Ellesmere Port 5k race review

I took part in the Ellesmere Port 5k for the first time this year. If you’ve not heard of this event organised every August by the Ellesmere Port Running Club, here’s everything you need to know about this race and my honest review.

Ellesmere Port 5k: What you need to know

Please note that this is based on the 2025 event, some elements may change in future editions.

It is a chip-timed race.
The race starts at 7:15 PM for all runners, there’s no staggered start.
There are signs helping you figure out where to position yourself at the start (sub 20, sub 25, sub 30min)
The race number collection takes place at Capenhurst Sports Club. This is also where the toilets are located.
The entry costs £13 for UK Athletics-affiliated runners.
There's no medal at the finish line, but there is free ice cream!

What is the course like?

The course begins on Capenhurst Lane, right beside the speed awareness sign and marked by ERPC club flags. The course consists of a single lap along the scenic country roads around Capenhurst, with one short section on the A540 footpath.

The finish is by the Urenco site, close to the car park which is quite handy!

You can check the course map on my Strava activity

Can you set a new PB at the Ellesmere Port 5k?

Yes, you can set a new 5k PB at this event! It’s a flat and overall fast course which produces great results every year. As of now, the course records at 13:55 and 16:37.

I ran 18:10 at this race (chip time), which is a PB as of August 2025. You can see how my race unfolded in this quick, 15 second Reel.

My honest review of the Ellesmere Port 5k

Get an idea of what the event is like in this vlog:

What I really enjoyed

I thought it was a great, low-key event that deserves to be talked about more! I had not seen it on any website that lists the races taking place, I only heard of it thanks to a local runner who happened to mention it.
I always appreciate when small events are chip-timed, which is not always the case. I find that it creates way less chaos at the start, as runners don’t fight to start at the front like it can sometimes be with gun time only events.
The course is flat, fast and on closed roads, minus a narrow footpath which thankfully is not too long.
Whilst it was a relatively small field, it was still competitive, at least at my level, and I had some runners to work with for most of the way.
Free ice cream at the finish line, on a warm Summer evening, is the perfect post-race treat.

Any downsides?

The only downside is the footpath section on the course, which is too narrow to overtake anyone and quite rough underfoot, it can be a trip hazard.

If by some miracle the council could allow a temporary closure of this A road so that we could avoid running in single line on the footpath, the course would be absolutely perfect and even faster!

That being said, it’s a fantastic local event I would highly recommend. don’t hesitate to add this 5k to your Summer racing calendar!

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