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 2024.
When will the Great Manchester Run take place?
The Great Manchester Run 2024 will take place on Sunday 26 May, with the event site open from 7am and final wave beginning at 1:03pm.
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 and 1ok Orange wave and 10k Purple wave runners access the assembly area via Princess Street. Half Marathon and 10k Green wave, 10k Red wave and Pink wave access the assembly area via Charlotte Street, and Half Marathon and 10k Fast paced runners (yellow/white striped numbers) should access via Dickinson 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 on 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 which will be open from 7am. There are also information points at Great Northern Square and Manchester Central Forecourt, and an event village on Peter Street to meet family and friends and take it all in.
Half Marathon route map
10K route map
What is the timetable for the Great Manchester Run?
Half Marathon
07:00 Event site opens
08:20 Orange Wave start
08:39 Green Wave start
10K
08:15 Elite Wheelchair start
11:25 Elite Women start
11:40 Elite Men start
11:40 Fast Paced & Orange Wave start
11:59 Red Wave start
12:02 Green Wave start
12:45 Purple Wave start
13:03 Pink 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. The Manchester City Premier League parade will also be taking place on Sunday through the streets of Manchester, so fans are advised to hang fire to enter the city centre − unless you’re doing both events, of course.
In order to allow enough time for Deansgate to be reset once all Great Manchester Run activities end at 3:30pm on Sunday, the Manchester City celebratory parade will be an evening parade. The event will start at 7.30pm and is expected to finish around 9pm.
Which roads will be closed for the Great Manchester Run?
Road closures from Saturday 25 May
- Liverpool Road from Deansgate to Barton Street from 5am until Sun 21 11pm
- Tonman Street from Deansgate to Barton Street from 6am until Sun 21 11pm. Access Tonman Street via Barton Street and Longworth Street via Camp Street
Road closures on Sunday 26 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 Peter’s Square
- Portland St: from Oxford St to Princess St
- St John St: from Deansgate to Byrom St
Road closures on Sunday 26 May from 06:00
- Mancunian Way (East and West bound): from Fairfield St to Regent Rd
Road closures on Sunday 26 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 26 May from 07:30
- 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
Road closures on Sunday 26 May from 08:00
- Ashton New Rd: from Rowsley St to Alan Turing Way
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.
The Junior and Mini Great Manchester Run takes place on Saturday 25 May.