Athletes Get Ready For Only Official Warm Up Race For Belfast City Marathon Titanic Quarter is encouraging fun runners and athletes to start their build up for this year’s Titanic Quarter 10K where participants can for the first time see the extent of building work on the Queen’s Island development. The TQ10K Race formerly Laganside 10K, has become an annual fixture in Northern Ireland’s athletics calendar attracting elite and international competitors as well as local participants ranging from beginners to experienced runners. The TQ10K will take place on Sunday 6th April, beginning at 2.00pm. Starting from Queens Road, the TQ10K course takes in an historical waterfront route including Airport Road and Sydenham Road. There will be a total prize fund of £2000. Each entrant will also receive a commemorative T-shirt. A new addition this year is a One mile run for junior athletes, which preceeds the main race.
Key sponsors of the race are Titanic Quarter and the Port of Belfast and this year ‘the streat’ café, Irelands fastest growing cafe chain, has also come onboard and will distribute the streat ‘repower pack’ containing water, sandwich and a piece of fruit to competitors at the finishing line.
Mike Smith, Chief Executive Officer at Titanic Quarter said,
“We are delighted to be sponsoring the TQ10K. Participants will have the opportunity to run in some of Belfast’s most historical surroundings, passing the newly restored Titanic House, the Drawing Office building and the Painthall.
“This year runners will notice big changes in the skyline and get a glimpse of the future of Titanic Quarter with the construction of the Gateway office development and Arc residential development. We would encourage everyone not only from Belfast but from right across Northern Ireland to enter the TQ10K.”
Roy Adair, Chief Executive of the Port of Belfast, co-promoters of Titanic Quarter added:
“Titanic Quarter is the latest and most dynamic addition to Belfast’s waterfront, an immense 185-acre regeneration project. With the construction work on phase one of the development well underway competitors from right across the world will have the opportunity to see Europe’s largest waterfront development being created. In the future they will see work beginning on Belfast Metropolitan College, the Public Records Office and the Titanic Signature Project.”
Johanne Madeley, Head of Franchisee Business Development at the streat, said:
“We are delighted to be associated with this year’s race- it sits perfectly with our brand which always tries to provide customers with healthy food options as a means of refuelling for hectic and energetic lifestyles. To mark the occasion we are launching a healthy and high energy sandwich called the ‘Titanic 10K Energiser’, which will be available throughout all branches of ‘the streat’ café in Ireland. We encourage all those in training for the Titanic Quarter 10K and Belfast Marathon to try it out!”
David Seaton MBE, Chairman of Athletics Northern Ireland said,
‘Following the undoubted success of last year’s event Athletics Northern Ireland is delighted to, once again, organise the forthcoming TQ10K Road Race. The 2007 event brought together the ideal race combination of fun runners, joggers, club athletes and top class internationals who competed over a fast flat 10K course around an historic and recently revitalised part of Belfast.
‘This April’s event will also provide added value for all involved as a 1 Mile run for junior athletes will precede the feature race. It will give the ‘stars of tomorrow’ the opportunity to compete over part of the main course thereby sampling the atmosphere that inspired so many of last year’s entrants to personal best times. The date of the TQ10K is ideal for those with aspirations of competing in the Belfast Marathon or Relay in early May as it provides an excellent opportunity for them to gauge their current levels of fitness and preparation’
Last year’s event attracted top African runners Simon Tonui and Cathy Mutwa and was won by Jean Nyasenga from Burundi who finished the race in 29 minutes 47 seconds. Kenya’s Cathy Mutwa was the first female runner to finish the race in 12th place.
The entry cost is £8 per individual runner or £7 for runners who are members of an Athletics Club. Entry forms can by obtained from Athletic Clubs, Leisure Centres and Athletics Northern Ireland or you can log onto www.niathletics.org to register online. While participants are encouraged to enter early, entries will also be taken on the day at a charge of £10 for all. Closing Date for entries is Friday 28th March 2008. Registration and collection of race numbers will take place at Queens Road, adjacent to the start and finish area from 12 noon on the race day.
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For further information, please contact:
Eleanor Anderson, Stakeholder Communications, T: 028 9033 9949
