The Manchester Marathon and Half Marathon returns on Sunday 10 October.
The 26.2-mile race is the second most popular in the UK and will see approximately 40,000 runners run through the streets of Greater Manchester this weekend.
The marathon and half marathon usually raise over £3 million for charity combined.
Live coverage of the race will start at 7am, the Wheelchair Elites will start at 10.20am, and the Elites will start at 10.25am.
The Manchester Marathon will start between 10.30am – 12.30am, with this staggered arrival aiming to help avoid crowding due to COVID-19 measures, and all runners will be emailed with a time to arrive at the start line.
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Here’s everything you need to know.
The Manchester Marathon and Half Marathon returns on Sunday 10 October / Credit: Manchester Marathon
What is the race route?
The marathon features a new and improved course this year.
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The start and finish lines are close to Old Trafford stadium near Old Trafford tram stop under the distinctive Trafford arch. The route will continue through Hulme and then a three-mile loop through the city centre before entering Sale which will be a musical stretch as the Salvation Army Band will play.
The route then takes runners through Altrincham Town Centre before going back to Old Trafford.
Water, toilets, and first-aid stations will be available along the way.
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Road Closures
There will be various road closures in Greater Manchester and Cheshire during the marathon.
The Manchester Marathon website has an interactive map here which shows the road closures which you can see here.
Will COVID-19 affect the marathon?
There will be some measures put in place this year. Spectators will not be allowed at the start, finish or Athlete’s village.
Hand sanitising stations will be available, and runners will not be required to wear a mask.
How to get there?
There is due to be a tram driver strike on Sunday too, which could cause severe disruption to runners and spectators getting there.
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The tram operators are aiming to run a limited service on Sunday subject to driver availability, meaning trams will be busier than normal with race participants will be prioritised, and 22 shuttle buses are being put on from Piccadilly Gardens, and Peel Park and Ride at Event City.
Runners and spectators are advised to check and plan their journey in advance as roads, and services will be busier and delays are expected, particularly in Trafford and the city centre.
What to bring
Taking part in the marathon this weekend? Here’s everything you need to bring.
Your race pack and race number, which should have been sent to you prior to Sunday – you will not be able to collect this on the day.
Spare kit and something waterproof.
A pre-booked parking ticket, or tram pass is advised.
Featured Image – Manchester Marathon
News
One of Manchester’s largest hotels has reopened after an ‘extensive’ £33m renovation
Emily Sergeant
One of the largest hotels in Manchester city centre has now reopened its doors to the public following an “extensive” £33 million renovation.
A new chapter is officially underway for Manchester‘s Marriott Hotel in Piccadilly.
Conveniently located next to Manchester Piccadilly train station, and what is a world-class and ever-popular urban neighbourhood in Mayfield, the Piccadilly Marriott hotel is the second Marriott hotel in the city centre, and following its wide-scale refurbishment, the new premises now offers “a contemporary destination for travellers“.
A stunning bistro-style restaurant and bar, a large function room, 11 meeting rooms, a 24/7 ‘MClub’ lounge, a state-of-the-art gym, and an Elemis spa with six treatment rooms and a thermal suite, can all be found inside the new hotel.
Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly has now reopened following a £33m refurbishment / Credit: Supplied
Known as the largest four-star hotel in the city centre, Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly boasts 338 “generous” bedrooms spread across eight floors with “unparalleled comfort” and interior design that gives a nod to the neighbourhood’s industrial and music heritage.
The biggest standard-sized rooms in Manchester, 16 ‘Panoramic Suites’, and a selection of family rooms, are just some of the accommodation options the hotel now offers.
As well as the rooms, Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly is also considered to be one of the best hotels in the city for both corporate and social events, with meeting rooms, function rooms, and more all on site, and now, thanks to the recent renovations, these refurbished spaces all include the latest in digital screen technology, audio-visual equipment, high-speed WiFi, and air conditioning.
The 338-room hotel is now one of the largest in Manchester city centre following the “extensive refurbishment” / Credit: Supplied
The new hotel is also home to Manchester’s only Marriott brand exclusive, MClub Lounge – which is a unique club lounge space designed to be the perfect place to relax, socialise, or meet for business.
The hotel’s stunning new spa is also described as being a “haven of wellness”, as it boasts six treatment rooms in partnership with award-winning British skincare brand, Elemis.
The stunning new premises now offers “a contemporary destination for travellers” / Credit: Supplied
Speaking as the new hotel opens its doors this week, Stephen Rycroft, who is the General Manager of Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly, commented: “We are excited to be part of this launch, bringing the flagship Marriott brand to this grand hotel, as it’s grand in both innovative design and size, making it the largest hotel in Manchester city centre.
“Our team is committed to providing exceptional experiences for both business and leisure guests alike.”
The significant seizes and arrests come after detectives from GMP’s Serious Organised Crime Group executed 11 warrants at addresses across Rochdale and Lancashire yesterday morning (17 April), that were believed to be connected to a large-scale drugs conspiracy.
As well as raiding a number of residential properties, several warrants were also executed at premises that police believed to be ‘stash houses’.
A search of all premises raided lead to several mobile phones, quantities of cocaine, and cannabis plants all being seized, as well as an estimated £20,000 in cash.
Eight people have been arrested and £20k cash has been seized during early-morning police raids in Rochdale / Credit: GMP
Following the raids, a total of eight people, who are between the ages of 27 and 56, have all been arrested on conspiracy to supply drugs, it has been confirmed, and they currently remain in police custody for questioning.
These are the latest arrests in what is part of GMP’s ongoing investigations into the criminal use of encrypted mobile phones.
Back in 2020, as a result of the NCA take down of Encrochat – which is the encrypted messaging platform once used by criminals across the globe – GMP was handed hundreds and thousands of messages from the once-secure platform, and it gave detectives “insight into the criminal underworld which had never been seen before”.
👮9 arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply drugs. 💰£20k cash seized. 🚓cocaine and cannabis seized.
Over the last few years, GMP says it has been “systematically” working its way through these messages to attribute them to criminals across Greater Manchester and the North West.
“We have seen great huge successes to date,” GMP has admitted.
Speaking following the early-morning raids in Rochdale and Lancashire yesterday, Detective Sergeant Rich McCorry, from GMP’s Serious Organised Crime Group, said in a statement: “The ability for criminals to benefit from the proceeds of drugs is a key driver for organised crime, and we have specialist detectives working tirelessly to eliminate the key players from criminal networks across the region.
“[Yesterday’s] action is a result of months of hard work by detectives, whose proactive investigations into the drugs trade in Manchester has led them through these doors today.
Alice Gerrard -
8th October 2021 
