I thought it would be interesting to see if we have any other runners on the Liverpool forum. It seems to be growing in popularity recently, and why not - almost anybody can participate and it has lots of benefits.

The physical benefits are obvious (and well-needed across the country), but think of the extra revenue gained for local charities, the economic spend from mass particpation events and the sheer fun!

The Liverpool Santa Dash takes place this weekend, the finest event of its kind in the world! Is anybody else running this Sunday? If not why not get down there and support 6,000 santas plodding their way through town!

I thought it would be interesting to see if we have any other runners on the Liverpool forum. It seems to be growing in popularity recently, and why not - almost anybody can participate and it has lots of benefits.

The physical benefits are obvious (and well-needed across the country), but think of the extra revenue gained for local charities, the economic spend from mass particpation events and the sheer fun!

The Liverpool Santa Dash takes place this weekend, the finest event of its kind in the world! Is anybody else running this Sunday? If not why not get down there and support 6,000 santas plodding their way through town!

as if by magic i signed up to do the L'pool half in March, i have cousins coming over from Ireland to take part also. I have previously run the Great North Run , the New York Marathon and last but not least the santa dash... love running in Liverpool its a very attractive place to run!!!

I'm thinking of doing the Liverpool Half too. I've never run that distance before, at the moment I am a 10k man. I did the 10k in October, and I am looking forward to doing the Mersey Tunnel 10k in May next year.

Liverpool is a lovely city to run in, I have heard espcially good reviews from non-Liverpudlians who were surprised at how beautiful Sefton Park is.

I'm thinking of doing the Liverpool Half too. I've never run that distance before, at the moment I am a 10k man. I did the 10k in October, and I am looking forward to doing the Mersey Tunnel 10k in May next year.

Liverpool is a lovely city to run in, I have heard espcially good reviews from non-Liverpudlians who were surprised at how beautiful Sefton Park is.


if your doing 10k's the step ut a half marathon is not to big, THe liverpool Half could be massive if it was properly backed.. the route is excellent!

I used to do orienteering and cross country but since I stopped my weight has virtually doubled :ohno:

http://www.runliverpool.org.uk has some more information on the events

I used to do orienteering and cross country but since I stopped my weight has virtually doubled :ohno:

http://www.runliverpool.org.uk has some more information on the events

there is nothing to stop you getting back into in Blu Lou

Thousands out in the city today for this annual event, very colourful..........

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/2009%20pics/6Dec09LiverpoolvisitWheel012.jpg [/IMG]

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/2009%20pics/6Dec09LiverpoolvisitWheel016.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/2009%20pics/6Dec09LiverpoolvisitWheel022.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/2009%20pics/6Dec09LiverpoolvisitWheel025.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/2009%20pics/6Dec09LiverpoolvisitWheel033.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/2009%20pics/6Dec09LiverpoolvisitWheel038.jpg

Joe the Red, needed a tow today after his truck broke down:lol:
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/2009%20pics/6Dec09LiverpoolvisitWheel042.jpg

Nice pics!

A great day out with lots of fun. Perhaps the best part being the sight of hundreds of santas filtering their way home on trains and buses all over Liverpool!

Woody, great pics on here and the other threads, thanks.

Woody, great pics on here and the other threads, thanks.

Cheers Doug, sorry you couldn`t make it on Sunday, Martin and I picked the wrong time to give the wheel a "spin", it lashed down making decent shots almost impossible, still we enjoyed the ride.:banana:

I am away today to see the Kids in OZ / N.Z., back end of Jan. But I will keep an eye on the forum and might just post a few pics of Bondi Beach and the SUN.:banana:

Not sure if anybody's interested but the council's major events group (think this is a quango) has knocked back a proposal to resurrect the Mersey Marathon in 2010. There's a possibility it will happen in 2011 though.

What were the reasons for the knockback?

What were the reasons for the knockback?

been moved by NWDA to Salford to avoid a 'closed shop' on running :bash:

I'm not sure they gave a (coherent) reason. Its going to be put out to tender for 2011 anyway. There's a looooong thread on it here with plenty of input from the guy from runLiverpool who put the proposal together.

