Kirklees Council and NHS 10K Challenge
All ages and abilities will all be able to join in a new annual Kirklees running challenge being held for the first time on Sunday, October 19.
The ‘Kirklees Council and NHS 10K Challenge’, being staged in and around Batley Sports and Tennis Centre, features not just an individual 10K race but a Corporate Challenge for teams of three who will run the distance in relay format, an under-8s fun run and a 2K fun run for youngsters aged 8 and over. There will also be FREE multi-sports and dance mat sessions for children.
"Kirklees Council and Kirklees NHS are staging this event to encourage and support people who have taken up running to get fit. It is fun being active but it's good to have a goal to aim at - if they are not ready for the full distance this year, they can take part in the team event and build up to the individual event in future years. Those having a go at the individual challenge can aim to improve their time in future events," commented Cllr Liz Smaje, Kirklees Cabinet Member for Leisure and Neighbourhood Services.
"Children's events and activities have been included to encourage youngsters to be active from an early age."
And Green Party Councillor Andrew Cooper, who put forward the initiative, added: "This is a real opportunity to promote health and greater fitness in Kirklees and give people a goal to work for."
Councillor Cooper, who has recently ran two 10k races, continued:" This is also an opportunity for people to get sponsorship for local charities. I will be one of the runners in this event in October and hope to break my personal one hour barrier and raise some money for the Mayors Charity at the same time."
The individual and corporate 10K challenges will start at 9am and be run over a three-lap circular route around the Sports and Tennis Centre. The route will be on public roads - Windmill Lane, Upper Batley Lane and Upper Batley Low Lane - which will be closed to traffic during the event.
The entry fee for the individual race is £7 (attached), £9 (unattached). Entry fee for the corporate challenge is £12 per team of three people, each of whom will run one lap of the course.
Entries for these events, minimum age 16, must be received by Sunday, October 12. People can enter online or download forms at www.kirklees.gov.uk/10kchallenge. All competitors will run with microchips attached to their shoes to measure distance completed and all will receive race packs on the day.
The children’s events can be entered in advance or on the day. Entry fee for both is £3. The under-8s fun run starts at 9.15am and will be held in the grounds of the Sports and Tennis Centre. The 8 and over fun run starts at 9.45am and will take place around the fields of the Centre.
There will be prizes for all finishers in the children’s events, prizes for the winners of the10K races and special ‘spot’ prizes awarded on the day.
The multi-sports and dance mat sessions, for children aged 4-14 years, will be held between 8.45am and 11.15am, providing safe child care for competitors and spectators. There are places for a maximum of 60 children so booking is advisable. Contact Batley Sports and Tennis Centre, tel: 01924 326181. Parking, refreshments, food and showers are also available at the Centre.
Anyone wanting to train for the 10K Challenge, which is being organised by Kirklees Council and NHS Kirklees in conjunction with Kirklees Active Leisure and is part of the Kirklees ‘Getting Fit For 2012’ campaign, can join in the Sport4Life running sessions at Holmfirth Pool (tel: 01484 222440), on Mondays 8pm-8.45pm, Leeds Road Running Track (tel: 01484 223178) on Wednesdays 6pm-7pm, and Spenborough Running Track (tel: 01274 335140) on Wednesdays 6pm-7pm.
The sessions are led by qualified coaches and cost £2.65 each.
For further information about the ‘Kirklees Council and NHS10K Challenge’, contact Debra France-Sargeant, tel: 01484 234012, email: debra.france-sargeant@kirklees.gov.uk Runners who want to raise money for their chosen charities should make their own sponsorship arrangements.