Rotherham’s 10K is back

Ray Matthews, the multi-marathon man and exercise champion, said he had always been sure the race would reclaim its place in the sporting calendar.

Intended as an annual event when it made its bow in 2018, the 10k race suffered a setback in 2020 when the pandemic saw it called off at the eleventh hour, with runners and fundraisers urged to complete the distance individually and log their mileage online.

But the real thing is back for 2022 on Sunday, May 15 — with Clifton Park once again hosting the start and finish and Age UK to net the proceeds of entry fees.

“It is the first one in three years but there was no doubt it was coming back,” said Ray.

“There is a desire out there with athletes to start taking part in these races again.

“It is the camaraderie around the crowds that makes the difference.

“There’s a desire to get together and run together.

“It is that little bit of competition, whether you’re running against other people or running against yourself.

“For me, it’s about everyone getting a bit more healthy.”

As well as the 10k, there will be a fun run and a schools challenge, where schools enter a team and the first four finishers’ times are counted.

“This part gives me a lot of joy as it’s important for me to get kids more active and get Rotherham away from being near the top for obesity,” said Ray.

There are a couple of minor changes for the race’s return — one is a slight diversion to the route, with Frederick Street closed for council works and runners directed down Effingham Street, but the rest of the route via Canklow and Clifton should be familiar to past entrants.

The other tweak to this year’s event is the medal, which will keep the same design based around the borough crest but will have one colour different to before – a tactic Ray said would continue in future years.

Ray said running clubs had taken the event — which will be sponsored this year by Maltby bikers’ hub Revs and Relics — to their hearts and as many members helped organise the race as volunteers.

“It’s really good to give something back, he said. “There’s no-one getting any money out of this other than Age UK.”

Ray added: “When you finish, there is that sense of achievement that it’s something more than running around a track.”

For more information and to sign up for this year’s race, visit rotherham10k