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/forum/forummessages.asp?UTN=141068&URN=6&dt=4&srchdte=0&cp=1&v=6&sp=

It would seem Liverpool's bid to wrest the title of the world's largest Santa Dash from Las Vegas fell a little short -

From Run Liverpool -

With a total of 7,192 posted on the Vegas web site for the Great Santa Run on Saturday, 5th December it meant the Liverpool event has PERHAPS!! fallen short by just 240 Santas the following day! We are at this moment awaiting a recount from Vegas!

The Liverpool event attracted 6,952 adults inclusive of 465 Mini Dashers.

2009 has seen the first drop in entries in six years with the 2009 total of entries down by 62 from 7,014 in 2008.

More here - http://www.runliverpool.org.uk/Event_List_09_SantaDash.php

Still a fantastic effort from all concerned though. :applause:

I think we have to take into account that it's the equivilent of a lovely Summer's day where they are.They'd be lucky to get 50 if they had what we have to put up with.:)

I've just had a look at the RunLiverpool website - it's been done up now, looks nice!

http://www.runliverpool.org.uk

Course map - http://www.runliverpool.org.uk/pdfs/half_marathon_10.pdf

Running my first half marathon on Sunday, looking forward to it!

...

Having read the thread on runner's world, it was a shame (but not a surprise) to read this from the organiser:

The local Press are no better. For example...they too have a commercial agenda as they won't support the Santa Dash with ANY publicity until after the event. Why? Because I wouldn't grant them contractual involvement with the event in 2004. In the first three years they received £200,000 on the back of the event and would wouldn't support it when I allowed other charities to benefit from the Santa Dash.

I contacted the sports editor in 2007 about a marathon in the city and received a very short reply which said... "we are not interested."

Problem is we only have one newspaper and they can do whatever they want!

Everyone in the city seems to put self interest ahead of everything else. I must have a look at the city moto in the Town Hall to see if it reads "what's in it for me?"

The print media in Liverpool is definitely seems like a closed shop.

That was always one of my main gripes with the Echo,the fact that they'd publicise an event after it had happened,now I know it was all down to money.I was naive enough to believe that if something was happening locally then your local paper would cover it.:ohno:

Thousands of runners take part in Liverpool half marathon

Mar 29 2010
THOUSANDS of runners flocked to Liverpool’s waterfront for the city’s half marathon.

Yesterday’s race saw a record number of competitors put on their trainers and take to the city’s streets.

The Liverpool RC star ensured there was a home triumph as he completed the 13.1m course in one hour, 13 minutes and 24 seconds.

This year’s event, which started and finished on the waterfront next to the ECHO Arena, attracted a record entry of 5,500 runners – up 37% on last year.

It was the biggest field in the race’s history and the runners, who came from as far afield as Canada, Hong Kong, Spain and Norway, enjoyed glorious sunny conditions.

The course passed Brunswick, Coburg and Queens Docks, before turning towards Princes Park, looping through Sefton Park and curving around Otterspool Park.

The Atlantic Way then took runners back to the waterfront and the finish.

For competitor Louise Pearce, 31, from Aigburth, the race was her 10th half marathon.

She said: “It was my first Liverpool half marathon and it was absolutely amazing.

“It was the best course I have ever run and it made Liverpool look absolutely beautiful. Running down the docks and the waterfront was incredible.

“It was a beautiful day and the crowds were really good.

“They were all lined up along Princes Park and Sefton Park, and at the waterfront there were crowds and crowds of people.”

Louise said the city setting spurred her on to the finish line.

She added: “I ran my personal best, so I am really pleased with that.”

Sankey, who finished sixth last year, came home 11 seconds clear of Martin Malone.

Brendan Rothery came third (1:14.13) with Christian Prior fourth (1:14.59).

Wirral AC’s Xavier Desse was fifth (1:15.25), while Liverpool Pembroke Sefton’s Bernie Murphy was seventh (1:15.50).

Julie Briscoe emphatically won the women’s race in 1:16:56. Liverpool Harriers’ Jenny Clague was second (1:20.41) with Sarah Ridehalgh (1:22.30) completing the podium.

Traffic diversions were in place along the route and Merseyside police said the event went smoothly with no incidents.

Liverpool Marathon is set to return in 2011

May 3 2010
A REJUVENATED Liverpool Marathon could be winding its way through the city next year after the council put out a call for contractors to run the event.

