From Tues 16th February, the new office address will be:

RunLiverpool/L1310K Limited,
JJB Sports,
5 Williamson Square,
Liverpool L1 1EQ

Tel No. and Email address are unchanged

Event stability the key to improvement this year.

Looking back over the last five years we have had a lot to contend with whilst attempting to create a first class portfolio of events for runners, not just in Merseyside but from across the country. It is clear from the spread of entries we get for most events that the city of Liverpool is enjoyed by many people from all parts of the UK and beyond.

This isn’t rocket science! As a runner myself for over 30 years I have travelled far and wide looking for new running experiences and have been to some great places. So looking at the new found profile of Liverpool – post Capital of Culture – it seems logical that people will see the city in a different light and that is a credit to everyone who has helped shape the city over the last decade.

In recent years the local running events have not enjoyed the same level of investment from the city and consequently progress in developing the quality and profile of them has been slower than anticipated. That said there is progress without doubt. Entries for the events remained steady at around 24,000 in 2009 but given the backdrop of all that has happened over the last twelve months it is reassuring that so many people are still prepared to take part in our events.

Now we have completed the first five years I believe we have a very good year ahead of us and in the main I put that down to having a stable set of race routes – at last. If we take a look back at where all this started with the introduction of the Liverpool Half Marathon back in 1994 then it is amazing to consider just how many courses that particular event has had to embrace – and almost all receiving local community complaints in one form or another. And yet after much persistence (and determination) 2009 saw the event take up what I believe to be the best course we have had in 16 years! There are no plans to change the course this year and is fundamentally what I’m happiest with – an established course!

The same can now be said for all the other events in the portfolio with the Women’s 10K in May utilising the October 10K course from last year. The Tunnel 10K remains unaffected as there is no need for change there, the Big Heart 5K in Walton Hall park doesn’t need to change and the 5K Team Challenge now has an excellent course in the city after a difficult three year period in Croxteth Park. With the October 10K settled and the Santa Dash working exceptionally well in the city centre it seems all the logistical difficulties are now behind us.

This year will see a focus on developing the quality of the events through encouraging more investment in the initiative. As you will see, Run Liverpool has teamed with JJB Sports and their positioning statement is rather appropriate… ‘we’re SERIOUS ABOUT RUNNING’. With the addition of ‘in Liverpool’ the tone is set for a really good year.

As well as JJB Sports we also have great support from Highland Spring, Liverpool Active City, Total Fitness and Runner’s World.

So yes, it has been a difficult five years but I sense that we are now gaining the kind of credibility that the events – and the small team that deliver them – really deserve.

To those of you that took part in 2009 I thank you for your continued support (and hope to see you back this year) and to those of you who have never sampled a race atmosphere, come along and join us. You’ll like what you see.

Alan Rothwell

‘runliverpool’ initiative

Run Liverpool Half Marathon – March 28th 2010

RUN THE CITY, 2 PARKS AND THE FAMOUS WATERFRONT!

BEFORE YOU ENTER! Please be advised that once you enter the event, your entry fee is NON REFUNDABLE under any circumstances. By entering the event either online or by postal entry you do so in agreement with this arrangement.

To enter download the Entry form or enter online. Download a course map here.

Run Liverpool Womens 10K 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run – Sunday May 9th

THIS ONE IS JUST FOR THE GIRLS!

Come and join over 2500 women running round the recently redeveloped Sefton Park in the suburbs of Liverpool. Come for the exercise, come for the competition, come for the camerarderie, come to run for your charity. Entries are now being taken online or by post.

To enter download the nntry form or enter online.

BEFORE YOU ENTER! Please be advised that once you enter the event your entry fee is NON REFUNDABLE under any circumstances. By entering the event either online or by postal entry you do so in agreement with this arrangement.

Download the course map here.

Run Liverpool Mersey Tunnel 10K – Sunday May 30th

Run point to point from Liverpool city centre through the Wallasey Tunnel and onto New Brighton on Wirral. This is a 10K race with a difference, ask anyone who has tackled the incine out of the tunnel.

To enter download the entry form or enter online.

BEFORE YOU ENTER! Please be advised that once you enter the event your entry fee is NON REFUNDABLE under any circumstances. By entering the event either online or by postal entry you do so in agreement with this arrangement.

Download the course map here.

Organisers of the Great Santa Run in Las Vegas have confirmed their final numbers of Santas in their 2009 event as 7,094 which is just 142 more than the Dashing Santas of Liverpool! So, the winners of the first World Santa Challenge are Opportunity Village, representing the city of Las Vegas.

