Ten Weeks Till Wilmslow
Fancy a fast, flat early season race?
Your ten week countdown starts now! The question is will you be half marathon ready in that time or is 10K more likely? Whatever you decide the Wilmslow Running Festival is a fantastic early season event that will get your year of racing off with a bang (and bag you a PB too with any luck)!
Scheduled for 26 March, the Cheshire event offers a beautiful course on closed country lanes with entrants promised ‘an amazing atmosphere, festival village, spot prizes, free photos and much more’. But it’s not just aesthetics that are spot on - the iconic half marathon and 10K also benefit from a fast, flat course that is renowned for producing PB times.
The popular spring event is known as one of the friendliest on the running calendar and with 35 years of heritage, it is also one of the oldest community events in the north with plenty of fans.
Both the Half Marathon and 10K courses take runners along country lanes closed to traffic and out towards Mobberley before winding back to Wilmslow. The events start together and both use the same finish.
In 2022 the event returned to its customary date in March, with some 3,500 entrants toeing the various start lines and enjoying perfect weather conditions. In the 10K, first male home was Kristian Watson in 31:56, with Sarah Louise Cumber finishing first lady in 38:57.
Turing to the Half Marathon, GB International Jonny Mellor used the race as his build up to the Manchester Marathon, and potentially the Commonwealth Games, winning in a time of 64:24, with Anna Bracegirdle winning in a time of 73:21.
Speaking after the event, Anna Bracegirdle commented: "Thank you for such a great event, I absolutely loved it! There was such a good atmosphere all morning, it was brilliantly organised throughout and the course was perfect. I will definitely be returning!"
Over £1M has been raised for charity since the event’s inception. The Running Festival is a charity itself, organised by volunteers from Wilmslow Running Club, Wilmslow Rugby Club and the Phoenix Sports Club. Supporting local community groups directly from its income, it also works in partnership with other charities to help them raise money from the events.
Charity partners for 2023 include Seashell, Ronald McDonald House Charities UK and The Joshua Tree. If you would like to support good causes and have a springtime goal then find out more at the Wilmslow Running Festival website.
