Blackburn Celebration 5K Run

[Witton Park]

Sunday July 13th - programme starting at 10:30 am.

See link http://www.ukresults.net/08jul.html#blackburn for info and online or postal entry.
NB. No entry on the day.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has decided that they want to promote a Town Centre race programme as part of a summer festival of sport. They have approached us at Blackburn Harriers to assist them in the organisation of the event.

This is a traffic free course.

We have put together a programme that starts with a series of Junior 1 mile / 2 mile road races, which will be on a similar format to the mini-marathon type events as they will incorporate a town school contest alongside the open race for club and unattached junior athletes.
Race 1 for primary school age, Race 2 is for Year 7&8 and race 3 for Year 9&10. (Older athletes will be able to run in the 5k races)

There will then be an "Elite" 5K race on an accurately measured 3 lap course. The qualifying times are not rigid, so anyone who thinks they have an equivalent time from another endurance distance / discipline, feel free to contact me.

Finally there will be an open 5K for all.

The Council has made a 3 year committment to the event and in subsequent years the "bonus" for a target time will switch to a course record bonus.

As revenue is not the object of the event, entry fees have been kept to a minimum, especially considering the traffic free element. I hope that we will have some support from you forumites young and old for this event.

If you want any further info, feel free to post a question or PM me.

[NotIntaFells]

Is this a flat/fast course? If so, it should be a cracking event!
However, it's on the same day as the St. Annes 5K which certainly is flat/fast!

[OnceWasRunner]

This looks like a very interesting event, pity about the clash with the Lytham St Annes races.

I don't know about anyone else but it immediately reminded me of the old Shopping Centre 5k in Blackburn back in the day. That was 6 or so laps with a slight rise/fall and some sharp turns on each lap.

[Richard Head]

This looks like a very interesting event, pity about the clash with the Lytham St Annes races.

I don't know about anyone else but it immediately reminded me of the old Shopping Centre 5k in Blackburn back in the day. That was 6 or so laps with a slight rise/fall and some sharp turns on each lap.

Did you ever do the Southport Town Centre 5K? That was six and a half laps of a dead flat rectangular circuit which involved part of Lord Street being coned off.

The last time i did it a fire engine with the blue lights flashing had to pick it's way through the cones and runners and i think the police put the mockers on the race being run again after that

[Witton Park]

The race is on a flat 3 lap course. The lap is a few yards over the mile so for the 5K we will have 3 laps and a bit. Enevitably there are some bends to negotiate, but I have walked the course and they are "wide" bends that should allow decent times.

The course is being officially measured shortly to ensure any times count for rankings.

I agree that the clash is unfortunate, but we have had to fit in with the Council's plans, which is for 1 month of sport, which will include a boxing day, also a town centre cycle race.
And whenever you fix a summer road race it is likely to clash with something.

Anyway, I think there is room for both events, and the idea has come from the old Blackburn Race.

It does seem that due to Health & Safety officers at Council level, Traffic Free is the way that events are going to have to go, and many road races will not survive the next few years. Our own Ribble Valley 10K will be traffic free this year.

And even the Ponies can enter this event as a Team! The open race that is!

[Martins Mrs]

.....Our own Ribble Valley 10K will be traffic free this year.

Tell us more - same course? will RVBC close the roads?

[Witton Park]

Tell us more - same course? will RVBC close the roads?

All will be revealed in due course - let's not lead this thread astray but yes same course.

[Track Fairy]

I'd love to have a crack at this but its on the same weekend as the Olympic T&F Trials!

[tomcee]

You could do a double with the 5k at the OT on the saturday and the Blackburn 5k on the Sunday? It looks like it will be a great event. The course looks fast and the prize money in the elite race is pretty good!

[tomcee]

...thats assuming you're not doing the 1500 though!