The Great Santa Run will be the first recipients of the World Santa Challenge Trophy which has been hand crafted by the Tasmanian team who were also taking part – but finished in third place picking up the first Grinch Award!

Alan Rothwell from the Liverpool Santa Dash was complimentary in defeat saying…”whilst it is naturally disappointing to have not won the World Santa Challenge at the first attempt I’m sure we can lift the trophy next year. I’m sure that when the people of Liverpool see how close the final numbers were they will go flat out to beat the Las Vegas team in 2010!”

Although there were just three participants in the first year there is already keen interest from across the world to take part in the World Santa Challenge in 2010. The Tasmanian team have established good links with major cities in Australia and likewise Las Vegas is doing the same in the U.S.A. No doubt their new found status of Winners of the World Santa Challenge will raise the profile of this unique competition.

Alan Rothwell also commented… ” on the back of the first hosting of the World Santa Challenge it is great to see so many other cities across the world are now interested in taking part. I have had contact with eight other European cities about entering the competition next year and if we can get around a dozen competing cities in the second year then that would be absolutely brilliant. Hopefully Liverpool will emerge as winners in 2010 despite the increased competition!”

The raised profile of the World Santa Challenge brought about by the introduction of the annual Challenge Trophy will give any Festive Fun a clear focus in future years. The creator of the trophy, Steve Martin is pleased to see the efforts of the Enormity Charity in Tasmania are helping to bring the Santa Fun Run phenomenon to the world stage saying… “for a relatively small community to have such an impact on a world event is very satisfying indeed. We are absolutely delighted to have been part of the creation of a world initiative and our congratulations go to Linda Smith and her team at Opportunity Village in Las Vegas.”

The last word must go to Linda with Las Vegas being the winners of WSC1. Linda said…” after a lot of hard work and effort from a dedicated team here in Las Vegas I’m thrilled that we have won the first World Santa Challenge. It is just reward for the enormous amount of work that many people in Las Vegas have put in leading up to the event. Our thanks also go to the amazing Santas of Liverpool and Tasmania for taking part. I do hope they will take part once again in 2010… but just remember, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!”

We’ll see!

Over 7,000 [TBC] off-duty Santas lined the famous Liverpool Waterfront today for the annual gathering of Santas, ready to race in what has become the UK’s largest gathering of Santas. The atmosphere built up from 8.30am to a crescendo of Ho! Ho! Hos! as Santas from far and wide began arriving in front of the World Famous Pier Head, a World Heritage Site.

I arrived at Exchange Flags, near the official finish line ready to meet up with members of the Rhys Jones Memorial Fund, who kindly invited me to be their photographer for the race. Included in their team were Big Brother winner, Craig Phillips and Michael Shields. They were joined by The Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Mike Storey CBE.

Afterwards, we hurried towards the start line to join the thousands of other Santas who were already warming up with the help of members of the Santa Dash community who kindly took to the stage to warm up everyone’s muscles before the race. This, accompanied by a drumming band and festive music ensured that the gathering crowd became excited and eager to start.

Shortly after 9.30am we were once again joined by The Lord Mayor of Liverpool who was there to start the race. The race began with the usual sprint from the beginning from those who use the opportunity to add a competitive edge to the gathering. It was nice to see so many blue Santas this year, officially endorsed by the organisers and who ran for The Everton Foundation Team.

I knew that 20 minutes after the race had begun; some of those more competitive Santas would be arriving at the finish line, so I quickly began to run towards Liverpool’s stunning Town Hall. Here the finishers were treated to a blanket of snow plus applause from the watching crowd. Once again, looking down to the bottom of Dale Street were hundreds of Santas snaking up and over onto the Churchill Way Flyover was a site to behold. Then the heavens opened, it began to pour down and I decided to call it a day and make that bizarre journey back to car walking with wet, tired Santas!

The organisers pulled it out the bag this year, providing what was in my opinion, the best Santa Dash ever! Fingers crossed we have regained that World Record which we narrowly missed last year!

Photographs
You can view my photographs by clicking here: Liverpool Santa Dash 2009 Gallery

Appeal
I want your pictures for the Liverpool Santa Dash 2009 Gallery. Please email them to this address and I will begin to add them to the gallery.

Facebook Group 2010

Join the Liverpool Santa Dash 2010 page now! http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?id=544398994&gv=12#/group.php?gid=189198088030

I was invited up the top of the Radio City Tower yesterday [18th July 09] for the official launch of the Liverpool Santa Dash 2009.

The day began at 9.30am, presentations were made in the presence of Mike Story, the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Linda Smith from Opportunity Village in Las Vegas and Steve Martin from the Enormity Organisation in Tasmania who had flew thousands of miles to be here, in Liverpool.

