This weekend sees the return of the much-loved race in the city the Great Manchester Run, which will see thousands of runners take to the streets to run either a 10K, half marathon or mini marathon race. Whether you want to be prepared for race day or looking to show your support from the side lines, here’s our guide to everything you need to know about the Great Manchester Run 2023.
When will the Great Manchester Run take place?
The Great Manchester Run 2023 will take place on Sunday 22nd May, with the event site open from 7.30am and final wave beginning at 12.54pm.
What is the route for the Great Manchester Run?
Runners’ wave colour and start time are detailed on their run number. On the day, coloured signs will direct participants to the assembly area and start point for certain wave. Half Marathon & 10k Orange and 10k Pink wave runners access the assembly area via Princess Street. Half Marathon Red wave, 10k Green wave and 10k Purple wave access the assembly area via Charlotte Street.
The nearest Metrolink stop to the start line on Portland Street is St Peter’s Square and finish line on Deansgate is Deansgate-Castlefield. If travelling by train, Manchester Oxford Road train station is the closest to the start line in Portland Street and it is only a 10 minute walk. From Manchester Piccadilly you can walk or connect with Metrolink trams to take you to the start line.
There will be a bag drop at Manchester Central Charter Foyer and baggage buses from Jackson’s Row for Green wave 10k runners only. There is also an information point and event village located at Great Northern Square. There will also be a meeting point at Peter Street to meet family and friends.
Half Marathon route map
10K route map
What is the timetable for the Great Manchester Run?
Half Marathon
07:30 Event site opens
08:00 Half Marathon assembly open
08:20 Half Marathon warm up
08:27 VI Half Marathon wave start
08:30 ORANGE wave start
08:47 RED wave start
Junior and Mini Run
09:30 Junior Great Manchester Run start
10:25 Mini Great Manchester Run start
10K
09:04 Elite wheelchair (10k) race start
10:45 ORANGE, RED & GREEN wave assembly open
11:15 Elite Women start
11:18 ORANGE, RED & GREEN wave warm up
11:30 Elite men & ORANGE wave start
11:49 RED wave start
11:53 GREEN wave start
12:10 PINK & PURPLE wave open
12:25 PINK & PURPLE warm up
12:36 PINK wave start
12:54 PURPLE wave start
Which Metrolink stops are near to the Great Manchester Run race route?
Here to cheer on a friend or family member? There are many Metrolink stops located close to spectating points along the race route. This means it’s quite easy to cheer them on from the start, halfway through and as they cross the finish line. Here’s a list of Metrolink stops which are close to the race route and how far along they are.
Half Marathon
- St Peter’s Square – for the start line
- Manchester Piccadilly – 2-mile marker
- Etihad Campus/Velopark – 4/5mile marker
- Old Trafford – 10-mile marker
- Trafford Wharf Road/ Wharfside/Imperial War Museum – 11-mile marker
- Cornbrook – 9/12.5-mile marker
- Deansgate Castlefield – for the finish line
10K
- St Peter’s Square – for the start line
- Cornbrook – 2km marker
- Old Trafford – 4km marker
- Wharfside/Imperial War Museum – 6/7km marker
- Cornbrook – 9km marker
- Deansgate Castlefield – for the finish line
Will there be any transport disruptions?
There will be a significant number of road closures and extensive bus diversions due to the race taking place. Anyone making a journey by road should check the route map and road closures before travel. Passengers travelling by bus should also check with their operator to see whether routes or times may be impacted.
Metrolink trams are the best way to get around the city on race day with many stops located close to spectating points along the race route. Plus, as a Great Manchester Run special, Metrolink passengers will be reminded by four-time Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah (who is also running the race) and Commonwealth Games champion Eilish McColgan to touch-in and touch-out if paying by contactless.
Manchester City play Chelsea on the same day, and because the half marathon route includes roads around the Etihad, fans travelling to the match are being asked by TfGM to travel by tram to avoid road closures and congestion.
