Urbanathlon

The team behind the Urbanathlon prides itself on its groundbreaking, cutting-edge reportage and in keeping with this tradition we’re delighted to announce the news that everyone has been waiting for… Urbanathlon 2009 is well and truly on!!
 
The event, which will take place on Sunday August 2nd 2009, will once again see sweaty, breathless athletes, fun runners, charity fund raisers, scrambling over the challenging urban landscape that surrounds Sportcity, where the Commonwealth Games was held in 2002.
   

You'll run, wade, scramble and dangle through a fun & challenging but achievable 5k course, a totally original urban-obstacle course around East Manchester... Start on the 2002 Commonwealth Games track, stagger up the `Stairway to Heaven` at the Manchester City FC stadium, take on the fireman's water slide, pick your way through the spiders web, scramble up the giant haystack, attack the rock climbing wall, vault over derelict cars and much, much more!!

Be an urban-athlete...and you'll never, ever forget or regret it!
All welcome; weekend warriors, fun runners, uniformed services, charity runners.  Each competitor receives a limited edition t-shirt and finishers medal *Also, check out the brilliant, family friendly ‘Party in the Park' festival in Philips Park post race with fun fair, live music, arts festival and loads more to do. In 2008 over 5,000 people attended the park festival, an unmissable day out!

As always, keep checking the website for further updates: 

Urbanathlon would like to thank all those who participated in 2008 Urbanathlon and made the event a great day, all of our supporters, and also former Olympian Diane Modahl, (pictured, at the 2008 event) for her support. 

ATHLETES clambered over cars, mounted a giant haystack, waded across the river Medlock, tackled a rock climbing wall and finally vaulted over cars as they competed in Europe's first Urbanathlon.  Just under 700 people took part in the 10km adventure race in a sunny East Manchester.

The event, attracted runners of all kinds and all ages who tackled a series of both man-made and natural obstacles in their quest for glory.

The SportCity course began with a lap of the regional athletics track, before racing around the B of the Bang sculpture, up and down the City of Manchester Stadium's spiral staircases and on to Joe Mercer Way.

Competitors, many running for their own nominated charities, then scrambled over cars, breeze blocks and climbing walls, through spiders' webs made of ropes and onto nearby Philip's Park. There they faced yet more challenging obstacles, including water slides and the River Medlock.

Organiser John Dwan, of Sporting Enterprises, said: "It was a fantastic success, the sun was shining, there was a great atmosphere and competitors seemed to really enjoy themselves.  We hope to stage another Urbanathlon in Manchester in the future and were really pleased it raised so much for charity."

The Urbanathlon, organised by Sporting Enterprises, Sport 4 Life and supported by New East Manchester (part of Manchester Council) and was launched by Manchester Olympian Diane Modahl in March 2008.