Steve from Tasmania has brought over a hand carved official World Championship Trophy for Running Santas specially created for this year.

We then occupied an open top bus that travelled around the city centre to as far south as Allerton, through Toxteth, Aigburth etc, showing off the city to Linda and Steve and the new trophy to the people of Liverpool.

Then it was back into town to handout some freebies!

See the whole set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/sets/72157621546542063/

Join the discussion: http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/showthread.php?p=180481#post180481

Beatles Day 1 Mile Fun Run – July 10th 2009

To enter download the 1 Mile Fun Run entry form.

BEFORE YOU ENTER!

Please be advised that once you enter the event your entry fee is NON REFUNDABLE under any circumstances. By entering the event either online or by postal entry you do so in agreement with this arrangement.

Source: Run Liverpool

To enter download the Entry form or enter online.

To enter the Mini Dash download the Mini Dash Entry form!

BEFORE YOU ENTER!

Please be advised that once you enter the event your entry fee is NON REFUNDABLE under any circumstances. By entering the event either online or by postal entry you do so in agreement with this arrangement.

Santa Dash 2009 / Entry Fee Increase

For the last three years the Santa Dash entry fee has remained at £15 and has delivered very good value for money as well as a fantastic day out.

However, due to recent increases in the cost of the Santa suits and medals (which are imported from China) as well as most other logistical delivery costs including the Traffic Order for road closures from Liverpool City Council Highways Department (to approximately £7,000) it is necessary to increase the entry fee this year to £20.

The increase has been kept to a minimum and it will ensure that the event is delivered to the standard expected by all those taking part.

More details to arrive as we get them!

Source: Run Liverpool

MORE than 4,000 runners will be pounding the streets of Liverpool on Sunday for the city’s annual half-marathon.

The 13.1 mile course, which this year starts outside the Echo Arena, has attracted people from around the world with entrants from New York, Norway and Germany.

Organiser Alan Rothwell said: “There’s a lot of excitement around the half- marathon this year.

“We have had a lot more people entering because it’s back to starting and finishing in the city centre.”

Many people use the half- marathon as preparation for the London marathon which takes place in four weeks.

Alan added: “The Capital of Culture effect is still rippling through the city, with so many people choosing our run this year because the city is right on top of you during the route rather than runners just going past the edge of the city.”

Official runners’ world pacers will be running at five different paces on the day for anyone that wants to beat their personal best, regardless of what the elements may be throwing at them.

Alan said: “The weather forecast is looking favourable so far for Sunday, which is very important for the runners.

“Everyone will be hoping for a south westerly wind which will get behind them and push them along the tough parts of the course.”

Joining the crowd of fund-raising charity runners will also be stars from Hollyoaks who are raising money for Whizz Kids and Prostate Cancer.

Residents around the city centre have been warned of some road closures during the race which has a 9.30am start.

Adjoining roads along the city side of St James Street will be closed at 10am while runners pass.

At 10.15am, there will be no access to Devonshire Road.

Access to and from Jericho Lane and Aigburth Road will be restricted between 9.45 am and 10.30 am until the last runner passes into Otterspool Park.

The last of the runners are expected to finish at midday.

Liverpool Echo

The planned Underground 5K event scheduled for Sunday, April 19th has been cancelled by Q Park with immediate effect.

Samantha Carvis from Q Park has advised Run Liverpool and Henshaws Society For Blind people that permission for use of the car park has been withdrawn by Grosvenor.

Despite a full event plan being in place and race packs ready to got out to all competitors from Monday 30th March it seems objections have been raised about the agreed car park closure.

In a short statement Samantha Carvis from Q Park said;

Hi Nikki/Alan

My sincere apologies for having to cancel the 5K underground run at the Liverpool ONE car park. To confirm, the reason behind this is because we are not allowed to close the car park at any time as we would be in breach of our lease with Grosvenor. I have tried to come up with alternative options but every idea I have has health and safety issues involved.

I am so sorry for the inconvenience this will cause.

Kind regards
Sam
Samantha Carvis
Sales and Marketing Manager

Alan Rothwell from the ‘runliverpool’ initiative said…
‘It should be understood that both Run Liverpool and Henshaws had undertaken to create and deliver this event on the basis of permission given by Q Park at the outset of discussion to host the event on the agreed date.

It is unfortunate and regrettable that such a decision has been taken so late in the day.’
Anyone who has entered the race will have their entry fee returned in full shortly.

Alan Rothwell
‘runliverpool’ initiative

Source: Run Liverpool