York Marathon 2016: Your complete guide
Click to go to… The lowdown • The route and timings • Yorkshire 10 Mile • The relay race • Where to watch • Getting there • Famous faces and top athletes • Road closures • The charities • TV highlights
The lowdown
From elite athletes to fun runners, York will echo to the sound of athletic endeavour on Sunday (October 9).
Begins and ends on University Road, University of York
Sun Oct 9; main marathon begins at 9.30am
The Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon returns for its fourth year, as 7,000 competitors make their way around one of the world’s best courses – our own magnificent city.
It’s an event that sees people from across Britain and around the world take to our streets. This year there are runners from France, the United States, Spain and Africa.
Teams will take part in another Yorkshire Marathon Corporate Relay, and there is also a 10 mile run involving another 3,000 runners.
The marathon is staged by Marathon Yorkshire Ltd, a sister organisation to Jane Tomlinson’s Run For All. And places are already open for the 2017 marathon – go here to register.
The route and timings
The marathon will begin and end at the University of York.
6.30am Park & Run car park opens at Elvington Airfield
7am Park & Run services and shuttle buses to the event village commence
8.30am Assembly zones open in numerical order
9.10am Mass warm up for all in University Road
9.25am Marathon wheelchair race starts
9.30am Marathon starts on University Road
10.13am 10 mile wheelchair race starts
10.15am Plusnet Yorkshire 10 Mile starts
11.05am Plusnet Yorkshire 10 Mile winner expected
11.40-11.50am Marathon winner expected
Runners will head to the heart of the city via University Road and eventually arrive through Walmgate Bar.
The route then continues along Parliament Street and travels in the shadow of York Minster before exiting the old city through Monk Bar.
Runners then head north east towards Stockton-on-the-Forest and on to Upper Helmsley and Sand Hutton.
The course heads south towards Buttercrambe Moor Wood and on to Stamford Bridge where the route turns before heading back towards York. Runners will continue towards Murton before turning and heading north into Holtby.
It’s on into the village of Murton, via Bad Bargain Lane and under the A64 towards Osbaldwick and back to the finish line at the university.
Participants will travel through, or close by, Stockton on the Forest, Grange Wood, Upper Helmsley, Stamford Bridge, Gate Helmsley, Turkers Wood, Murton, Osbaldwick and back towards Heslington.
Yorkshire 10 Mile
Into its second year, the 10 miler has increased from 2,000 participants in 2015 to 3,000 this time round. It gives runners the opportunity to take atmosphere of the day without battling the full 26.2 miles.
Like the marathon, the Yorkshire 10 Mile starts and finishes at the university. The route takes runners into York, out on Stockton Lane, round through Murton, through Osbaldwick Village, onto Tang Hall Lane and up to the finish line.
The relay race
Lots of teams have signed up to see who will be the fastest on the day and earn bragging rights in the marathon relay. The event is open to companies, sports clubs, groups of friends and any other organisations.
The relay splits the marathon into six individual legs of between three and six miles, making it accessible to runners of all abilities.
Where to watch
Spectators will be able to watch the marathon take place throughout the route however there are three main points that have been noted.
Dunnington
Here you’ll find the official spectator zone. You’ll be able to watch runners pass by twice, first as they head to the turning point in Murton and again when they return for the final seven miles.
A stage and screen will keep people entertained all day, with refreshments and activities for all ages.
York Minster
It provides the iconic backdrop for the Yorkshire Marathon. As runners arrive there shortly before hitting the two mile mark you need to get there early enough to cheer on loved ones.
Stamford Bridge
This is one of the marathon’s turning points. More activities and music will be on hand to entertain both runners and watchers alike.
The spectator bus stops in the village throughout the day.
Getting there
On race day, a dedicated park and ride service will be provided to take runners to and from the start and finish points at the University of York.
Two drop off points will also be available for people who are taking runners or family spectators by car. These will be either side of the University campus (West Loop and East Loop).
Also available to the public is the events Park and Run/spectator ticket options.
Park & Run (Green Route)
Park & Run service from Elvington Airfield (off the A64 at Grimston Bar – YO41 4AU) to the Event Village and back. Under 5s go free.
Tickets are priced at £7 and must be booked in advance. The price includes one parking space at Elvington Airfield. Runners will be prioritised on services before 8.30am.
Spectator Bus Service (Blue Route)
Hop-on-hop-off service taking spectators from the Event Village to marathon spectator areas – Stamford Bridge and Dunnington. Tickets are £5 each.
Gold Route
This Gold ticket allows unlimited travel on both Green & Blue routes as well regular marathon city centre shuttle bus services from York Railway Station (city wall side, Stand J) to the University of York
Family Gold Route.
Tickets cost £12 per person and must be booked in advance. A family gold ticket is £40 (2 adults, 2 children aged 5 to 16 years).
Famous faces and top athletes
Famous faces taking part this year include comedians Paul Tonkinson and Rob Deering.
Rugby League legend and former Leeds Rhino Jamie Peacock is another marathon competitor. And the race will be started by 75-year-old Ray Mathews of Maltby, near Rotherham, who hit the headlines for completing 75 marathons in 75 days.
He is also competing in the 10 Mile race, along with BBC favourite Harry Gration and Team GB marathon runner Matty Hynes.
Among the elite runners taking part is Sarah Lowery, 34, member of Sheffield Running Club who came 5th in the 2015 Yorkshire Marathon in a time of 2:54:57.
Michelle Nolan, a member of Gateshead and Richmond and Zetland clubs, comes into the Yorkshire Marathon having completed an ultra marathon last week.
Also returning is Melissah Gibson who ran last year’s marathon in a time of 2:59:19.
Jamil Parapia, 38, a member of Leeds City, won this year’s Asda Foundation Leeds 10K and is making his marathon debut.
Road closures
In order for organisers to begin setting up the event village that will occur during the day, University Road, York, will be closed from noon on October 8 and re-open on October 9 at 9pm.
Other closures will take place at 6am on the Sunday and will affect roads around the marathon route. Roads affected will re open on a rolling basis when it is safe to do so.
City centre roads affected by the closures include:
Hope Street
Leadmill Lane
Piccadilly
Blake Street
Duncombe Place
Goodramgate
Monkgate
Further afield, these are among the roads to be affected:
Stockton Lane
The Village
Northgate Lane
Holtby Lane
Bad Bargain Lane
Osbaldwick Lane
The charities
This year sees many charities again participate in the Yorkshire Marathon as official partners:
- Macmillan Cancer Support
- Martin’s House Children’s Hospice
- Candle Lighters
- St Leonard’s Hospice
- Stroke Association
- The Children’s Hospital Charity
…as well as many more. Participants can also just run for fun or run for any charity of their choice.
TV highlights
Runners will have the chance to see themselves on national television again this year.
The excitement, colour, drama and spirit of the sell-out event will be captured in a special highlights programme to be screened on Channel 4 on October 15. Check TV listings nearer the date for exact transmission time.