First-ever Podium 5K race heads to Manchester

A sports retailer is expanding its athletics event series with the launch of Manchester’s first SportsShoes Podium 5K race.

Shipley-based SportsShoes.com will stage SportsShoes Podium MCR at Tameside Cycle Circuit in Ashton-under-Lyne on August 16, in partnership with long-term brand collaborator Nike.

The event will feature a series of fast-paced 5K races aimed primarily at runners capable of completing the distance in under 21 minutes, alongside one-mile races.

Since launching in 2023, the SportsShoes Podium series has attracted thousands of athletes from the UK and overseas, including Olympians Emile Cairess, Beth Potter, Alex Yee and Narve Nordas.

The events have also provided the stage for record-breaking performances, including the Welsh 5K and British Under-20 5K records at last year's Podium Festival in Leicester.

Mia France, SportsShoes Podium race coordinator, said: “We regard ourselves as unrivalled in running, with Podium being an outstanding example of how we deliver upon that promise for both runners and brand partners.

“Podium has created an amazing community of runners and by expanding our race series with the first-ever event in Manchester, we are looking forward to welcoming many more people into it.”

Founded in 1982, SportsShoes.com sells more than 15,000 running and outdoor products from 150 global brands to customers across the UK, Europe and Scandinavia.

The Podium series forms part of the retailer's wider programme of community events and brand activations.

Over the past 18 months, the business has supported more than 100 events in the UK and overseas, including marathons in London, Berlin, Boston, New York and Osaka, as well as Parkrun, RunThrough UK and Kendal Mountain Festival initiatives.

This year’s Manchester event will feature leading domestic athletes including Almaz Nerukar, Holly Weedall, Esme Davies, Elyas Ayyoub and Finley Proffitt.

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