Those who can’t get a place in the extortionately priced big Manchester 10k in May end up running this other major 10k in the city, which is essentially a charity event and half the price. That said, there was certainly no charity at the head of the field which was graced by some of Manchester’s finest runners (including the awesome Peter Riley). The first six or so were all under 31 mins.
The race is three laps in the streets around SportCity, Manchester City’s home, and starts at the neighbouring running track which is now home to Sale Harriers (complete with an impressive indoor track which my 3-year-old greatly enjoyed). The course is surprisingly undulating, while because each lap is progressively shorter in distance you soon find yourself catching the back of the field. By the third lap I was running into some serious congestion and instead of concentrating on trying to keep my pace up, I was trying not to flatten some middle aged woman holding a water bottle and ipod at the same time as also somehow having a conversation with her mate.
Apart from the congestion (why not 2 laps??) the race is on the whole well organised and this year even had a chip on the back of each person’s race number. By the time I had got to the other side of the track after finishing, the results were already up! I also won £20 for getting in the top 20.
Two other Wilmslow vests were to be seen. Andy Penney sadly dropped out after 5k complaining of a cold, while Paul Nichols was just outside 40 minutes.
1. Peter Riley 29.24
16. Jim Pendrill 35.25
79. Paul Nichols 40.50
1114 finishers.
Jim