Tens of thousands of people will be pounding the streets of Altrincham and Timperley as the adidas Manchester Marathon returns on Sunday April 14th.
Over 32,000 people are expected to take part in the 26.2mile race, which is the fourth largest in Europe, with a further 125,000 spectators lining the route.
Starting on the A56 close to the Old Trafford football ground, the race will head into the city centre before following its now familiar route through Greater Manchester with a substantial section in Altrincham and Timperley.
The route will then circle back via Sale and head back to its finish near Lancashire Cricket Club.
Bus travellers and drivers should expect a number of diversions on the day, with many roads completely closed for several hours.
The route
The race will start under the arch at White City Way on the A56, with elite runners starting at 9am and the elite wheelchair race beginning five minutes’ earlier.
Runners will then turn off and make their way past Old Trafford as they head up towards Upper Chorlton Road. They’ll then carry on towards the city centre via Chorlton Road passing Hulme.
Once in the city centre, they will loop back on Bridgewater Way towards Stretford, which becomes Chester Road, and then Cross Street.
Continuing on through Sale, runners will reach Timperley when they turn on to Park Road.
They’ll then continue to Timperley village, turning right on to Stockport Road and continuing over the flyover before turning left on to Barrington Road. They’ll do then a circuit through Altrincham town centre, turning up Stamford Street and on past Altrincham Market before turning down Regent Road and then back down Stamford New Road.
Runners will then turn right back on to the flyover and down Stockport Road and on to Shaftesbury Avenue, before turning left on to Thorley Lane and then back into Timperley village and up Stockport Road into Brooklands. At Chorlton-Cum Hardy on Edge Lane, they will be near the finish line on Talbot Road through Seymour Grove.
The full route can be viewed here, or watch the video below:
What time does it start?
The colour of your running bib denotes the time you will start your race. Elite wheelchair participants will set off first at 8.55am, while the Elite and White-bib waves will be next at 9am.
Red will set off at 9.10am, Light Blue at 9.20am, Bronze at 9.30am and Green at 9.40am. The Purple band will head out at 9.50am, Yellow at 10am, DRK Blue at 10.10am and Grey at 10.20am. Maroon will depart at 10.30am, Black at 10.50am, Pink at 11am and finally, Cyan at 11.10am.
Road closures in Timperley
Washway Road/Manchester Road – Closed 7.30am-4.30pm
Park Road – Closed 7.30am-4.30pm
Attenbury’s Lane – Closed 7.30am-4.30pm
Timperley Village junction – Closed 7am-5.45pm
Stockport Road – Closed 8.30am-5.45pm
Shaftesbury Avenue – Closed 8.30am-5.45pm
Woodlands Parkway (to Woodlands Court) – Closed 8.30am-5.15pm
Moss Lane (Thorndale Grove to Stockport Road – Closed 8.30am-5.15pm
Wood Lane (Stockport Road to Stanley Drive) – Closed 8.30am-5.15pm
Thorley Lane (Stockport Road to Granville Road) – Closed 8.30am-5.15pm
Thorley Lane (Granville Road – the village) – Closed 7am-5.15pm
Road closures in Altrincham
Barrington Road (to Woodlands Road junction) – Closed 8.30am-5pm
Stamford New Road – Closed 8.30am-5pm
Moss Lane (to Oakfield Road junction) – Closed 8.30am-5pm
Railway Street – Closed 8.30am-5pm
Regent Road (to Market Street) – Closed 8.30am-5pm
Market Street – Closed 8.30am-5pm
Post Office Street – Closed 8.30am-5pm
Kingsway – Closed 8.30am-5pm
Stamford Street – Closed 8.30am-5pm
Victoria Street – Closed 8.30am-5pm
Woodlands Road (from Barrington Road junction) – Closed 8.30am-5pm
Woodlands Parkway (to Woodlands Court) – Closed 8.30am-5pm
Moss Lane (Thorndale Grove to Stockport Road – Closed 8.30am-5pm
Entertainment along the route
As ever, there will be entertainment for spectactors and runners along the route.
Within Timperley, look out for the Rock Choir, while in Altrincham town centre there will be the ever-entertaining Absolute Belters and Little Belters children’s choir, the Bowdon Rugby Club Male Voice Choir, Radio Alty, Altrincham FC children, Orangetheory Fitness and Sports Direct.
