WORCESTER’S annual full and half marathon could be moved to a city centre route in a bid to attract thousands more runners.
Bosses at Tempo Events, which have run the city’s half and full marathon for the past three years, have revealed they are planning to make changes to next year’s event.
The race, which will takes place on Sunday, April 12, currently sees competitors travel through Oddingley, Tibberton, Crowle and Himbleton before finishing back at Sixways Stadium.
But race director Rob Minton told The Observer they were considering taking the event, which is expected to see more than 1500 runners take place this year, into the city centre in 2016.
“It has been pretty much the same for four years, but we would like to grow it to the point where we have got between 5,000 and 10,000 people coming across to take part,” he said.
“It would make it ‘the event’ to come to in the Midlands along side the likes of the Great Birmingham Run. But to do that we have got to try and bring it into the centre of the city to help the spectators and the atmosphere.”
Mr Minton admitted it would “bring hassle” due to the amount of roads which would need to be closed, but he insisted the positives would outweigh the negatives for the city.
“The logistics are very tricky and we have a vague idea of the route,” he said. “It will be a lot flatter route than what we have now which would make it more accessible for people.
“It would mean that we would have to close more roads and the health and safety element would be a much higher level, but that’s what happens when you bring an event into the city centre.”
Mr Minton believes it would also help to generate more funds for St Richard’s Hospice which has already received more than £50,000 since the event was launched in 2011.
“They have been fantastic supporters of the event as they provide a lot of marshals who are really enthusiastic, so we have tried to raise money for them every year,” he added.
“If we could take it into the city next year with between 2,000 and 5,000 runners who might be raising money for the hospice, we could raise an incredible amount of money.”
To get involved register online at www.tempoevents.co.uk, but all entries must be received by Easter Sunday (April 5).
