The Ipswich Twilight races are returning to the town this year - in a new format.
The course for the newly formatted Ipswich Twilight 5k race has been announced.
It’s the first time that the two main Twilight races have been separated, with the 10km event still due to take place in August but the 5km taking place in May.
The new route will start outside Regatta Quay with runners making their way past a number of Ipswich landmarks including the Old Custom House and the University of Suffolk waterfront building.
Organiser Carl Ashton said there were a number of reasons for the change in set up including reducing the pressure on road closures for the event.
“In the past few years a lot of people who took part in the 10km wanted to do the 5km too.”
The new 5km event will have a range of races taking place around the waterfront area, including an elite 5km race and a 2km family run.
The first event of the day will be a 2km Daily Mile run which will feature specially selected youngsters from primary schools across the county.
The Daily Mile hopes to encourage youngsters to run for 15 minutes a day in order to improve emotional and mental wellbeing.
Mr Ashton said the new format had also helped organisers to get families involved in the day. “There was nothing really before for families,” he said. “Now people can take part together.”
The changes to the race are also designed to help runners who may be taking part in events such as parkrun more locally to get a taste for bigger events.
“There’s a lot of people doing a lot of short distances. This gives them the opportunity to experience a big race atmosphere without committing to a longer race,” said Mr Ashton.
Organisers have also announced some of the GB athletes expected to be taking part in this year’s event.
Included are former European Cross County gold medallist Gemma Steel, long distance runners Katrina Wootton and Lauren Howarth and Faye Fullerton who competed alongside Gemma Steel at the World Half Marathon Championships this month.
Hopes are high that last year’s winner, Scottish athlete Luke Caldwell, will be returning to the event alongside Adam Hickey who recently won the senior cross country title at the Home Countries International.
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