Tour of Merseyside
The Tour of Merseyside is an amazing week of running which takes in six different venues across Merseyside and covers fifty two miles over seven days. Each race is different in distance, location and terrain. It's challenging but very rewarding at the same time.
The original Tour concept was created by Dr. Ron Hill in the early 80's as a DOUBLE MARATHON challenge as everyone had caught marathon fever back in 1981 with the launch of the London Marathon. The Tour was a different kind of challenge and as far removed from the mass participation offered by London and many other marathons at the time.
The 2025 Tour of Merseyside will again be limited to 500 runners as the small size of the event is a key ingredient of it's success. When it started back in 2013 there were just 78 participants who dared to take on the Tour and it was an immediate success with year on year growth up the current limit of 500.
The Tour offers more than just a series of races and over the last nine years many runners have become good friends after meeting on the Tour start line for the first time.
It really is a special event because of the friendship it offers and the support that it delivers as the week goes by.
Once you have taken part in the Tour of Merseyside it will remain a treasured running memory for many, many years.
The Tour structure is as follows -
Race 1. Half Marathon 13.1 miles. Sunday 29th June, Start Time 10.00am. Rimrose Valley Country Park, Bootle, L22 3YX.
The Tour kicks off this year with a half marathon at Rimrose Valley Country Park in Bootle which is the home of Marsh Lane Harriers and Rimrose Runners. The course will comprise three laps around the full park which takes a mile or so along the Leeds to Liverpool canal and will start and finish on the athletics track which is at the end of Gwenwyllin Road. The terrain is predominantly flat so a fast start is there if you want it.
Race 2. Thurstaston Multi terrain 5.9 miles. As the title suggests a tough off road event with beach, hills and trail.
Race 3. The Ralla 10 miler. Flat and fast along the old railway line pushing you to half way.
Race 4. The River Mersey 5 miler. The shortest distance but the biggest challenge... in fancy dress!!
Race 5. Stadt Moers Park Cross Country. 6 miles and a good old fashioned up hill and down dale 2 lap chase.
Race 6. Wirral Coastal 12 miler. New Brighton to West Kirby and back with a bit of beach thrown in at half way.
Are you up for the Tour challenge this year? Go on...