Ready, set and go-go-go for the Lee Valley 10k and Fun Run!
Date Published: 21/06/2010
The hugely popular Lee Valley 10k and Fun Run is back for its fourth year on Sunday 4 July in the stunning River Lee Country Park in Hertfordshire and Essex.
The event promises enjoyment for all, from experienced runners to families looking for an active day out in the Park. The 10k route is perfect for those looking for a new challenge, keen to beat a personal best or wanting to enjoy a leisurely jog in the Park’s beautiful surroundings. A shorter 3k Fun Run is open to all and can be enjoyed by the whole family, whether it’s a run, jog or a Sunday stroll.
Olympic medallist Mark Richardson, who took home Silver in the 4 x 400 metre relay at the Atlanta Games in 1996, will be at the start line offering encouragement to entrants and will present prizes at the finish. The run is also supported by Edmonton Running Club and Broxbourne Runners. Prizes will be up for grabs for the first three male and female runners to cross the 10k finish line. In addition, all children to enter the Fun Run will be awarded with a medal and there will be an event t-shirt for everyone on completion.
The 10k run starts at 10.00am, with the Fun Run following at 11.00am. Spectators are welcome to come along and enjoy musical entertainment whilst supporting friends and family members. A team of physiotherapists will also be on hand, providing free post run massages.
Participants can opt to race for the Hertfordshire charity, Noah’s Ark hospice, (http://www.noahsarkhospice.org.uk/), a charity of their choice, or just run for fun!
Both routes, (this year the 10k has chip timing for accuracy), are entirely contained within the River Lee Country Park, providing a flat, safe and traffic-free course, scenically winding past picturesque rivers, woodlands and lakes. Route maps can be viewed at www.leevalleypark.org.uk. Those intending to complete the course at a slower pace will be able to take in the beautiful surroundings and varied wildlife. The last 200 metres of the route goes past the site of the Lee Valley White Water Centre. Open to the public in spring 2011, it will be the only brand new London 2012 venue to open before the Games – allowing visitors to have a go at white water rafting before the Olympians arrive!
Online registration closes on Wednesday 30 June. Entry for the 10k is £10.00 per person (£15.00 on the day) and £5.00 per entry in the Fun Run (under 5’s are free of charge).
The River Lee Country Park is a great base from which to enjoy a host of other attractions and venues within the Lee Valley Regional Park, so runners are encouraged to make a day of it. Lee Valley Park Farms, for example, are close by and are an ideal attraction for the whole family, with friendly farmyard animals, an adventure playground, brand new Jumping Pillow and Spider Tower, and soft play area.
For those that enjoy the 10k run and would like a different challenge, why not enter the inaugural Lee Valley Aquathlon on Sunday 1 August. With the 600m swim taking place in the open water of the Herts Young Mariners Base, Cheshunt, the following 6k run will then use the pathways of the River Lee Country Park. For more information visit www.leevalleypark.org.uk/events
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Notes to Editors:
Location:
Start and finish lines are located at the Showground site in the River Lee Country Park, Highbridge Street, Waltham Abbey. Route maps can be viewed at www.leevalleypark.org.uk.
The venue is five minutes from junction 26 of the M25 and is within a 20 minute walk of both Cheshunt and Waltham Cross train stations.
Entry and Registration:
Participants entering the 10k must be 16 years of age or over on the day of the event. Fun Run entrants running on their own must be 11 years of age or over on the day of the event. All children under this age must be accompanied by and adult.
Entry is via an online application form available at www.leevalleypark.org.uk.
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Notes to Editors
Lee Valley Regional Park stretches 26 miles along the River Lee from Ware in Hertfordshire to East India Dock Basin on the Thames. The Park’s 10,000 acres comprise a diverse mix of heritage sites, nature reserves and open green spaces alongside world class sports facilities, attracting over 4 million visitors every year.
Lee Valley Regional Park is playing an active part in the London 2012 Games. The Lee Valley White Water Centre (just north of the M25, near Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire) and the VeloPark and Hockey and Tennis Centres in Olympic Park will be owned, managed and funded by Lee Valley Regional Park in legacy. They join our existing sports facilities which include Lee Valley’s Athletics Centre, Riding Centre and Ice Centre to create a chain of sporting excellence across the region.
Press Information:
For more information, images and interviews, please contact Lee Valley Regional Park Authority Media Officers:
Jackie Tolland: 01992 709 933, (M) 07739 990 151, (E) jtolland@leevalleypark.org.uk
Michelle Rosenberg: 01992 709 830, (M) 07920 810 403, (E) mrosenberg@leevalleypark.org.uk