Date announced for 2018 Market Drayton 10K

Organisers have revealed next year's Market Drayton 10k race will take place on May 13.

They have also revealed online entry for the race will open on July 1 at 6pm.

It comes just weeks after they hailed this year's event as the best yet.

Earlier this month about 2,300 people from across the Midlands and beyond took on the run around the town’s streets, ranging from keen athletes to youngsters taking part in shorter fun runs.

Race director Tim Beckett said: "We expect next year’s race to be sold out again as the feedback this year was it the best ever.

"We are competitively priced compared to other races, offer a top quality t-shirt that if bought in a sports shop would retail at over £30, they get a medal, goody bag with food in plus they get a tray of Müller yogurts and Pork Farms pork pie.

"The items they received would cost over £40 to purchase which is why our race is value for money.

"We also offer a free park and ride system, left luggage area so they can leave their sports bag/clothing whilst running the race, and we have double the amount of toilets that is normally required for a race this size to keep the queues to a minimum.

"The course is a certificated accurate measured course.

"We made a lot of changes this year – more water for the runners, a wider start, and the finish was a straight line once they got back to the Grove school. They didn’t have to run round the field again which many didn’t like. With these improvements runners want to take part again."

The race has grown and grown over the past few years. When the race began in 2004 there were 125 entrants, and then 250 a couple of years after.

Last year the race was named the UK’s best 10k race in the county for the fourth year running by Runner’s World magazine, beating events in London and Leeds to the top spot. However, this year the magazine left the event in Market Drayton out of the league table, saying it had changed the ratings, despite being rated the highest by runners.

In previous years all of the spots in the race have been taken up within weeks of entries opening.

For more details about the race visit http://marketdrayton10k.co.uk or email marketdrayton10k@gmail.com