The Manchester Half, the largest half marathon in the North West, has released key information for participants and spectators ahead of the event.
Taking place on Sunday 13th October 2024, the event will see over 24,000 people take to the streets of Manchester to participate in the 13.1 mile challenge. This year is set to be the biggest and most exciting yet, nearly doubling in size since 2023 when 16.5k people took to the challenge.
The event is estimated to raise over £950,000 for hundreds of local and national charities. In total 1,620 participants will be taking part for an associated charity, 710 of which are participating for one of the Official Charity Partners: Alzheimer’s Society, Cancer Research UK and The Christie.
What time does the Manchester Half start?
On the day, the elite wheelchair participants will set off first at 08:55 am, followed by the elite wave at 09:00 am. Following this, participants will set off in roughly 10-minute intervals, depending on their allocated wave colour, until 10:39 am.
Where is the start and what is the route?
To access the start on event day, participants should head to the Event Village at Lancashire County Cricket Club. Here there is a bag drop station, toilets and marshals who will direct participants to the start line at the Trafford Arch. All of the route information, including a handy interactive map can be found here.
From the start in Old Trafford, participants will head towards the city before looping back and running along Salford Quays, past the iconic Old Trafford Stadium – home of Manchester United Football Club – and heading towards Stretford.
Just over halfway at the 7-mile mark, the route loops through Sale before leading onto the final leg through Chorlton-Cum-Hardy and towards the finish line on Talbot Road.
The full participant guide can be viewed here and additional route information can be found here.
Where will water stations, toilets and nutrition be located?
There will be four water stations located approximately every three miles along the course to keep participants refreshed. Isotonic Energy Gels from Applied Nutrition will also be available at the second and fourth water stations to give participants that extra boost along the way (more information here).
Toilets are located at each water station as well as at the Event Village and at the start of the race.
Which roads will be closed?
Road closures will be in effect along and immediately around the half marathon route starting from Saturday 12th October. Please allow extra time for any journeys as open roads in the surrounding areas will be busy. Many bus services will also be diverted due to these closures.
The A56 (North and Southbound) and the M60 Junction 7 will be closed until late afternoon, full details on road closures can be found here.
What’s the best way to get there on the day?
The best way to get to and from the event is to use the tram network. For a quieter tram station, use the Imperial War Museum stop which is a 15-minute walk to the start. The closest tram stations to the Event Village are Old Trafford (a 3-minute walk) and Trafford Bar (a 10-minute walk) but these stations will be very busy and may have queues.
If you’re getting the train into Manchester, you’re best to take the tram to the Event Village upon arrival, as bus routes will be disrupted by road closures.
Roads are expected to be busy, so participants are advised to avoid driving to the event if possible. For those who do plan on driving, there is no official parking but Manchester United Football Club has several prepaid parking spaces available for £15 when booked in advance. Further information and parking recommendations can be found here.
Where is best for spectators to watch the Manchester Half?
With two new exciting cheer zones, spectators are best to encourage loved ones on from along the course rather than at the start and the finish area where access is limited.
The first of the new areas is a PUMA Cheer Zone at Deansgate Interchange, where spectators can soak up the atmosphere at the mile 1 mark and watch participants start the challenge live on the ‘Kick-off Cam’. There will also be lively beats from a DJ truck and cheer signs for spectators to customise.
The second new cheer zone is the ‘Buzz Hub’ at Wharfside. Here, participants can be spotted twice on their journey past the iconic Old Trafford stadium, before they start heading out towards Stretford. The ‘Buzz Hub’ will also have inflatable dancing bees and a DJ.
Other prime viewing spots include Stretford, Sale and Chorlton Cum Hardy just one mile before the finish. To see participants cross the finish line, head inside the Event Village at Lancashire County Cricket Club, where a large screen will show the finish line coverage live, along with food outlets and activities from Manchester Half partners.
Who is taking part in this year’s event?
The Manchester Half is for everyone. For many it will be their first half marathon, but elite participants such as Runna athlete Anya Culling and last year’s winner and Puma athlete Jack Rowe, will also be taking part.
The Manchester Half will also be hosting the England Athletics Half Marathon Championships this year, meaning the first two eligible athletes over the finish line will be selected for an England Athletics Team opportunity.
Be sure to also keep an eye open for celebrities taking on the challenge including Coronation Street’s Elle Mulvaney (Amy Barlow), Calum Lill (Joel Deering), Emrhys Cooper (Rowan Cunliffe) and Luca Toolan (Mason Radcliffe) as well as Emmerdale’s Isabel Hodgins, known for her role playing Victoria Barton (formerly Sugden).
What else to look out for at this year’s Manchester Half?
There’s an array of activities and new experiences to get involved in over the event weekend. Following the hugely popular hyper-personalised bibs introduced last year, these have returned with some exciting new design options including a ‘Bee-moji’ and unique ‘Persona Stamp’.
Along with the two new cheer zones, this year’s event will feature many live acts including DJ zones, acoustic sets and more. To make the most of what’s on offer, spectators can also use new interactive walking maps on the online Spectator Hub. These maps contain recommended routes for walking; stop-off points for refreshments; and some logistical and transport suggestions.
Returning for a second year, RUN PUMA HOUSE will open its doors to runners and spectators across the event weekend for pre-shakeout runs, tips from elite athletes and limited-edition personalised sliders for the finishers. To get involved head to 293 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4EW on the 12th (08:30 – 16:00) and 13th of October (09:00 – 16:00).
There will also be freebies and exciting activities on offer for participants in the Event Village, including from the new Official Sports Nutrition Partner, Applied Nutrition, as well as other partners such as Runna, ERDINGER Alkoholfrei, Applied Nutrition, and Official Charities.
How do I take part in the 2025 Manchester Half?
Whilst this year’s event may be sold out, those who missed out or have been inspired to take part in next year’s event can register for 2025 priority access to best priced entries here. Entries will then be made available to the public on Tuesday 12:00.
For more information, please visit https://www.manchesterhalfmarathon.com/home/
