My local 10k event. It's fantastic, quick and brilliantly organised. If your chasing that PB it's well worth signing up for.

The start and finish is in the middle of town centre close to all public transport. 

The route is mainly flat with plenty encouragement from local spectators. 

Turned up slightly late, had to start my run at the car park and join at the back. After the stress of that, enjoyed this run, Marshall's were helpful and encouraging. The course itself isn't very scenic, starting and finishing in the town centre but I would run it again next year.

The Wigan 10km originated in 2013 and has become a staple part in my personal running calendar for the year. It now forms part of the Wigan running series spanning two days in the calendar year with options of a family mile, 5km, 10km and a half marathon. I have competed in the 10km for the last three years consecutively and each time become impressed by the event as an overall running fixture and would highly recommend as both an addition to your training regime, or as a personal goal and fundraiser. The route is flat and perfect for a PB, as I can testify to (see the image attached from 2016) achieving two PB’s at this distance in three attempts. 

Preparations are packed with local food produce and a general sense of the town being transformed temporarily into a hub of excitement focused on running for both experienced and novice participants. There are areas to gather and stock up on refreshments, to warm up or to generally soak up an atmosphere which only could happen at a running event.

Set off in the heart of the Wigan town centre, the Wigan 10km follows a path out of the centre, along residential streets, fully closed off to traffic with plenty of space for spectators on either side. The roads are wide, with more than adequate space aswell for both your competitive and your fun runners with a quick pace often set right from the start.

Heading towards the DW Stadium, home of Wigan Athletic Football Club and Wigan Warriors Rugby League Club, the route crosses over the Leeds Liverpool Canal and by a local steel band serenading the oncoming masses, before circulating the stadium and heading into the Robin Park Sports Complex where runners head approximately down 100metres of the outdoor athletic track, with crowds gathered to cheer and the Wigan Warriors Rugby League squad providing refreshments and encouragement. 

The route continues along the path back out with runners then either side of the road, clapping and cheering eachother; often seeing friends and family and revelling in the experience. This is the busiest part of the route in terms of runners congregating together but does not appear to be overwhelming or difficult to find your pace. 

Passing the Steel Band again and looping a local industrial estate, runners soon find themselves back along the route into the town centre. Added though is a loop into and around Mesnes Park, lines with cheering locals throughout as the run approaches its end. As runners exit the park, there is a sharp right and left turn, before an approach to the finish line of approximately 50 metres along the road lines again with more spectators. Then, t’s all done and over as runners cross the line in glory. 

This is an event that Inwould highly recommend . At £20 registration, easy online and pick up options and a fantastic participants goody bag including a medal, and proceeds go towards the Joining Jack charity for a local boy who has been diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a debilitating muscle-wasting disease for which there is currently no cure. Obviously a very worthwhile cause. Jack attends each year to set the runners off which adds a nice touch and a reminder as to the origin of the event.

I’ll be signing up again for a 4th year; I’d recommend you do too! 

http://www.wigan10k.co.uk