It’s time for thousands more runners to descend on the city centre this weekend as the Great Manchester Run returns for 2024, so we think it’s about time for another helpful guide, don’t you?
Last year marked 20 years of the massive Manc event, one of the most well-attended in the country, with record numbers of runners and many famous athletes like Olympic legend Mo Farah taking part.
This year’s Great Manchester Run is set to be just as big and beautiful; the city and the people really are at their very best on days like these, so you don’t want to miss it.
Here’s everything you need to know about the big day.
The route for the 2024 Great Manchester Run
Let’s start off with something pretty simple but rather important: the route for this year’s Great Manchester Run, which is practically the same as it is every year.
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The half marathon route for the 2024 Great Manchester Run (Credit: Great Run)
As you can see above, a broad sweep of the half marathon route sees runners set off from the usual starting line on Portland Street before heading out of the city, up and over Mancunian Way before arriving at the Etihad Stadium and looping back around towards Old Trafford.
After ticking off both football stadiums, participants will turn back and head down the long final straight Chester Road towards the finish line on Deansgate.
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If you’re doing the 10k though, you can basically cross off the visit to Manchester City‘s stadium and the bulk of the incline, but you’ll still head towards Trafford and Salford Quays direction before coming home.
Whether you’re doing that or the full 13.1 miles, you’ll get to pass some of the most recognisable landmarks in the area.
The 10k course
Run waves and start times
The day itself starts nice and early with the official info point opening from 7am before the first groups of runners are welcomed from 8:15am onwards.
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After the elite wheelchair participants set things in motion, the half marathon entrants will obviously set off first before the 10k action gets underway from 11:25. Whether lacing up on the day or cheering on a loved one, here’s when you can expect things to get going.
Now, naturally, when such a huge event with more than 30,000 runners is set to take over the city, not to mention the 100k+ spectators that are expected to line the streets on the day, it’s always going to have an impact on travel.
Those watching on the sidelines are being urged to use public transport wherever possible, with extra trams being put on throughout the day and various other arms of the Bee Network helping people get around the event.
You can also use Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM) journey planner as well as their interactive travel map for the day HERE.
Meanwhile, you’ll find the full list of road closures around Manchester down below:
Assembly, bag drops, toilets and race number pick-up points
Once you’ve arrived in the city centre and getting ready for your race, coloured signs will direct participants to the assembly area. The starting points for the various waves are as follows:
Princess Street – Half Marathon – Orange wave / 10k – Orange wave and Purple wave
Charlotte Street – HM – Green wave / 10k – Red wave, Green wave and Pink wave
If you’ve brought baggage with you, the official secure bag drop is located at the main foyer of Manchester Central just between Deansgate and St Peter’s Square, which also opens at 7am. You simply need to fill in a baggage label and then you can leave your bag in the secure zone free of charge.
You should have received your race number in the post, which is needed to enter the bag drop, but if you for some reason have gotten yours or need to pick it up on the day, you’ll have to head to the info point at Great Northern (where you can also find last minute safety pins if you need them).
And regarding toilets, there will be a number of facilities made available to runners before the race along Princess Street, Charlotte St, on St Peter’s Square and near the finish line at Peter St. You will also find portaloos spread across various intervals along the running route itself.
Putting the hard yards in whilst keeping smiles on faces.
Weather (tempting fate here, we know…)
Last but not least, let’s talk weather.
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We promise we’re not trying to jinx it and whenever it comes to Manchester weather, take any kind of forecast with a large pinch of salt but, for now, it looks as though the weather isn’t going to be too bad – at least by our standards.
With a fairly warm morning of around 14C and highs of 17C by 1pm before starting to cool down again from 4pm onwards, you shouldn’t be too warm on the day if the Met Office has it right.
On the other hand, we’ve got to be honest with you: there is a 40% chance of precipitation whilst the runners are getting around the course with the likelihood of rain increasing into the evening – but at least everything should be all said and done by then.
After all, it wouldn’t be a truly Manc running event with a bit of rain, would it?
And that should be just about everything you need to know about this year’s Great Manchester Run and we can’t wait to see the streets packed out with homemade signs and the motivational tunes blasting.
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If you have any more questions or queries regarding the run, whether you’re getting stuck in yourself or just there to cheer on all the wonderful runners, you can download the official app and read the full event guide for 2024 HERE.
Good luck to everyone taking part, you’re going to smash it – and for everyone else turning up to show your support, we want to see your hands clapping and hear your voices in full force, as we’re sure they will be.
Football fans on the way home from Man United match injured in Huntingdon train stabbing
Danny Jones
Following the tragic news of the stabbing on a train in Cambridgeshire over the weekend, it’s been confirmed that a number of those injured in the senseless incident included football fans returning home after the match been Nottingham Forest and Manchester United.
A 32-year-old man, who is now said to be the only suspect in the attack, was detained at the scene.
Initially, another man – also British-born and of Caribbean descent – was arrested on suspicion of murder, but he has since been released “in good faith” that he was not involved in the mass stabbing.
A total of 11 people were hurt in the attack at approximately 7:42pm on Sunday evening, 2 November; while nine were said to be treated for serious injuries, five have since been discharged, and one is still in a critical state.
