This coming weekend is basically Christmas for athletic types. Taking place during the early evening on Friday is the Great City Games. Deansgate will be closed to traffic, and top athletes from around the world will be competing in a series of sprint and hurdles races. Also, Albert Square will be host to the long jump and pole vault events. On Saturday, it’s the turn of younger people, with the Junior and Mini Great Manchester Run, which takes place in the Etihad campus. Finally, on Sunday, it’s the Great Manchester Run proper, the most popular 10k race in Europe. If you’re feeling brave, there’s still time to enter, as online applications will be accepted up until Friday. Starting at Albert Square, the route will take participants to Old Trafford, on to Salford Quays, and then back to the city centre. The City Games and Great Run All are sure to make great spectator sports, but if you can’t make it in person, they will also be shown on BBC 2.
Great City Games: Fri 20 May, Deansgate, 4.45 pm – 7.30pm, www.greatcitygames.org
Junior and Mini Great Manchester Run: Sat 21 May, Etihad Campus, Alan Turing Way, Manchester, M11 4TA, 9.00am – 1.00pm, www.greatrun.org
Great Manchester Run: Sun 22 May, Albert Square, Manchester, 10.30am – 1.30pm (various waves), £38, www.greatrun.org
- Words:
- A. James Simpkin
- Published on:
- Thu 19 May 2016
