Thanks for visiting this page, before you do anything else, including making a cup of tea or going to the toilet or checking your emails, read everything I've written and SPONSOR me!!  You know you want to...

I am running the Great Manchester 10K run AGAIN on the 18th May 2008. My start time is to be confirmed but when I know it I'll edit this page so you can come and support me. I am hoping to do a bit better than last year get round in about 50-55 minutes.

I'm doing this run to raise money for Leukaemia Research and in particular for the Forget Me Not fund set up in honour of my mum, Linda Coupe. Please give however much you can afford in the hope that eventually these kinds of charities won't need to exist.

Why don't you come along on the day, do some shopping, have some lunch and then cheer me on as I stagger over the finish line after everyone else!

I have set a target of £500 for this run, if you're on this page and it is already over that amount, SO WHAT?! It's just a number, keep going and we'll try to double it or treble it.

If you don't want to give online then let me know what you want to do and I'll sort it out. I'm pretty sure you can be anonymous so if you're a bit strapped for cash it doesn't matter at all. Anything is better than nothing.

I'll even send you a better joke than last year when you've sponsored me!!

THANK YOU!

The first km
And they’re off! The run heads over Oxford Street and along Chepstow Street, passing the Bridgewater Hall and Manchester Central before turning onto Medlock Street near Deansgate Lock. The course takes you right onto City Road East and Great Jackson Street (1km).

1km to 2km
From Great Jackson Street the course joins up with Chester Road at Bridgewater Viaduct for the long run out to Old Trafford. The 2km marker is at Cornbrook, near the BMW garage. Those of you in the later waves will have elite athletes and runners from wave 1 passing you on the other side of the road as they head back into the finish, so give them a cheer. You never know, they might just return the favour!

2km to 3km
The course heads along Chester Road and merges into the Bridgewater Way. You’re now running on fast, flat dual carriageway with the 3km point on the approach to White City. This section of the course is all on the Bridgewater Way – there are no big hills on the route but there is a bit of undulation out in this section

3km to 4km
After passing White City Retail Park, you’ll take a right turn onto Sir Matt Busby Way past the famous Legends café at Old Trafford, before reaching the front of Old Trafford itself at the 4km point.

4km to 5km
Here you turn left onto the ‘red brick road’ that runs underneath the south, west and north stands of Old Trafford football stadium. As you emerge from Old Trafford, the course will bear to the left onto Wharfeside Way. Here you’ll find the Aqua Pura drinks station just before the 5km marker. Water is available on both sides of the road.

5km to 6km
Wharfeside Way offers you a wide flat run along to your next right turn which takes you onto Elevator Road by the Rank Hovis Mills and up to the award-winning Imperial War Museum North. The course will take you across Trafford Wharf road and onto the Promenade with views across to the Quays. You’ll pass the Lowry Building and footbridge where you’ll see the 6km point before the Silent Cargoes art installation.

6km to 7km
As you leave the Promenade you turn left back onto Trafford Wharf Road, and then loop behind the Tulip Hotel passing the Chain art installation and joining up with Wharfeside Way just before 7km. There is a cooling shower here on this section of the course that you can run through if you wish.

7km to 8km
You’re now on the long run back into the City Centre, joining Bridgewater Way at White City Circle with good, wide, (fairly) straight running road to take you into the finish. As you look up the Beetham Tower will give you something to aim for: this is Britain’s tallest residential skyscraper (and a Hilton Hotel) and right by the finish line.

8km, 9km and into the finish
Again, good straight running into the finish, from Bridgewater Way onto Chester Road and towards the 9km mark before the Mancunian Way. You’ll run over the Mancunian Way for a last run up Chester Road and onto Bridgewater Viaduct before heading under the railway lines and onto Deansgate with the finish line in sight!

Each Kilometre will be accurately marked by large boards, usually on lamp posts or other signs above head height. The Police and local authorities are very supportive of the event, but please note that we do have to re-open the roads quickly after the event: if you are still on the course after 1315 you may find that stewards ask you to finish the race on the footpaths, and we ask that you comply with this instruction. The finish system will remain in operation until all runners have crossed the line on Deansgate so all runners will receive their finish time and race souvenirs.

Charity Cheering Points and the Bands on the Run
From the start to the finish, you’ll be entertained by a wide range of musicians all playing as hard as they can to help you keep on going around the course. As well as the thud of over fifty thousand feet on the streets of Manchester, the city will move to the sound of rock, pop, brass, strings, steel and samba on Sunday 20th May as the 10 bands on the run get you moving. There is a charity cheering point at about 1.25km / 9.5km where supporters of Cancer Research UK will be cheering you on.