the event
Surprisingly Warrington’s proud and rich transport heritage is often overlooked, yet geographically it is situated in a position that historically made it ideal for the development of countless transport links.
As Britain became industrialised Warrington embraced the Industrial Revolution to become a manufacturing town, and as the navigational properties of the River Mersey were improved, over time numerous canals were built and a brand new transport network was created.
When the age of steam came Warrington naturally welcomed it, both as a means of transportation and as a source of power for its mills, and as the town grew yet more prosperous and popular, this second transport network was soon constructed and quickly extended.
The Warrington Transport Trail Half Marathon is a circular route which incorporates many of the old transport networks, now ideal footpaths and bridleways for running on. It’s a circular route that starts and finishes at Thelwall Royal British Legion Sports Club.
All entrants of the Warrington Transport Trail Half Marathon will be awarded with a finishers medal and an optional event T-shirt, and the course will be waymarked with marshalls in place where there is a change of direction to help participants navigate their way around the course.
The race starts on the Trans Pennine Trail for a short distance only, before hopping over the swing bridge at Latchford. Runners will then head along the Manchester Ship Canal before crossing the River Mersey at Woolston Weir.
On the north side of the Mersey runners will then head off down the tow path of the New Cut Canal, re join the Mersey for a short while before running down the Black Bear canal (now filled in). The next stretch of the half marathon re joins the ship canal and then heads past the Walton Arms – don’t be tempted to call in! – and towards Walton Gardens.
The course then follows Hough’s Lane for a mile, before joining the Bridgewater Canal where it heads towards Stockton Heath, Grappenhall and Thelwall for the penultimate stretch. The last stretch of the half marathon rejoins the Trans Pennine Trail for a short distance before making its way back to the Royal British Legion Club.
