The time has finally almost arrived for tens of thousands of Mancs to take to the streets for the Great Manchester Run 2022.
The huge race – both a 10km and a half marathon – will take place on Sunday 22 May, 2022.
The route will once again weave past some of the city’s most beautiful landmarks, with dozens of entertainment zones along the way to motivate runners along to the finish line.
Here’s what you need to know – whether you’re running or just cheering on from the sidelines – for this year’s Great Manchester Run.
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What roads will be closed for the Great Manchester Run?
Several roads in the city centre, including parts of Deansgate, Peter Street, Portland Street and Oxford Street at points over the weekend.
Some streets will close as early as Saturday, too, to allow for access to ready the running route.
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You can see the full list of road closures, and the times they’ll be closed, at manchester.gov.uk.
What time does every wave start running?
The Great Manchester Run. Credit: Supplied
The event village and information point will open from 7.30am, ready for half marathon runners to assemble from 8am.
The red and blue waves for the half marathon will start at 8.30am (with a group warm-up 10 minutes prior), followed by the elite wheelchair start at 9am.
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Then it’s over to the main event, the Great Manchester Run 10km race.
Elite women will start at 11.15am, elite men and the orange wave will set off at 11.30am, the white wave at 11.47am, the green wave at 12.30pm, and the pink wave at 12.47pm.
Every group of runners will have their own assembly times and warm-ups too – check here for yours.
How do I get to the Great Manchester Run?
The Great Manchester Run. Credit: Supplied
With so many roads closed for the event, the best way to get into town is with public transport.
TfGM will help you to plan your journey, but the closest tram stop to the start line will be St Peter’s Square, or Piccadilly Gardens for some waves.
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It’s also close to Oxford Road train station and only a short walk from Manchester Piccadilly.
There’s a map of the route below to help you get your bearings.
What do I do with my bags and possessions?
The Great Manchester Run. Credit: Supplied
The race organisers have helpfully arranged 18 baggage buses where you can drop your things off before you start running.
There are six for half marathon runners and a dozen more for those taking on the 10km – just fill in the baggage label included in your race pack and secure it to your bag.
You’ll need your run number to access the bus. Runners are advised not to leave valuables in bags, although there are security staff present.
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Route map and entertainment zones
The Great Manchester Run is popular for its fast and flat route – but also for the party that takes place all the way round.
This year’s entertainment zones will spur runners on with everything from water pistol breaks to a live DJ, as well as a new apres-run zone at the end.
The route itself will begin in the city centre before heading out to Old Trafford, along the water at Salford Quays, and back to Deansgate.
Featured image: Supplied
Manchester
Manchester urged to ‘come together against hate’ ahead of Britain First march in the city this weekend
Emily Sergeant
Manchester is being urged to ‘come together against hate’ ahead of the Britain First march planned in the city centre this weekend.
Cllr Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council, has addressed the local community directly, asserting Manchester’s core values as a welcoming city with ‘diversity and respect’ at its heart, and reaffirming that the message from the region’s leaders is one of ‘unity’ and togetherness against hatred ‘in all its forms’.
“Manchester does not welcome Britain First to our city because they seek to divide our communities and spread hatred,” Cllr Craig declared.
We are stronger together…
Which is why we are making a poster available for residents, communities and local organisations to download, share and display.
Founded by anti-abortion campaigner, Britain First is described as being a far-right British fascist and neo-fascist political party and hate group formed in 2011 by members of the former British National Party (BNP).
The party itself, however, states on its own website that it is as a ‘patriotic political party that will put our own people first’.
In an emphatic statement speaking out against Britain First’s views and their intentions to march through the city centre this weekend, Cllr Bev Craig said: “We understand the alarm and distress that comes when a group like Britain First, which is widely regarded as a far-right hate group, chooses to gather in our city.
“However, UK law protects the right to freedom of expression and assembly, and this means that protests are allowed on the condition they engage fully with the local police force.
Cllr Bev Craig urges Manchester to ‘come together against hate’ / Credit: Manchester City Council
“GMP have given assurances that they will be policing this protest seriously, robustly and with public safety as their top priority.
“At a time when groups promoting division seek attention, our strength comes from standing united – celebrating our diversity and supporting one another. Let’s come together and send a clear message that hate has no place in our city.”
Cllr Craig closed out her statement declaring that Manchester ‘stands together’.
“Our unity is stronger than hate and the values that unite us will always hold firm.
“We are a welcoming and friendly city, with a proud history of tolerance, fairness and respect. But the hate and division that Britain First foster has no place here. We have no time for racism or hatred.”
Featured Image – Matthew Waring (via Unsplash)
Manchester
Kate Scott praised for impassioned speech following more racism in Champions League
Danny Jones
Football pundit and sports presenter Kate Scott has been met with plenty of praise for her ‘expert’ handling of the fallout following more racism in the Champions League this week, delivering an emotional and impassioned speech about discrimination live on TV.
The Manchester-born broadcaster, formerly Kate Abdo, was serving as the host on her usual CBS Sports panel on Tuesday, 17 February, when the story of the playoff game between Benfica and Real Madrid – which included a worldie from Vinicius Jr. – was overshadowed by more allegations of racial abuse.
In case you missed it, Argentine player Gianluca Prestianni was accused of making racist remarks by both Vini Jr and Kylian Mbappe, but supposedly covered his mouth so as not to be caught on camera; the match was then stopped for more than 11 minutes.
Speaking in the aftermath amid the following European fixtures the next day, the Withington-schooled journalist and University of Salford graduate delivered an eloquent reaction to the controversy with peak professionalism.
Absolutely pitch perfect, and all those involved in preparing the statement should be applauded.
While Scott herself recognised that it’s a shame we even have to keep talking about issues like these rather than the sheer simplistic beauty of, well, ‘the beautiful game’, her response is an example of the job being done at arguably its very best: factual, ethical, moving and inspiring.
As you can see, Scott goes on to say, “This isn’t Real Madrid versus Benfica – it is right versus wrong. Vini Junior and Kylian Mbappe said that there was repeated racial abuse.
“Gianluca Prestiani said they misheard, but he covered his mouth to hide what he said from the cameras, and hopefully, we can all agree that if what you are saying on a football pitch is shameful enough to have to hide it from the public, then you’re wrong.”
The Portuguese club, which ultimately lost 1-0 in their first leg at home on the night, have released a statement reaffirming their commitment to “equality, respect, and inclusion” but reiterates that they believe Prestiani and feel he is now the subject of a “defamation campaign”.
Conversely, in a definitive and emphatic closing message, she signs off by adding the following: “The racial diversity on a football pitch in the Champions League is the representation of the global love for this game and the global belonging in this game. This is the very spirit of football.
“And if you don’t agree, then respectfully, you are the one who doesn’t belong.”
This is what the Athletic is supposed to be. Telling important stories & giving in depth analysis. I hope this signals that it will be its focus moving forward.
From CBS ‘Golazo’ show being applauded for tackling the subject head-on, to Cross herself being labelled as everything from “a role model” and “a benchmark” to “the best on the planet” in the outpouring of reactions on social media, it’s fair to say they absolutely nailed it.
Sadly, this is one of many recent examples of prejudice being shared publicly across various UEFA tournaments and beyond in recent years, but the only way we can truly help anti-hate initiatives is by continuing to call them out.
Daisy Jackson -
18th May 2022 
