The Easter Festival of Running supported by IQEQ takes place over the Easter weekend with a 10k on Good Friday, a hill race on Easter Saturday afternoon and a 5k road race on Douglas Promenade on Easter Sunday morning.
The dedicated Festival committee has rejuvenated this event which started life in the early sixties and takes up the whole of the Easter weekend. In 1012 the Festival celebrated its 50th anniversary. Much more information from its early days right up to the present time can be found on the Easter Festival of Running Website. Interest in the Festival had waned into the millennium, but a dedicated team of Club members and enthusiasts have made a concerted effort to try and revive the numbers taking part, this has gained momentum and numbers have been healthily increasing in the last four or five years with new record numbers taking part from Universities and clubs from every corner of the United Kingdom. The Festival is a considerable undertaking and relies on a huge volume of volunteers from all the Islands Clubs to ensure its successful running and after the Parish Walk, is the biggest event that Manx Harriers organise.
The events start on Good Friday with the Quine and Cubbon 10k Road Race which is currently run from the South of the Island in Port Erin. The scenic route runs towards Colby before turning right onto the Mount Gawne Road towards Gansey and following the path to Chapel Beach and into Port St Mary from where it follows the Truggan Road back towards Port Erin Promenade.
The Full Factory Winnerswear Peel Hill Race speaks for itself is a run up Peel Hill in which the steep, lung busting climb affords fantastic views over the west of the Island if you have time to appreciate them! The women and men race separately in this event with the women’s course being shorter (to Corrins Folly and back) while the men have to run beyond the Folly and around a field before their speedy descent.
On Sunday the action moves to Douglas Promenade for the Outback 5k Road Race. There are prizes for individuals and teams throughout the Festival which culminates on the Sunday evening with a Social event and a chance for anyone with any energy left to let their hair down and perhaps enjoy a beer or two.
To find out more please visit the Easter Festival of Running Website