'I hope this results in a broader review of security'
The man who remains in a life-threatening condition has been named as Andrew Johnson, a train driver from Peterborough working on the line from Doncaster to King’s Cross in London.
His Iraq War veteran’s intervention is already said to have protected multiple lives, with the LNER staff member calmly bringing the carriages to a halt in an appropriate location as soon as he could.
Nigel Roebuck, a regional organiser for the railway drivers’ union Aslef and lead officer with the train operating company, told the BBC: “The driver did everything he was trained to do, at the right time and in the right way.”
“He brought the train into a station where passengers could disembark safely and where police, fire and rescue, and ambulance crew could get on to the train and attend to the victims and, we believe, catch the culprit.”
Roebuck went on to add: “He showed real courage, real dedication, and real determination in the most difficult of circumstances. Our thoughts tonight are with his colleague, who is still in intensive care.”
Another man who has been praised (following what the authorities have said is not being considered a ‘terrorist act’) is Forest supporter Stephen Crean, who is reported to have confronted the culprit; he was later seen getting off at Huntingdon, having been left visibly injured and needing medical attention.
Get well soon Stephen Crean, This Forest fan is one of the people who stood up to the attacker on the train yesterday.
A true hero, well done Stephen for putting your life on the line for the safety of others. RESPECT to you.❤️🙏 pic.twitter.com/dl7eUEtj86
Writing on Facebook, his friend Sanj Beri said, “Get well soon, Stephen Crean. We are all thinking of you. One of the very best and a true hero.” It is not thought that any travelling fans in the United away end were on board at the time.
Another post by a group of local NFFC fans from Munster also reads: “On behalf of the branch, I would like to wish a speedy recovery to Stephen Crean. He was stabbed yesterday evening on a train going back to London after the Forest v Manchester United game.
“He bravely put himself in front of some children to protect them from the evil assailant(s) who wounded at least 10 more people in total. He is a longtime friend of the branch, having attended a couple of our Charity Dinners in Killorglin and was indeed a member at one time.
“I have known him for at least 10 years and he is one of the most gentlest souls you could meet. He follows Forest and Ireland home and away, and I have regularly met him at The City Ground over the years, as well as the likes of Luton, Spurs, Wembley, Ipswich and most recently in Seville.”
Both men have rightly been praised for their quick thinking and heroics in deeply distressing circumstances. It goes without saying that we wish those injured a speedy recovery. You can find out more of the latest info on the situation down below.
Sending our thoughts and strength to all those involved in the incident.
Featured Images — Andrew Johnson/Munster Forest (via Facebook)/Walter Baxter (via Geograph)
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Paul Scholes shares touching message over response to quitting punditry to look after his son
Danny Jones
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes recently announced that he has stepped away from football punditry and other media duties to look after his son, Aiden, and he has clearly been touched by the response to his deeply honest interview.
The former United star and England international has three children with his wife, Claire Frogratt, recently revealing that the two have sadly separated.
While his only daughter, Alicia – a thriving young netball player with London Pulse – and eldest son Arron (who runs the family’s self-titled Scholes Gym in Oldham) are both fully grown and in good health, Paul recently opened up about the challenges of looking after his youngest child, who has autism.
Aiden Scholes was diagnosed as autistic when he was just two and is largely non-verbal, meaning there are added difficulties not just when it comes to communicating but overall welfare. Opening in a fairly rare instance on a recent episode of The Overlap, the ex-midfielder is now putting all his focus on care.
As a dad to a young boy with autism, I can’t help but have more respect for Paul Scholes after seeing him open up about his own experiences. Not only does it hit home, his priorities are in order. ❤️ https://t.co/kCjfQye3ef
Speaking with his old Man United teammates, including host Gary Neville and Roy Keane, as well as the rest of the panel, the 50-year-old retired pro and one-time manager turned pundit says that he recently made the conscious decision to put virtually everything else aside to put all of his efforts towards Aiden.
Put simply, he said, “I just decided everything I’m going to do is around Aiden.”
Of course, he went on to explain some of the important “routines” and obstacles in more detail during the sit-down, but even from the brief clip that went viral online, he’s been met with an incredible reaction on social media.
Sharing an update on his Instagram story, he went on to add: “Would just like to thank everyone for all your kind messages since The Overlap interview regarding Aiden – there’s been loads and tried to read as many as possible”, he said.
“The response from families (especially Dads) shows how much speaking about it helps so many… There was one quote from a parent in a similar position that’s just got me…”
The anonymous line he shared read: “My job is to stay alive one day longer than my son/daughter”. Truly tearjerking stuff.
Now 20, the Scholes family are a couple of decades into learning how best to meet Aiden’s additional needs, but Paul has admitted in the past that the climate was different back in the day.
Neville himself said that his long-time friend, teammate, and fellow Class of ’92 graduate has always been a private person and didn’t talk to anyone about anything.
He signed off by urging people to enjoy the little things, like the weekend and having a few drinks – as well as wishing the best of luck to his beloved Salford City FC – but it can’t be overestimated how much his candid words have resonated with people all over the country.
You can see Paul Scholes’ most recent appearance on The Overlap in full down below.
Danny Jones -
23rd May 2024 
