Fans of 10 kilometre runs will have an extra challenge at this year’s Barns Green Half Marathon charity fund-raiser.
A new 10 kilometre run, about six miles, is being added to the usual half marathon run of just over 13 miles.
Organisers say they hope the addition of the shorter distance will bring in more runners.
Both races will be on September 25, with the Half Marathon starting at 10am and the 10km race at 10.20am. The new 10km race will start at the same place as the Half Marathon and the finish will be beside the Green in Sandhill Road.
The 10km race which will be open to anyone over the age of 16 and like the Half Marathon will take place on closed roads and will follow part of the Half Marathon route. There will be an additional section of the 10km route that will take place in the grounds of Christ’s Hospital School.
There will be the usual medals and prizes for the 10km race and the entrance fee will be £15 for affiliated runners and £17 for unaffiliated. Race director Vernon Jennings said: “This has been a very big decision for the Barns Green Half Marathon committee and one that required a lot of research and discussion.
“There are now many more races taking place around the country each year and it is getting increasingly hard to attract new runners to our event. What our research showed was that there are a lot of runners looking to take part in well organised official races such as ours but who don’t want to take on the 13-mile challenge and test of a Half Marathon.
“For many runners 10km is a much more appealing and achievable distance. Overall our objective is to maintain the entry levels and traditional high standards of our Half Marathon while establishing a totally new race”. Last year’s event raised more than £10,000 for local charities. Visit the Barns Green Half Marathon website barnsgreen-half.org.uk for details.
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