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.
Breakaway competition R360 issues statement after rubgy unions warn players of sanctions
Danny Jones
Prospective breakaway competition R360 have issued a response to the joint statement from multiple countries’ rugby unions, which has warned players of sanctions should they choose to join the new league.
While the vast majority seemingly remain opposed to the new concept, backing from certain key figures has resulted in the likes of the UK and Irish rugby unions, along with other key nations, sharing their unified stance against the potential rival.
Put in the simplest terms, the R360 model is rugby’s equivalent of what the proposed European ‘Super League’ was for football just a few years ago, with similar questions being raised around how it could jeopardise existing contests, player wellbeing and more.
Now, though, the new format – which has been largely backed and developed by former World Cup winner with England, Mike Tindall – delivered its own reply on Wednesday, 8 October.
Shared publicly to the press, the alternative tournament wrote: “It’s not always easy to embrace new opportunities, but as we’ve seen throughout history, it’s essential for any sport to grow. So many players love what R360 can do for them and the game, and we can’t wait to kick off next year.
“Player welfare is one of the key reasons for creating our global series, which will greatly reduce player load and capture the attention of a new generation of fans globally. We want to work collaboratively as part of the global rugby calendar.
“The series is designed with bespoke schedules for men’s and women’s teams and R360 will release all players for international matches, as written into their contracts. Our philosophy is clear – if players want to play for their country, they should have that opportunity. Why would the unions stand in their way?
“We look forward to submitting to the World Rugby Council for sanctioning next summer as planned.”
At present, R360 is due to hold its inagural season this time next year, with eight new male teams and four women’s sides expected to get underway from October 2026 onwards.
In addition to more lucrative contracts like those promised in the IPL (Indian Premier League) cricket, LIV Golf and the aforementioned albeit failed Super League, R360 is also set to offer a reduced playing schedule but one that would still tempt athletes away from their current teams to new franchises.
The national rugby unions of New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Ireland, England, Scotland, France and Italy have released the following statement on the proposed R360 competition ⬇️#IrishRugby
Although they have assured player care is an utmost priority, their health and fitness is one of my concerns put forward by the total eight rubgy unions who have urged current pros to stay away from the breakaway competition.
In case you haven’t seen the statement release by England, Ireland and Scotland, as well as France, Italy, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, it begins by “urging extreme caution for players and support staff considering joining the proposed R360 competition.”
Assuring that they welcome “investment and innovation in rugby”, they feel this particular idea won’t improve the sport but could instead “fragment or weaken it.”
Having assessed the proposals supposed value/addition to the “rugby’s global ecosystem”, it seems the fear is that the outcome will be a “net negative to the game”, with little to no detail as to how it can run alongside existing fixtures, assure proper management of player welfare and more.
As for Wales, despite opting not to put their name to the open letter itself, they have stated publicly: “The Welsh Rugby Union supports this statement, and we’re considering changes we may need to make to qualification rules in Wales as part of ongoing analysis following our recent consultation process.”
The statement continues: “The R360 model, as outlined publicly, rather appears designed to generate profits and return them to a very small elite, potentially hollowing out the investment that national unions and existing leagues make in community rugby, player development, and participation pathways.”
It seems there is deep concern for how it could affect grassroots and the international rugby too, not just league and union, and have failed to full explain or help key organisations “better understand their business and operating model.”
Most notably, they sign off by adding: “Each of the national unions will therefore be advising men’s and women’s players that participation in R360 would make them ineligible for international selection.”
What do you make of the whole debate – do you like the current schedule/format as it is, or do you think there’s room for a new chapter in the rugby world?
Ruben Amorim insists he ‘cannot’ quit as Manchester United manager
Danny Jones
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has reiterated that he won’t quit his job at the club and that his departure will only come through being sacked.
The struggling head coach has notched the lowest tally of any permanent manager in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, and despite a much-needed win against Sunderland this past weekend – not to mention a much more positive performance overall – there are still growing calls of ‘Amorim Out’.
Amorim has registered just 34 points from the 33 Premier League games he’s been in charge of so far,
Nevertheless, as per quotes from The Guardian over the weekend, the Portuguese head coach assured that he will not be stepping away from the role and would have to be sacked for him to leave Man United.
Speaking to the outlet after the 2-0 home win this past Saturday, Amorim said: “No, that is a decision of the board – I cannot do that. Sometimes I have that feeling, and losing is hard, not to create the momentum.
“It’s so frustrating when you create the momentum, go to the next game, [and] something happens. That feeling sometimes hurts me a lot. Also, the players and especially the staff here. But that is not my decision, and I think it would be really hard to leave if I don’t do everything to follow my career here.”
The 40-year-old still has the support of many supporters, but it’s fair to say that many neutrals and even die-hards who would like to believe they have put their faith in this rebuild and the INEOS project up to now are growingly increasingly impatient and doubtful, with plenty of vocal detractors already.
Amorim continued, “It’s a dream to be here and I want to continue here, and I want to fight for this; but the problem is now what makes me suffer is to lose games, not to lose my job.”
He also added the caveat that, unlike those who were unfortunately laid off during the two rounds of redundancies over the past 12 months alone, “you fear [losing] your job when you have to pay the bills, and I don’t have that feeling.”
It’s also worth noting that this is by no means the first time he’s fielded questions of the matter of resignation, having previously worried fans with divisive comments about sometimes ‘hating’ his players and flitting between wanting to either quit or echo Fergie and stay at Old Trafford for decades.
"Sometimes I want to quit, sometimes I want to be here for 20 years."
Rúben Amorim defended his emotional response after Manchester United’s defeat to Grimsby Town but admitted he wants to improve how he reacts 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/nXuN0Ztoee
Despite the United administration assuring that he has their backing, every game feels like it could be make or break for Amorim at the moment.
Although he does have the respite of the October international break coming up, the first game back is against the reigning champions Liverpool away at Anfield – a team he is yet to beat.
In fact, you could also argue that this may only serve as disruption to any kind of momentum they may have generated with the victory over the Black Cats; only time will tell.
You can see his most recent post-match press conference in full down below.
Ok, Man United fans: Amorim won’t quit, but do you think he should be sacked, or does he deserve more time?
Danny Jones -
23rd May 2024 
