With just days to go before this year’s Williams BMW Rochdale Half Marathon, 10K and Fun Run, organisers are reminding participants to save money by entering online and signing up before midnight on Sunday 1 October.
Everyone who registers for the traffic-free runs before the deadline will pay £31.40 for the half marathon (£29.40 for club-runners) or £20.60 for the 10K (£18.60 for club-runners). The one-mile family fun run is £6.80.
After the online entry deadline you will be still able to enter in person at Rochdale Town Hall on Saturday 7 October (10am – 4pm) or on the morning of the event from 8am if there are any places remaining, but entry will be charged at the higher rate of £35 for the half marathon (£33 for club-runners) and £23 for the 10K (£21 for club-runners.)
For the first time, the one-mile fun run is also available for day before or on the day entry at £7, but places are limited.
Earlier this week organisers announced the online entry closing date had been extended two days to midnight on Sunday 1 October to accommodate a surge in late entries over the past few days said Phil Roberts, Chairman of Rochdale Harriers: “This is a last call for those wishing to compete in this year’s events to get their skates on and register. Applying is easy and only takes a few minutes at www.rochdale.gov.uk/run. Extending the deadline means you can still enter online over the weekend.”
This year's race announcer has been announced as festival, Revolution 96.2, club and Rochdale AFC DJ Dave Sweetmore. Dave will be warming up the runners and spectators around the town hall with music as well as providing regular race updates throughout the morning.
Councillor Janet Emsley cabinet member for neighbourhoods, community and culture at Rochdale Borough Council said: “The buzz around this event is growing now as the date gets closer and I’m really looking forward to it. I am looking forward to welcoming runners of all abilities to this fabulous event, which passes through some stunning scenery and magnificent landmarks as well as the start and finish line by the Grade One listed gem of our town hall.”
Half marathon and 10K runners will receive a technical t-shirt, together with a new for 2017 black nickel medal on completion. Fun runners will also receive a medal.
Runners will start at Rochdale Town Hall and set out on new traffic-free courses taking in town and some of the borough’s best countryside scenes.
The half marathon leaves the town hall along the Esplanade and runs the edge of Broadfield Park, before heading through to the Rochdale Canal at Oldham Road basin. The route then heads past Kingsway Business Park and Smithy Bridge along the canal. Close to the Waterside Restaurant the route leaves the tow path and heads up Hollingworth Road towards Hollingworth Lake, making a clockwise loop of the lake. It then returns down Hollingworth Road and back on to the canal. The race retraces its outward route from the town hall until it reaches Broadfield Park, where runners will go through the park before re-joining The Esplanade for the final sprint to the finish line.
The 10K follows the same route as the half marathon on to the canal, but leaves the canal at the swing bridge at Kingsway Business Park, making a loop of scenic cycleways, before returning to the canal and the same finishing route as the half marathon.
Once the half marathon and 10K runners have set off, the fun runners will be under starter’s orders. A new one-mile route sets out from Rochdale Town Hall and up into the beautiful Broadfield Park, taking a very scenic route around the award winning historic grounds. There is a steep challenging climb up past the John Bright statue before entering the park. While the rest of the course climbs gradually, once you reach the bandstand it’s all downhill to The Esplanade for the return to the finish line at the town hall.
Williams BMW Rochdale Half Marathon, 10K and Fun Run is organised by Middleton Harriers, Rochdale Harriers and Rochdale Triathlon Club supported by Rochdale Borough Council.
To enter online and find out everything you need to know about the event, visit www.rochdale.gov.uk/run
To keep up-to-date with the latest information about the event follow @RochdaleHalf on Twitter and like ‘Rochdale Half Marathon’ on Facebook.
Springhill Hospice is the official charity for the races.
27 Sep 2017