Great Manchester Run given green light by organisers

Councillor Chris Furlong on a training run

The Great Manchester Run will still take place, it was announced on Wednesday evening (24 May).

Following the news of Monday’s terror attack at Manchester Arena, the organisers of Europe’s largest 10k faced a difficult decision whether to allow the run to go ahead as planned. Approximately 35,000 people took part in the Great Run in 2016, including elite athletes. This year, additional security measures are expected to be in place and the first half-marathon and annual junior events have also been given the go-ahead.

In an email circulated to entrants, the organisers confirmed: “Following consultation with the Greater Manchester Police and Manchester City Council, we can confirm that the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run events on Sunday 28 May will go ahead as planned.

“All entrants will receive a detailed pre-event email in the next 48 hours regarding plans for Sunday, which may differ from those previously issued.

“However, please note that all start times are planned to remain the same.

“Thank you for your patience over the last few difficult days.”

Councillor Chris Furlong is one of the entrants and he has been training up to five times a week for the race, including road running around Rochdale, Middleton and Heywood. To help build his endurance, he has also been swimming up to 71 swimming pool lengths in an hour.

Councillor Furlong said: “Last year when I ran the Great Manchester Run, it was a real carnival atmosphere. This year, I can imagine it will be a solemn but determined atmosphere, with the runners making sure the spirit of Manchester overcomes the evil monsters who perpetrated this week’s massacre.

“It will tell the world we are resilient against the terrorists and they will never win.”

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