The Warrington Running Festival is a fantastic event, and with the 5km, 10km and half marathon
distances, it caters for runners of all abilities. All 3 events start and finish at our Town Hall’s iconic
Golden Gates and with the event being chip timed, what better way to smash your pb in front of
your friends and family!.
So what do you need to know? Firstly, the minimum age – 11 for the 5km, 15 for the 10km and 17
for the half marathon.
Secondly, what’s the course like? Well, all of the courses are clearly marked, with regular water
stations to ensure all runners remain hydrated throughout. Plus, for those social media-ready
photos, event photographers will be on-site to capture you in action, and all your race photos will be
available on https://www.facebook.com/warringtonrunningfestival by the end of the day.
Still not sure which distance to go for? This flyover of the routes might help. The 5km event starts at
Golden Gates and goes via Bridge Street in the centre of town. You’ll head out towards the Howley
Quay area, before turning for home via the beautifully renovated footpath running adjacent to the
River Mersey. A stretch of flat terrain leads you to Warrington Bridge, where you’ll cross and head
back up Bridge Street, onto Palmyra Square, Winmarleigh Street and finally up to the Golden Gates
where the cheering crowds await you.
If the 10km run sounds more like your thing, this starts and finishes under the Golden Gates so get
on the starting blocks for a quick dash down Winmarleigh Street before you turn on to Wilson
Patten Street, crossing Bridgefoot to join the 5km route down to Howley Quay and back down
towards town via the River Mersey footpath. With the 10K route and upon your return to
Warrington Bridge, you turn left and find yourself river-side again, passing Victoria Park and into
Latchford where you face your toughest part of the run. A steep climb up Station Road leads you to
the Cantilever Bridge, then it’s back down, past Warrington Town FC and returning to Knutsford
Road before retracing your steps back towards the town centre. As you cross the Warrington Bridge
and head up Bridge Street, turn onto Palmyra Square, back to Winmarleigh Street and dash through
the Golden Gates as you cross the finish line!
If the 10k has whetted your appetite for an even longer distance, for the seasoned runners amongst
us, why not challenge yourself with the half marathon! This 13.1 mile event also starts at the Golden
Gates with the first 5km mirroring that of the 10km event, but when you reach Victoria Park there is
a swift change of terrain as you pick up the Black Bear Park foot trail and head towards the village of
Stockton Heath. From here, you enter the Trans Pennine Trail and head out towards Grappenhall,
crossing over the Cantilever Bridge before heading to Stockton Heath village. This is followed by an
uphill climb into the open countryside along the border of Grappenhall Heys, and a turn for home.
However, don’t be fooled – there’s still 1/3 of the run to go at this stage – although the positive is
that it’s mostly downhill from here! A challenging second Cantilever Bridge crossing will test your
endurance but don’t forget how sweet the downward slope will feel as it takes you into the final
3km stretch, back along the banks of the River Mersey. As you approach Warrington town centre,
save some reserve of energy for a well-deserved sprint finish up Winmarleigh Street as you cross the
line under the Golden Gates.
For full details on how to enter, course maps, road closures, FAQs, and contact details for the event
organisers can be found at www.warringtonrunningfestival.com and be sure to tag
@wearewarrington into your pics!