A record number of runners will be taking part in a popular half marathon race as it prepares for a major milestone in its history.<\/p>\n
For the first time ever well over half the1,800 people taking part in the Village Bakery Half Marathon in Wrexham will be from the city.<\/p>\n
The race on Sunday, February 16, starts and ends on Wrexham Industrial Estate with the finish line on Oak Road at the former BICC club.<\/p>\n
Everybody who completes the course will be presented with a medal as well as some tasty products from the bakery \u2013 Welsh Cakes, sourdough crumpets or gluten free muffins for those with coeliac disease.<\/p>\n
According to organiser Mike Harrington from Run Cheshire, the Village Bakery Half Marathon is going from strength to strength, \u201csetting things up nicely\u201d for its 30th<\/sup> anniversary next year.<\/p>\n The race was founded by the late Peter Norman, from Penycae, who worked in the maintenance department at the Village Bakery and used his loaf when he needed a sponsor for the race.<\/p>\n Peter, who died aged 86 in 2023, only took up running in his 50s and went on to win three world triathlon titles and worked tirelessly to make the half marathon such a successful event.<\/p>\n Mike Harrington said: \u201cThe backing of the Village Bakery is fantastic because it\u2019s been a constant throughout the event\u2019s history.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd on social media afterwards people post pictures of themselves demolishing the bakery\u2019s legendary Welsh Cakes before they get back to their cars. The love it.<\/p>\n \u201cThe connection with the Village Bakery gives us a unique selling point \u2013 it\u2019s a winning combination.<\/p>\n \u201cAnother reason the event is to popular is that the course is so fast and it\u2019s early in the season so we attract a lot of elite competitors, as well as decent club runners and people who just like to keep fit.<\/p>\n \u201cWe also have pace making groups for different levels of performance, including 70 minutes for elite athletes up to two and half hours \u2013 everybody\u2019s looked after.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re also very proud that for the first time ever well over 50 per cent of the runners are local to Wrexham so it\u2019s a real force for good. It\u2019s really made and impact.<\/p>\n \u201cThis year we have linked with Wrexham Food Bank so they will have a collection point on the day and we will be urging the runners and supporters to bring goods that they need.<\/p>\n \u201cDespite the fact that the profile of Wrexham has surged in recent years after Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took over the football club, there is still quite a lot of food insecurity in Wrexham and that\u2019s something we feel strongly about.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re also working with the resettlement department of HMP Berwyn so a few of the people due to be released will be taking part with some helping out at the drink stations while some of the staff will also be running the race.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a great relationship with the prison because they allow us to use a lot of their land for car parking.<\/p>\n \u201cNot only is it a great sporting event, but it also has a real community focus which makes it worthwhile on so many different levels.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the elite level, it promises to be a really exciting affair this year. The favourite in the men\u2019s race is Omar Ahmed but Joshua Griffiths, who\u2019s a GB international,\u00a0 is going to give him a good run for his money.<\/p>\n \u201cBoth are capable of around 63 minutes so we\u2019re probably looking at a course record which currently stands at 65 minutes.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the women\u2019s race, GB international Louise Small will certainly go close if not beat the women\u2019s course record of 1 hour 13 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n This year 11 members of staff from the Village Bakery, which has its headquarters on the industrial estate, will be taking part in the race.<\/p>\n Among them is Florence Corfield, an experienced fell runner, who\u2019ll be tackling the event for the fifth time just 14 months after she gave birth to a baby daughter.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, it will be the first time for packer Katie Roberts, who works at the company\u2019s bakery in Minera.<\/p>\n She said: \u201cI only started running about 12 months ago and I\u2019ve got the buzz for it but I\u2019ve never done a half marathon before so it\u2019s quite a challenge.<\/p>\n \u201cI do 5k most days and I\u2019m building up the mileage now and I like to do at least one long run every week. When I\u2019m running it makes me happy and clears my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n Katie\u2019s boss, bakery manager Tom Breeze, is a regular runner.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cI like to run so I make sure I get out running at least three times a week.<\/p>\n \u201cSigning up for a race like the Village Bakery Half Marathon gives you a goal to aim at.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s great that so many of our employees are taking part this year and we\u2019ll be aiming for a baker\u2019s dozen of participants from the company next year when we celebrate the event\u2019s 30th<\/sup> anniversary.\u201d<\/p>\n Village Bakery CEO Robin Jones said: \u201cWe\u2019re particularly proud that this his is our 29th<\/sup> year of sponsorship .<\/p>\n \u201cThe event has always been very close to our hearts because it came about because of one of our former employees, Peter Norman,\u00a0 who came to Dad with the idea all those years ago and we have never looked back.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re now looking forward to the 30th<\/sup> anniversary next year which is going to be very special.\u201d<\/p>\n