Four big road races in first half of 2011

(handicap races will be featured separately)

The Manx Harriers 10km run on 26 February covers 12.5 laps of the traffic free perimeter road at the National Sports Centre – a great course for a personal best. Although athletes of all standards are welcome, numbers are limited due to the need to lap score each lap so get your entry in as soon as the forms are available. The run is held on Saturday afternoon at the conclusion of a programme of race walking with many people attending the NSC for day to help or spectate.

The following weekend the action returns on Saturday morning to the National Sports Centre for the Leinster Management 20 miles, organised by the Isle of Man Veteran Athletes Club. Although 40+ laps of the perimeter road sounds daunting, it is a perfect course for that all important pace judgment and drinks practice for those running the Virgin London Marathon 6 weeks later (or any other spring marathons).

The Easter Festival kicks off on Good Friday evening over 10km on the popular south side course. Organised by Manx Harriers it’s the 49th Easter Festival and attracts entries from all over the country so there is a chance to have extra competition throughout the field – entry forms are already available.

The Mann Link Northern 10 miles on 12 May starts and finishes at Ballacloan Stadium in Ramsey and has been attracting bigger fields each year. Traditionally it was held fairly close to the Peel to Douglas run but with this now scheduled for September and on a new course, the Northern 10 is expected to blosom further. The roads are relatively flat and on Sunday morning are fairly quiet. You can enter the day at this Northern AC event. Road racing like it used to be across the British Isles.

Visit the club sites through the links above to find out further information.

Photos by Stan Hall (10km and 20 miles from 2004) and Murray Lambden (Easter Festival and Northern 10 miles from 2006).