Its all go for 10 mile road racing in May - 2 classics in 3 weeks

The first of two 10 mile classics, the Isle of Man Bank Peel to Douglas will be held on Sunday 3 May.  Until 2006, it was held on an 11.25 course finishing on Douglas promenade.  Due to road safety concerns, it now finishes on the TT Access Road close to the Quarter Bridge and runners complete a lap around Peel to make up the distance to 10 miles. That is why this group of Gianni Epifani, Martin Malone, Russell Collister, Andrew Dudgeon and Rob Sellors appear to be going in the wrong direction last year.

Like London buses - I don't think that Andrew Dudgeon (87) has been featured on this site before but here he is for the second time in a row. He has Alan Postlethwaite (blue shorts), Dave Newton (black shorts) and Mike Gellion (110) for company. Paul Lewthwaite is hidden at the back of the group. You can find photos and results from recent years at Paul Jackson's manxharriers.com site here

Rachel Tewksbury took the honours in the womens race last year. Here she is at Braddan Bridge. To see all the results since 1965, video and other features at manxathletics.com click here

Three weeks later (24 May) Northern AC are promoting the Northern 10 - Northern AC website here. The race goes to Sulby, St Judes and back to Ramsey, starting and finishing close to the football stadium. This picture was taken at the start in 2006.  More information nearer the time - 2008 manxathletics.com coverage here

All photos by Murray Lambden

If you are new to the sport but not quite ready for a 10 mile race next month, then there is another one, the Western 10 miles in October. Western AC's website is here. There are also two half marathons, both promoted by the Isle of Man Veteran Athletes Club in August and November.  Their website is here