First edition of the new event is to take place on October 16, 2016

Xtra Mile Events, organiser of the award-winning ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon and other road races and triathlons, has launched the new Manchester Half Marathon.

The inaugural event will take place on Sunday October 16, 2016, and a total of 15,000 places are available.

Starting and finishing at the Emirates Old Trafford Lancashire County Cricket Club, the Manchester Half Marathon is set to be one of the flattest and fastest half marathons with only 41m elevation gain and a more than 2-mile finish straight.

Run on wide, closed roads, the course will take runners through Old Trafford, Stretford, Brooklands and Sale, and the organisers are promising lots of entertainment and outstanding crowd support.

Race director Simon Hill commented: "I am thrilled to announce the launch of the inaugural Manchester Half Marathon.

"Manchester is known worldwide for its sporting heritage and it was missing a half-marathon, a distance that is accessible to runners of all levels, the perfect step up from a 10km and a stepping stone to the full marathon distance.

"This super-fast course has been designed with a large field in mind and with the 2-mile-plus finish straight we expect fast times to be achieved. It’s also the perfect race for first time half-marathoners, charity runners and those seeking a PB and we are looking forward to welcoming runners of all levels from near and far to Manchester next October."

He added: "Early entrants get the lowest price so make sure you go to the website and secure your place in the first Manchester Half Marathon now."

Lead member for Sports, Culture and Leisure at Trafford Council, Councillor Mike Cornes, said: "Trafford Council is pleased to extend its portfolio of high-profile major sporting events in Trafford with the introduction of the half-marathon; bringing new visitors and participants to the borough.

"Not only this, just like the marathon, the half will also be of benefit to gifted and talented young athletes in Trafford as they will have the opportunity to bid into a more extensive pot of money as part of the Trafford Athlete Fund, which already stands at nearly £11,000 per year, as Xtra Mile has extended the offer to the half-marathon of £1 per runner going towards this fund. Further details on the fund, and the application form, are available at www.traffordpartnership.org/sport."

The entry fees for the Manchester Half Marathon are from £27 for affiliated athletes and £29 for unaffiliated athletes. All finishers will receive a medal, finisher t-shirt and a goody bag.

Check out www.manchesterhalfmarathon.com for further details and to enter.