Registrations for this year’s Ipswich Building Society Twilight Races are open and filling up fast, with over 1,000 runners already signed up to the 10k race.
This includes entries for the 10k at the end of July as well as the 5k series taking place on Saturday 11 May at Ipswich Waterfront. Last year, the 5k race evolved into a series of races for all ages and abilities including a Daily Mile for children, the ABP Business Challenge and a 2k family wave, as well as the traditional elite and non-elite 5k races.
Before Christmas it was announced that the 5k series has been chosen by Athletics England to host the national 5k championships, giving a further boost to what is already one of the foremost events in the Suffolk running calendar. The popularity of the 5k is set to showcase Ipswich as a destination and attract people to the historic waterfront, which has emerged as one of the crown jewels in modern Ipswich.
Carl Ashton, race director said: ‘this has been a hard-fought battle. I’ve been working to raise the profile of the Twilight races ever since we started back in 2015, and I’m really pleased we’ve managed to secure the national 5k championships.’
The traditional 10k race is to be held on Friday 26 July and sees the introduction of a brand new course for 2019, starting and finishing at Ipswich Town Football Club’s home in Portman Road. The race takes place along a fast, flat route through the town centre, taking runners past iconic Ipswich landmarks such as the Town Hall and the Willis Building and with the aim of beating the sunset.
Long time race sponsors Ensors Chartered Accountants are returning to sponsor the official race T-shirt for the fifth year running, which the first 1,000 people to register for the 10k will receive when they sign up. The colour – this year blue – was chosen using a Twitter poll in which hundreds of people voted for their favourite.
Charity partner applications
We’re continuing our search for a charity partner to join us for the 10k race. To qualify, charities must operate solely or principally in the Ipswich and Suffolk areas and promote, encourage or facilitate physical activity and wellbeing. For the last two years we’ve teamed up with Inspire Suffolk, who use sports and personal development programmes to promote wellbeing and support young people in and around Ipswich. If you’re part of a charity with the right values for our race then please do get in touch!
If you fancy your chances as a runner, click here to register for any of the upcoming races. We’ll see you at the starting line!
