WARRINGTON’S half marathon race will return later this year after a new organiser was announced.

The inaugural Warrington Running Festival will take place in the town on September 20.

The new, large-scale event is being delivered by RunThrough, which has strong links to Warrington and a track record of delivering successful running events across the country, including in the north west.

Starting and finishing at the iconic Golden Gates, the festival will feature four running events in one day – with the opportunity to take part in a half marathon, 10k, 5k, or a kids’ race in and around Warrington town centre.

Last year’s English Half Marathon was cancelled just days before it was due to take place in September.

And none of the thousands of runners who signed up to take part – understood to be around 5,000 – have received any of their entry free back.

Race director Rob Griffiths said at the time he was left ‘devastated’ by the cancellation.

Cllr Tony Higgins, the council’s cabinet member for leisure and community, says it is ‘great news’ that a major running event is returning to the borough.

“The Warrington Running Festival will give people from our town and beyond an exciting opportunity to join thousands of others in getting active, achieving a great accomplishment and raising money for worthy causes,” he said.

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Running Festival

“At the heart of the festival will be inclusion, with a number of events allowing people to run a distance that suits them.

“RunThrough have first-class credentials for running events and I’m looking forward to them making this a real success for Warrington and a fantastic addition to our sporting and community calendar.”

Warrington-born co-founder of RunThrough Ben Green added: “The Warrington Running Festival is an exciting new event for Warrington.

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“We have been delivering successful and highly regarded running events for seven years – including the London Half Marathon, Cheshire 10k, Run Tatton, Run Aintree, Hampton Court Palace Half Marathon and many more, with over 120,000 runners taking part in a RunThrough event in 2019 alone.

“We are delighted to be bringing this large-scale event to Warrington, giving people of all ages and abilities the opportunity to push themselves – in a road closed, flat and fast route – to their own, chip- timed, personal best. The countdown to September 20 begins now.”

The Warrington Running Festival route will be different to previous half marathons in Warrington – with further details to be announced soon.

For more information on the event and to register to run visit warringtonrunningfestival.com.

Check out runthrough.co.uk for hints, tips and inspiration or to connect with other runners.