The Oldham Half Marathon is set to return after a three-year absence.
The ‘Halloween Half’ will take place on October 29 and promises to showcase the best of Oldham, with the 13.1 mile event taking place through the town centre and nearby rural countryside.
Before it shut down due to the Covid pandemic, the course is known to be one of the most challenging half marathons in the country, with a 1290-foot elevation gain as participants run the village lanes of Grains Bar, Dobcross and Uppermill.
Event organiser Stuart Lockwood, from Oldham Community Leisure (OCL), said: “I’m delighted to be re-launching the Oldham Half Marathon this year.
“The last time we delivered the event prior to Covid we achieved record numbers and I’m hopeful we will get strong numbers again.”
It’s hoped the return of the town’s Halloween Half will provide a welcome boost to the local economy after the pandemic and cost of living crisis.
Kashif Ashraf, the Oldham President of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, is looking forward to what the event can bring to local business.
He said: “When they do the marathon in Manchester city centre you just have a look at what influence it has on the business community. What we wanted to do is to give the business community the heads up that it’s not just people running – it’s actually good for business.
“When it’s the half marathon people go out to the coffee shops, restaurants, pubs, maybe do a bit of shopping. Things like this encourage people to come and get involved in the town centre.”
But it’s not just what the event can do for local business, as John Fay of Royton Road Runners explained.
He said: “I feel that the race breaks down barriers and brings people together.
“Running is great for people’s mental health, the route is always there 365 days a year – I regularly run parts of the route and through running I have made many new friends.”
The OCL are encouraging local runners to get involved. Lockwood said: “Having this event in the calendar will be a motivator for a healthier summer.
“If you’re contemplating entering, just do it. It’s a picturesque route with a few tough climbs, but if it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you!”
