Around 4,500 runners are expected to take part in the sixth Altrincham 10k, which returns to the town this Sunday, September 6th.
The race starts and finishes in Altrincham town centre and supports The Christie Charity. It is organised by RunThrough and is open to runners of all abilities.
Local running hero and fundraiser Barbara Thackray will be the honorary race starter alongside Connor Rand MP.
The route
The 10k is on closed roads and is relatively flat, with the main climb on the way out to Hale Barns.
In a change to previous years, registration will be located on Shaw's Road.
Runners start in Altrincham town centre, on Regent Road, then head up Railway Street, The Downs and St John’s Road before turning onto Hale Road. That stretch takes the field out through Hale and up into Hale Barns.
From there the route turns left into Shay Lane, then onto Roaring Gate Lane and Whitecart Lane around Davenport Green. It comes back through Hale and Timperley on Clay Lane and Grove Lane.
The last stretch is Moss Lane. The finish is just over Moss Lane Bridge, close to the junction with Stamford New Road.
There is a water station at 5k and another bottle at the finish. Green kilometre signs mark the course. Ordinary headphones are not allowed; bone-conducting ones are, if kept quiet enough to hear marshals.
Event village
The event village is on Cross Street, WA14 1EQ (what3words: pies.sprint.carbon). There are toilets, refreshments, an information point and a bag drop in the town hall. Extra toilets are a short walk away at the Planet Ice car park.
Race packs for entries after 10 August are collected on the day (7.30am-9am). Earlier entries should already have packs in the post. Pace boards in the village show target times; organisers want runners in their zone 30 minutes before the start.
How to get there
The biggest change for local people is on the trams. No services will run on the Altrincham, Eccles or Trafford Centre lines on Sunday morning because of repair works. Replacement buses will operate until 11am, when the lines reopen.
Northern trains on the Chester–Manchester line still call at Altrincham, but Sunday services are less frequent.
Stamford New Road is closed from 6am, and Regent Road car park will be shut all morning. Goose Green car park sits on the course, so it can only be used if you arrive before 8.30am.
Other town-centre car parks are a short walk away and many are cheaper on Sundays.
Road closures
- Regent Road and Market Street: 6am–10am
- Stamford New Road: 6am–12pm
- Railway Street, The Downs, St Johns Road and Ashley Road: 9am–10am
- Hale Road: 9am–10.20am
- Shay Lane: 9am–10.30am
- Roaring Gate Lane: 9am–10.45am
- Whitecarr Lane and Clay Lane: 9am–11am
- Grove Lane: 9am–11.15am
- Moss Lane: 9am–11.30am
Town centre offers
Plenty of businesses are opening early or putting on runner deals.
Before the race, MOST Bakery on Cross Street opens at 8am, with double espressos for the price of a single.
Flakey on Greenwood Street also opens at 8am. Bgl on Railway Street has breakfast bagel deals from 7.30am–9am, plus a free cookie for finishers.
Mabel’s on Lloyd Street is doing a sausage or bacon sandwich and a drink for £5.50, with 20% off for runners.
Two Brothers Coffee on Stamford New Road opens at 8am with a £3 bacon roll deal.
After the race, Gran T’s is giving medal holders free lemonade. The Con Club has a free prosecco, beer or soft drink for medal holders.
Bar Etna is offering 20% off takeaway coffees and a free San Pellegrino for runners.
Nell’s Pizza opens from 9am for drinks and 10am for food, with 10% off all day for medal holders.
Cheshire Tap opens at 10.30am for post-run pints. Kennedy’s has £5 pints and two spritzes for £14 from 11am–2pm, and Batch Bottlestore is offering an unofficial bag drop from 8.30am.
For recovery, Physical Fitness on The Downs has free coffee from 8.30am–1pm and free 15-minute post-race massages. The Massage Company and Uplift Physio on Lloyd Street have medal-holder discounts, including a free post-run sports massage if you book with Uplift.
The Foot Company on Railway Street is knocking money off appointments, and Jake Shoes on George Street has 10% off footwear for medal holders until 13 September.
