular training week for Louisa and the members usually involves a speed, hill or interval session on a Sunday morning (how cruel!).  A social run around the city on a Wednesday evening, where walking and jogging for newer members is actively encouraged.  Sessions are conducted at Westminster Park, through the city centre or along the river, weather and light permitting.
   This pattern has proven to be successful, with members quickly acclimatising to the rigours of regular running and the interval sessions.  And the results are encouraging - two members successfully finished the Helsby Half Marathon in January, one of whom, Drew Skinner, started in 2013 as a complete beginner.
   Most members have now identified local events such as the Chester Santa Dash, Chester Half and even the full 26.2 of Chester Marathon as targets for 2014.  In addition, a few runners have acquired bikes since the club has started and have entered triathlons.
   On the group’s training, Louisa comments: “We aim to show that starting out in running can be enjoyable when done as part of a group.  Our sessions are relaxed, informative and structured to cater for all abilities to provide a running experience that will help educate you to the ‘secrets’ of running, as well as providing a healthy workout.”
   Just as the sessions provide a framework for improvement, Louisa also places a strong emphasis on the social side of the group: “We’re a very friendly bunch and always welcome new people with open arms.  All of us value support over competition and I think this has served us well, both in terms of expanding membership and making it an enjoyable group to be a part of.”
   Chester Road Runners meets every Sunday 10.30am-11.30am and Wednesdays at 6.30pm-7.30pm. 

More information on the group is available on the Run England website or Facebook page.

Services for runners in Greater Manchester

Sports Massage

Run & Relax is a sports massage business run by Sadie McKeand who is a keen runner, personal trainer and leader at Lancaster Women’s Running Group. She offers a relaxation and deep tissue massage. More information at runninggirl.co.uk

Please contact us and we will include details of your service

Physiotherapy

Please contact us and we will include details of your service

Podiatry

Please contact us and we will include details of your service

Personal Training

Please contact us and we will include details of your service

Nutrition Advice

Please contact us and we will include details of your service

If you are offering a service to runners in the Greater Manchester such as physiotherapy, sports massage, podiatry, personal training, nutrition advice, please contact us here!