Race preview: Cross Bay Challenge – Sunday 24th July 2011
It’s now just over 6 weeks until CancerCare’s Cross Bay Challenge 2011 and the excitement is building. With the 2010 race having been named by UK Athletics as the UK’s favourite half marathon, entries have been flooding in from around the globe and, once again, the race is set to be the biggest yet and possibly the busiest event ever to take place on the notorious sands of Morecambe Bay.
Despite being run mainly on the flat, the course certainly lives up to its title of a challenge as runners battle sand and sea through the numerous water channels running down from the Lake District hills, crossing county borders from Cumbria to Lancashire in what is believed to be the only race in the world to cross a tidal bay. Having begun life 6 years ago as an informal ‘adventure’ run, the race has grown to become a well-known UK sporting fixture that attracts ever-increasing numbers of runners from the UK and overseas.
For those who prefer to take in the beauty of their surroundings at a calmer pace, there is also a 6-mile walk that is open to all and proves popular with families and friends of runners as it offers the opportunity to experience the incredible scenery of the bay and the Lake District peaks, finishing in the same place as the half marathon in time to cheer to runners across the finish line.
As an added bonus, its all for a good cause as the event raises funds for CancerCare, a charity dedicated to providing a wide range of support and information services, free of charge, to people affected by cancer, whether as patients, family members or carers.
All in all, this is a truly special, one of a kind event, the memories of which will last a lifetime. In the words of one of last year’s runners, there’s “Nothing else like it, a must-do race for all runners”, or, as another runner commented, “ Maybe I just had a really good day or I'm getting carried away, but I'd say this has been my favourite running event ever. This having been 6 minutes slower than my pb”.
Further comments from previous entrants can be accessed via the event website www.crossbay.org.uk where there is also a gallery of photos.
Online registration is available at www.crossbay.org.uk , www.ukresults.net or through the Runners World website.
Paper entry forms can be downloaded from the event website or requested by calling CancerCare on (01524) 381820.
Runners must register in advance (closing date 18th July).
