The Gin Pit Trail Marathon

Bank Holiday Monday 29th August 2011 Start at 10:00am

The Gin Pit Trail marathon aims to continue the theme of the Gin Pit Double marathon from earlier this year, by offering local runners the opportunity to run a low key friendly marathon.

The inspiration for this course was to share the area’s pleasant trails that I love and regularly train on with other runners. The 26.2 mile course is 6 laps, which is virtually all on trails and includes a run through Lilford Park. There is a short stretch on a lane before you reach the entrance to Lilford Park and another short stretch on Green Lane before crossing Queens Way and returning to the trails.

The registration, start and finish are all at the Gin Pit Welfare Club, Gin Pit Village, Ley Road, Tyldesley, Manchester, M29 7DW (pictured below), which is also where the drinks station will be situated. The course has 6 identical laps which some runners may find dull but the virtually traffic free course is found to be very welcome and pleasant by most runners. The benefit of 6 laps is that the 1 drinks station is passed 6 times and enables runners to leave their own drinks & snacks to be retrieved each lap (every 4.4 miles). The Start/Finish will be manned throughout the event but please note any drinks, gels or snacks left at the drinks station are done so at the runner’s own risk. I recommend if runners wish to leave something at the drinks station they mark it with their name to identify it from anyone else’s and the standard water being handed out.

Runners can collect their race numbers from Registration which will be open from 9am on race day.

Refreshments will be available after the race including pasties, cakes and hot drinks; tea, coffee and hot chocolate.

Should the weather be dry for a few days before the event then road trainers will be adequate but for wet conditions trail shoes are recommended.

Please do not enter the Welfare Club in muddy trainers and running gear, you will get me into TROUBLE!

The course will be well sign posted but not marshalled, no maps or navigation skills will be required.

Please be aware the trails are open to the general public at all times and expect to see walkers, dog owners, cyclists and people horse riding. We ask that you are courteous to all other trail users, they have as much right to use the trails as us runners.

There are no road closures so for the short road sections of the course on Old Hall Mill Lane, The Avenue, Green Lane and while crossing Queensway please look out for traffic and use the Green Cross Code.

On the road sections of the course, runners must keep on the footpaths at all times.