Their ambitious five year plan is that by 2016 the Liverpool Marathon would be the third most popular distance event in the UK, after the London Marathon and Great North Run, attracting TV coverage and world class runners.

Estimates for the first year suggest 5,000 to 10,000 runners could take part, dwarfing the 2,000 runners who used to take part in the 1980s, but it is not yet known what their route might be.

A final decision on the race map would be up to those taking on the event but would likely take in some of Liverpool’s iconic buildings including the Anfield and Everton stadia, the cathedrals and the Three Graces.

The city council do have an October start date in mind but are open to discussion, with an international football weekend being most attractive to avoid congestion from home games.

The ECHO understands the event will be run as a private concern, making money through sponsorship, entry fees, and TV coverage with no cost passed on to council tax payers.

Cllr Ron Gould, executive member for health, told the ECHO: “It’s early days. I think the marathon has captured the imagination of the country, if not the whole world.

“I received a phone call this morning to say it is in the offing but all depends on who comes forward to run it.

“We do the 5k and 10k and we use the parks. But to do a marathon we would have to use the whole city.

“I suppose we could use the whole of the waterfront. Wouldn’t that be a fantastic run? It’s a fantastic idea. I hope it goes ahead.”

Liverpool already has seven distance running events including a women’s 5k/10k, a half marathon, Mersey Tunnel 5k, Big Heart 5k, 5K team challenge, October 10k, and Santa Dash, all managed by Run Liverpool.

But Cllr Gould said a marathon, properly organised, could bring international prestige to the city.

He added: “A fun run would be lot easier but we want the top runners, the professionals, the Kenyans and Ethiopians that would make it a world class marathon.”

A Liverpool Marathon was mooted for the 2008 Capital of Culture year but was shelved.

The new idea seems to have grown out 2008’s legacy.

The Major Events Group, a group of the city’s leading private and public organisations who organised La Machine, the MTV awards, next month’s Pageant of Power, and who will introduce The Boat Show in 2011, are behind plans for the new marathon which will bring the famous run back.

An advert inviting tenders says: “We are looking for innovative ideas in road race management to maximise the number of participants and profile of the city’s landmarks to establish a quality marathon on the road race calendar.”

Register interest at www.thechest.nwce.gov.uk before 10am on Monday 31 May.

Great news to have this confirmed. There's no way at least a couple of companies won't pitch for this, so this is pretty much a dead cert to happen.

We can push this in a major way if done correctly and can be a real alternative to London.

I've long thought that Liverpool would be a great location for a marathon, so it's good to see the idea is being considered. It'd be a great chance to show off the city to a TV audience too, although I'm inclined to agree with the comment beneath the article on the DP&E website, that taking a route near Anfield and Goodison probably wouldn't be the best advert for the city. Still though, it'll be interesting to see how it pans out.

From the Echo -

Liverpool Unites wants Father Christmases to break Santa Dash world record

Sep 6 2010 by Tina Miles, Liverpool Echo
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Calling all Father Christmases – help Liverpool Unites and thrash America’s world record by joining Liverpool’s Santa Dash

THE ECHO today invites you to have fun, beat the Yanks and raise cash for children on Merseyside.

We are calling for 10,000 Father Christmases to sign up for the city’s Santa Dash to take the world record back from Las Vegas.

The record was previously held by Liverpool but was smashed by the Americans last year with a total of 8,868 Santas, putting Liverpool, with 6,952 Santas, in second place for the biggest number of Santas in one event.

This year’s 5k Santa Dash on Sunday, December 5, will support Liverpool Unites, the ECHO’s charity which helps disadvantaged children and young people.

Article continues here - http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2010/09/06/calling-all-father-christmases-help-liverpool-unites-and-thrash-america-s-world-record-by-joining-liverpool-s-santa-dash-100252-27209068/

THis a good positive news event.....

marathon set to return.....

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2010/09/24/liverpool-marathon-set-to-return-to-the-city-after-twenty-years-92534-27333285/

From the above Daily Post article -

Limelight Sports is the company behind several of UK’s highest-profile, mass participation sports events, including Nike RunLondon, Sainsbury's Sport Relief Mile, Swimathon, Sky Ride, and JPMorgan Corporate Challenge.

