Babcock has confirmed its continued sponsorship of the local 10K series for 2023, having first sponsored the events back in 2017- with a director expecting an improved turnout for next year’s races.
In 2023 the three races will be the Babcock Helensburgh 10K on Thursday, May 4, at 7.30pm, the Shettleston 10K at Glasgow Green on Sunday, May 14, at 10am, and the Dumbarton 10K on Thursday, May 25, at 7.30pm.
This year’s events attracted more than 2,000 entries and chairman of the Babcock 10K Series, Kevin Johnson, expects an even bigger entry for 2023, as the after-effects of Covid-19 recede.
Kevin said: “It was doubly challenging coming back this year because people had booked in for the race two years prior.
“A lot of people left their entries in so we got around 2,200 entries across the series, but it was very difficult to know who was going to turn up.
“The turnup rate was a good bit less than in previous years.
“It was still encouraging the number of people that did turn up.
“There was pent-up demand and interest to get back out on the street and run, for people to test themselves.
“Lockdown helped to a degree with people taking up running because it preserved many people’s mental and physical health.
“That is why Babcock continues to promote running because they want to encourage health and be seen as very community orientated.”
The Series combines elite competition, involving Olympic athletes like past winners Derek Hawkins, Sonia Samuels and Weynay Ghebresilassie at the front end, with club runners chasing a personal best and recreational runners, many of whom may be tackling the distance for the first time.
Series chief Kevin spoke about how recreational runners have now become the most dominant category of runner that competes in the series.
He added: “What we have found in the past 10 years is that two-thirds of people competing are recreational runners.
“Only around one-third of runners are part of clubs, and affiliated with Scottish running.
“The number has grown so much that recreational runners make up the majority of runners. That didn’t used to be the case.
“Overall, I think we will push towards 2,500 people this time around across the series.”
Every finisher at each race will receive a unique commemorative medal, together with a goody bag containing a different item of merchandise at each event.
Runners can enter now at Run ABC or visit Babcock10kseries.co.uk for more information.
