Sunday 19-Aug-2012

10k start at 10:30am, fun run start at 9:45am

Much of the information below is from 2011 but is not expected to change substantially for 2012.

Race Information

The Birchwood 10k Road Race is our longest established event, it is the 29th race in 2012.  The race was ranked in the top 100 UK road races by Runners World magazine in 2003 and 2004.  We have hosted the Cheshire 10k County Championship several times within our race.

In addition to traditional running club team races we also include a 4-person Corporate Challenge, open to runners from within the same company or to informal "friends & family" groups.

All finishers receive a luxury bath towel.  We have an extensive prize list, including veteran categories.  If a veteran qualifies for more than one prize, they will receive the prize of higher value.

The prize giving will be held at Race HQ on race day.  This is normally at about 12:30pm.

The 10k Race is run under UK Athletics rules, UKA Race Licence 2012-103476.  The minimum age for runners is 15 years old on race day.

Cheshire County Road Race Grand Prix

This is race 6 (of 7) in the 2012 Cheshire County Road Race Grand Prix, run by the Cheshire County AA.

Race route

The race route is an accurately measured 10k along roads and tarmac footpaths in Birchwood and Croft.

To see a map of the route, please click on the small "Birchwood 10k - race route" map on the left of this page.

How to enter

Full details are on our How to enter web page.  Both on-line and postal entry are available.

Please note that the race has a limit of 1200 runners.  We post the current number of entries received on the front page of this web site in the run-up to the race.  Remember, it’s "first come, first served"!

Refund policy

If you have entered the race and are unable to run for whatever reason, like most races we are unable to offer refunds.  Also, we are not able to defer your race entry to the following year.

However we do allow you to transfer your race entry to another runner.  See our How to enter web page for more information.

Results

Race results are usually available to view at Race HQ after the prize presentation.  We aim to have provisional results available to view on this web site on the evening of the race.

Race HQ

Race HQ is at the Birchwood Shopping Centre and will be open on race day from approximately 8:30am.  Race HQ is normally close to Car Park 4, which is at the railway station end of the Shopping Centre.

The Race Venue address and a link to a location map are on the left side of this page.

Chip timing

We use chip timing for the 10k race.  You run over a timing mat at the start and at the finish, and this records your time.  Timing chips should be handed in at the finish (or sent back in the Freepost envelope if you are unable to run the race).

Apart from prize winners, times will not be available immediately after the race but will be available on this web site within a few days of the race (hopefully on race day).

10k Race Information Sheet

We send a race information sheet out with your chip & race number.  If you lose it or want another copy, it is available for download in PDF format.  Please click here.

Fun Run

As part of the Birchwood 10k Road Race event, we also organise a Fun Run, along a traffic-free course mostly on paths in Birchwood Forest Park close to the Birchwood Shopping Centre.  The Fun Run is ideal for beginners and for family members of runners in the main 10k race.  If you have young children, you can jog with them around the course, a great way to warm up gently for the 10k.

The route is about 1 mile (2k). The route is measured by GPS so the distance is approximate.

You can pre-enter the Fun Run using the Birchwood 10k Entry Form, or you can enter on the day.

Corporate Team Challenge

We include a Corporate Team Challenge event within the 10k race.  It is open to teams of 4 runners from the same company and working at the same site, or groups of 4 friends & family in a "Friends & Family" team.

Teams must include at least one veteran (a man aged 40+ or a woman aged 35+) and at least one woman.  A veteran woman in your team can meet both of these requirements.

There are three classifications:

• small (fewer than 500 employees)
• large (500+ employees)
• friends & family

Note that Club runners are eligible to count both for their Club team and for a Corporate Challenge team.

Vendors & Sports Massage

The Birchwood Shopping Centre is open on race day.  Many of the stores in the Centre will be open.

Running Bear will be in attendance on the day, adjacent to Race HQ.   Running Bear are a specialist running shop based in Alderley Edge.

A team of Sports Masseurs, mostly from Salford University, will provide pre- & post-race massage in a marquee between the car park and race finish.  Two sports injury specialists from Sports Rehab UK (Mike Carolan & Allan Munro) will be available, checking any sports injuries & leading the team.  The massage is free but a donation to our charity Brainwave in lieu of a fee is requested.

Post-race showers will be available at the Birchwood Leisure & Tennis Complex (on the opposite side of the Shopping Centre from Race HQ).  They will charge £2 to use this facility.

Charity fund-raising

Runners are welcome to raise money for the charity of their choice at our race.  If you are looking for a charity, may we suggest our nominated event charity Brainwave.

Brainwave "works with families to deliver individual home-based therapy and exercise programmes that help children with disabilities and developmental delay to achieve their potential".  Brainwave have a local centre in Birchwood and provide access for families in Cheshire and the surrounding area.

For more information about Brainwave, including sponsor forms you can download, please see the information page on this web site.

More information

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