The first marathon, which is not expected to be profit making, will be funded wholly by Limelight Sports at no cost to taxpayers. Under the terms of the bid, future profits would be ploughed back into the city.

So, subject to approval, the marathon would be organised by a company with a proven track record of staging similar events, and at zero cost to the taxpayer. Talk about a 'win-win' situation.

This is fantastic news,I wonder what route it'll take? :banana:

Great news, particularly about the cost being borne by the private sector in the first year. This should generate loads of moolah for the city, as well as raising its profile.

I can hear the NIMBY's cranking up their complaints already though regarding the route.

I did a few Mersey Marathons back in the 80s, afraid i'm past my best by now though. I hope they do call it the Liverpool Marathon instead. They want to take in the waterfront but I can't see why they just don't revert to the Camphill to Seaforth and back route that did take in the waterfront back then unless they want to go back to the really old days and start at St. Georges plateau and finish inside Anfield or somewhere - maybe even the arena.

I'm sure the date for the Liverpool Marathon is October the 2nd and not the 9th as reported because there's a race in Chester on the 9th.

Liverpool marathon clash with Chester run could ruin both events, organisers warn

STAGING the Liverpool marathon on the same day as the one in Chester could see both end up a flop, the organisers of the Cheshire race warned Liverpool council.

The decision to hold the Liverpool marathon on October 9 next year could split runners between the two cities, meaning a poor turnout at both.

City leaders anticipate there will be around 10,000 runners at the Liverpool event.

At yesterday’s council cabinet meeting the organisers of the Chester race pleaded with city leaders to change the date.

The situation echoes last year when Liverpool council decided to hold its first triathalon on the same day as the Diva triathlon– in Chester.

In the end Chester changed the date to avoid the clash.

Chris Hulse, from Active Leisure Events, said: “We think it’s a great idea for the region to have two big running events but it would be a shame if they were on the same day.

“It will affect the viability of both races because we will be competing for the same pool of runners.”

Council leader Cllr Joe Anderson said: “We don’t want to be in direct competition with Chester, but, having said that, we have to look at where we are and what has already been advertised.

“It’s not just as simple as changing the date but we’ll see what we can do.”


Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2010/10/02/liverpool-marathon-clash-with-chester-run-could-ruin-both-events-organisers-warn-100252-27383615/2/#ixzz11Dmo3UzX

"Diva triathlon" indeed. That clashes with Pride Week.

^^

Thank the Lord for a quality local press. :bash:

1800 runners brave rain for park October 10K race

Oct 4 2010
TORRENTIAL rain failed to stop thousands of runners taking part in this year’s October 10k.

Around 1800 people braved a muddy Sefton Park for yesterday’s run.

The first three men to finish were Jonny Mellor (30:00), John McCole (31:57) and Ben Russell (33:21).

The top three female runners were Jenny Clague (36:37), Catherine Draper in a time of (37:42) and Sophie Whiteside (38:19).


Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2010/10/04/1800-runners-brave-rain-for-park-october-10k-race-100252-27395023/#ixzz11NHSHKwz

From the Daily Post -

Liverpool marathon under threat over London date clash

Oct 21 2010 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL’S first marathon in 20 years is under threat, just days after its launch was announced.

The Daily Post can reveal that the council’s preferred organisers, Limelight Sports, are running a race 175 miles away in London on the same day.

The hiccup has cast doubts over whether Liverpool’s race will go ahead.

The council is currently understood to be looking at all options to rescue the marathon, which had been tipped to generate £3m for the local economy.

A Liverpool Council spokesman confirmed last night: “Liverpool Council is in talks with an event organiser regarding logistical issues around the delivery of a marathon.

“But as the procurement procedure has not been finalised regarding this event, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this stage.’’

Limelight Sports said it was unable to comment.

Article continues here - http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2010/10/21/liverpool-marathon-under-threat-over-london-date-clash-92534-27516384/

Seen as there is already an issue with the date of the race clashing with the Chester event, and now this, would it not make sense to just change the date? I know that's easier said than done, but with a year to go, and things like the route not decided (and therefore no road closures to re-arrange), and entries not open yet (and therefore no competitors to inconvenience), surely now is the time to do it?