Which roads will be closed for the Great Manchester Run?
Road closures from Saturday 20th May
- Liverpool Rd from Deansgate to Barton St from 05:00 until Sun 21st 23:00
- Tonman St from Deansgate to Barton St from 08:00 until Sun 21st 23:00. Access Tonman St via Barton St and Longworth St via Camp St.
Road closures on Sunday 21st May from 04:00
- Chepstow St: from Oxford St to Great Bridgewater St
- Deansgate: from Whitworth St West to John Dalton St
- Dickinson St; Peter St: from Mount St to St Peters Square
- Portland St: from Oxford St to Princess St
- St John St: from Deansgate to Byrom St
Road closures on Sunday 21st May from 06:00
- Mancunian Way (East and West bound): from Fairfield St to Regent Rd
Road closures on Sunday 21st May from 07:00
- Alan Turing Way: From Ashton New Rd to Ashton Old Rd; A5063 Trafford Rd: from White City Circle Roundabout to Salford City Boundary
- A5063 White City Circle; A56 Bridgewater Way: from Chester Rd to Wharfside Way
- A56 Chester Rd: from Bridgewater Way to Bridgewater Viaduct; A56 Chester Rd: from White City Circle roundabout to Sir Matt Busby Way
- A5801 Wharfside Way: from White City Circle Roundabout to Salford City Boundary
- Abingdon St; Ashton Old Rd: from Alan Turing Way to Pin Mill Brow
- Atkinson St: from Byron St to Deansgate
- Bloom St: from Chorlton St to Princess St
- Bootle St: from Deansgate to Southmill St
- Bridgewater Viaduct; Byrom St: from Quay St to Hardman St
- Central St: from Southmill St to Lloyd St
- Chepstow St: from Oxford St to Great Bridgewater St
- Chester Rd: from Bridgewater Way to Bridgewater Viaduct
- Chester Rd: from Mancunian Way Roundabout to Cornbrook
- Chester Rd: from Hadfield St to Bridgewater Way
- Chorlton Rd: from Jackson St to Mancunian Way; Chorlton St from Portland St to Silver St
- City Rd East: from Albion St to Great Jackson St
- Cross St: from Cross St to John Dalton St
- Elevator Rd: from Wharfside Way to Trafford Wharf Rd
- Ellesmere St: from Hulme Hall Rd to Chester Rd
- Fairfield St: from Ashton Old Rd to Mancunian Way
- Great Bridgewater St: from Oxford St to Deansgate;
- Hardman St; Hulme Hall Rd: from Ellesmere St to Chester Rd
- Jacksons Row; Lloyd St; Major St: from Sackville St to Princess St
- Manor St: at Mancunian Way
- Midland St: from Hooper St to Ashton Old Rd
- Minshul St: from Portland St to Aytoun St
- Oxford St: from Peter St to Whitworth St West
- Peter St: from Deansgate to Mount St;
- Pin Mill Brow: from Fairfield St to Mancunian Way
- Portland St: from New York St to Princess St
- Princess St: from Albert Square to Portland St
- Quay St: from Deansgate to Byrom St
- Sackville St: from Portland St to Major St; Silver St: from Minshul St to Chorlton St
- Sir Alex Ferguson Way; Sir Matt Busby Way; Southmill St; Trafford Rd: from Exchange Quay to Trafford Rd
- Trafford Wharf Rd: from Warren Bruce Rd to Trafford Rd
- Warren Bruce Rd: from Wharfside Way to Trafford Wharf Rd
- Wharf End: from Trafford Wharf Rd to Trafford Rd
Road closures on Sunday 21st May from 08:00
- Albion St: from Whitworth St West to Medlock St
- Medlock St: from Albion St to River St
- Whitworth St: from Albion St to Gloucester St
This might be a lot of information here but the most important thing is to enjoy the race! Good luck!
For more information head the Great Manchester Run website.