The popular annual VeloRunner Alsager 5-mile run which has had to go virtual this year starts today.

It's not too late to sign up, entries are still open, and you have until end of Tuesday (9 February) to complete.

All entrants will receive a souvenir t-shirt and Moorland Pottery Mugs will be awarded to the first three male and female finishers, first male and female in each veteran category and first male and female teams (3 to count).

The run can be completed anywhere, but the rules ask entrants to not run an overall downhill course.

To avoid this, the organisers are asking runners that they choose a course that has a start and finish near each other.

Entrants have been told to not the run the event on a track and time penalties could be sanctioned if the rules are not followed.

To enter the virtual Alsager 5 click here.

The event has gone virtual due to the latest national lockdown and even if the organisers were granted a road closure order, they would not have received permission to use the Alsager Leisure Centre or Alsager School premises.

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In addition to this, trying to social distance over 1100 runners and spectators would have been "impossible".

Another factor in the organisers choosing to host a virtual event this year was the "goodwill" they have built with Alsager residents over the last 30 years and they did not wish to "compromise this relationship".