Yeah, doesn't seem too much of an ask. I guess a useful first step is to check out that there aren't any major rival events on a possible date before you announce it - maybe this is what is happening here :dunno:

I’m not too concerned about this, although they might have to go back to the drawing board if these guys pull out. The other companies that tendered may not have offered to fully fund the first one, which might mean some juggling of finance or even a delay until 2012.

Disappointing if so, but I feel the event has passed a tipping point now and will definitely happen, sooner or later.

From the Echo -

Santa Dash trophy mailed from Liverpool to USA

Nov 4 2010 by Tina Miles, Liverpool Echo

THE race was on today to win back the Santa Dash world record from Las Vegas.

The trophy for the biggest number of running Father Christmases has been prised out of the hands of a Scouse Santa and parcelled off to the Americans.

Liverpool Unites mascot Robbie Ribbon turned up to bid farewell to the trophy – and urged fellow Merseysiders to help win back the honours at the city’s Santa Dash on December 5.

This year, big hearted Father and Mother Christmases and mini Santas are being asked to sign up for Liverpool Unites, the ECHO charity which helps disadvantaged children and young people.

Katie Mercer from Liverpool Unites said: “Last year the world record was snatched from Liverpool by the Las Vegas Santas – this year we want it back.

“At the same time we’ve got the chance to make a real difference to the lives of underprivileged young people in Merseyside. Let’s unite to make this a Santa Dash which also breaks records for fundraising.”

Last year the Las Vegas Santa Run fielded a total of 8,868, beating Liverpool’s 6,952 Santas.

Article continues here - http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2010/11/04/santa-dash-trophy-mailed-from-liverpool-to-usa-100252-27597539/

http://www.runliverpool.org.uk/pdfs/marathonmap.pdf

Propsed map of the route for the Liverpool 2011 Marathon

Thanks for posting it. What a rubbish route! I thought it was going to include more of the city centre. Are areas like Canning excluded because of hills?

Harsh Des. Canning should be included but these runarounds usually follow main routes. Glad to see it includes both banks of the river though.

Looks like it might be quite a tough course, the uphill stint of the tunnel will be a bitch.

i'm going to make my decision to commit after the half marathon.

Run Liverpool never got it,that was their proposed route.

Run Liverpool never got it,that was their proposed route.

They did get it second time around.:)

Liverpool half marathon attracts thousands of runners

LIVERPOOL’S half marathon attracted thousands of runners in ideal conditions and was branded “a huge success” by organisers last night.

Roads were closed off as the runners streamed through south Liverpool – and more than 6,300 athletes completed the 13-mile course yesterday.

Ben Fish, from Blackburn, who won in 2008, completed the 2011 half marathon first with a time of one hour seven minutes.

Alan Rothwell of organisers Run Liverpool said the event had “gone really well” and Ben Fish had won the race comfortably.
Mr Rothwell said: “Ben had said he wouldn’t do it again after he won the last time, but he has come back and done really well.”

The half marathon is one of a series of events for Merseyside runners which also includes the Women’s 10k and 5k, Mersey Tunnel 10k run from Liverpool to New Brighton, and the return of the Liverpool Marathon in October.

The new Marathon is set to take place on October 9 – John Lennon’s birthday – and it is thought it could bring in as much as £3m to the region’s economy.

Mr Rothwell said: “The course we have put together is excellent.

“It is an easy course to enjoy as a runner.

“There is a great start at Birkenhead Park and the highlight of the first 10 miles will be the sensational view as they come down the promenade.

“There is also the historic beauty of Hamilton Square which runners pass as they come into the tunnel.

“I am certainly not aware of any other marathon where there is a tunnel involved.

“Once on the Liverpool side, runners will enjoy the big atmosphere of the city. We are looking to create a sense of occasion here.”

Cllr Wendy Simon, cabinet member for tourism, has also said this event could grow over future years, with the expected 12,000 runners potentially reaching 30,000 by 2013.

Pam Wilsher, from The Mersey Partnership, said 2011 was a great opportunity for businesses – with the marathon following on from the centenary celebration of the Liver building in July, the opening of the Museum of Liverpool and the Waterfront festival.