YOUNG runners will be able to experience all the fun of the Destination Basingstoke Phillips Law Half Marathon and 10K event for the first time with the launch of two children’s races.

Event headline sponsor Phillips Law has increased its sponsorship of the event to enable organiser Destination Basingstoke to deliver two free new one-mile races – one for youngsters aged five to 10 and the other for 11-15-year-olds.

The children’s races will take place before the half marathon and 10K on Sunday, October 1, and will see the young runners complete a course using the start and finish points of the main events.

Jack Gardener, partner at Phillips Law, said: “Phillips Law are proud to be the long-standing headline event sponsor of the Destination Basingstoke Phillips Law Half Marathon and 10K races, and we are glad to deliver the additional sponsorship support that will make the new children’s races free to all entrants.

“The half marathon and 10K have always been family-friendly events and we are delighted that these new children’s races will mean that young runners can be part of the big day even more than before.”

The number of places for the children’s races is limited to 300 overall. 

Each participant will receive a special event medal.

To register to take part visit https://bit.ly/3E4t4zT. Entrants need the permission of a parent or guardian.

Jonathan Pender, chair of Destination Basingstoke, said: “Destination Basingstoke – the not-for-profit company that showcases and celebrates the wonderful people, businesses and community organisations in Basingstoke and Deane through events and other activities – is grateful to Phillips Law for providing sponsorship support for the new children’s races.

“We are confident that these two races will prove popular with young runners and we look forward to seeing the places fill up over the coming weeks.”

Entry is also still open for the half marathon, which is Race Check gold-rated and offers runners amazing views as they head into the borough countryside, and the 10K.

As well as being a great experience when it comes to enhancing people’s physical and mental wellbeing, the half marathon and 10K have a track record of delivering great results for local charities with more than £220,000 raised for good causes over the years.

And this year, the Destination Basingstoke-organised event is running its biggest-ever offer to help and support local good causes.

Charities are being offered three free places, worth up to £135, and a 25 per cent discount on a further seven places if they can put a team of 10 into the event. The runners can be split between the two races.

As well as headline sponsor Phillips Law, other local companies joining the award-winning law firm on the sponsorship podium are Nomios UK & I, Lilly UK, TD Synnex and Lavazza. All of these companies are entering teams.

The half marathon and 10K are also being supported by Up and Running, in London Street, Basingstoke, and this year’s race director is running legend Mike Gratton, winner of the London Marathon in 1983 and a renowned organiser of distance running events.

To enter the half marathon or 10K, visit destinationbasingstoke.co.uk/half-marathon – entrants must be 17 or over to take part.

To help entrants get up and running for the half marathon and 10K, Destination Basingstoke is sending out a training plan that has been prepared by Mike Gratton.

Any local charity interested in finding out more about the discounted entry places needs to contact Destination Basingstoke events manager Elizabeth Spencer on elizabeth.spencer@destinationbasingstoke.co.uk or call 01256 338418 by Thursday, August 31.