Chester Half Marathon: Your guide to road closures, the route and facilities

The 2015 Chester Half Marathon will get under way on Sunday, May 17 2015, starting at Chester Racecourse at 9am and finishing in Chester City Centre.

Good luck to everyone running the race, especially those who are raising money for a chosen charity.

If you are planning to watch the run or get across town during the morning, with the help of organisers Active Leisure Events, we have put together a handy guide to road closures, parking and facilities.

Get to the racecourse in plenty of time

Please allow extra journey time for the additional race day traffic. The racecourse gates open at 6:30am and the car park closes at 7:30am – after this, New Crane Street, outside the racecourse, will be closed.

If you are planning to park at the racecourse, we recommend you arrive by 8am at the very latest. The earlier you arrive, the less likely you are to be stuck in traffic.

REMEMBER: Racecourse parking closes at 7:30am.

Expected road closure times (this is the maximum and we will try to open roads as soon as it is safe to do so).

Roads that will be closed from 9.30am-12.30pm as runners will be coming along here to the finish:

Garden Lane – Raymond Street/Bouverie Street to Canal Street

Canal Street – Raymond Street to Upper Northgate Street

Upper Northgate Street – Canal Street to The Northgate

Northgate Street – The Northgate to Hunter Street

Roads that will be closed from 5.30am to 2:00pm for the finish and post finish area:

Northgate Street – Hunter Street to Eastgate Street

St Werburgh Street – Northgate Street to Eastgate Street

Eastgate Street – Northgate Street to The Eastgate

Foregate Street – The Eastgate to St John Street

St John Street – Foregate Street to Little St John Street

Roads that will be closed from 9.00am which is earlier than the usual Sunday closing time. This is to allow the set up of the meeting point area on Bridge Street, which will have live music. They will reopen as per normal on a Sunday.

Bridge Street – 6 metres north of Feathers Lane to Watergate Street

Watergate Street – Bridge Street to Nicholas Street/St Martin’s Way

There are earlier road closures away from the city centre and there will be a lot more traffic than usual early in the morning, and generally Chester will be very busy.

Race route for 2015

The 2015 route starts at Chester Racecourse, before heading up Watergate Street, along St Martin’s Way to the Fountains roundabout. Then it’s out of the city along Parkgate Road towards Two Mills. Shortly before Two Mills, the runners will start their return to Chester, via Woodbank, Saughall and Parkgate Road for a city centre finish by the Town Hall and Cathedral. You can see a map of the route here:

City centre parking

There are over 3,600 car parking places available in car parks within easy walking distance of the racecourse in Chester city centre. These car parks will charge a variety of fees dependent on the length of time vehicles are parked. Further details of the locations of the car parks and the fees charged can be found at livetravel.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk and search for Chester.

Drop Off Point

For competitors and spectators who are being dropped off prior to the event, a drop off point is available on the car park in front of the Chester Castle on Grosvenor Street, Chester, CH1 2AN. The Racecourse is within a short walk of this drop off point. Anyone parking their car on the Castle car park will be required to pay the £5 parking fee.

Fun Run

There will be a one mile Fun Run aimed at children and toddlers to raise funds for The Babygrow Appeal at the Countess of Chester Hospital. The run will start at 9:15am and accompanying parents and grandparents are welcome. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis from the help desk on Saturday evening (4.30-6:30pm) and Sunday morning (from 7-8.30am). Places are limited but the event is open to all. This is for FUN only and so there will be no times taken nor results published and no prizes awarded.

The entry fee for the Fun Run is £4.00 per runner. Alternatively, you can pay £5.00, which includes a £1.00 donation to Babygrow.

Each Fun Run participant will receive a souvenir race shirt and all finishers will receive a bespoke medal, drink and treat.

Venue facilities

The start is at the Chester Racecourse with the finish in Chester City Centre.

Help Desk - This will be near the start. In addition to providing information about the event, last minute number transfers can be arranged at the Help Desk. It will be open from 4:30pm-6:30pm on Saturday, May 16, and between 6:30am-8:30am on Sunday, May 17.

Baggage Storage - This will be next to the Help Desk and will be open between 7:00am and 9:00am on Sunday, May 17, 2015. This facility will close at 1:00pm. To retrieve your bag you must have your race number.

Toilets - Toilet facilities will be available at the start of the race.

Food and Drink - Hot and cold food and drink will be available at the racecourse at the start and in the great choice of city centre cafes, pubs and restaurants at the finish.

Mile markers

There will be fluorescent red mile markers at each mile along the course. These will generally be on the left hand side of the road and at head height. There will be split timing mats at 2.1k, 6k, 10k, halfway, 10 miles and 20k.

Water Stations - There will be five water stations situated on the course at 3, 6, 9, 10.5 and 12 miles with water and toilets. There will also be a water station at the finish of the race.

Toilets on the route

Portable toilets will be provided at the side of the road close to each drinks station. Disabled toilets are available at the racecourse and close to the finish.

First aid

There will be mobile first aiders on bicycles throughout the course, as well as first aid posts on the course, and a main first aid post at the finish.

Race photography

Official race photographers Marathon-Photos.com will be taking photos of individual runners on the course. They will also be there to take a photo of you crossing the finishing line and after the runners have received their finisher’s medal. Between 24 and 48 hours after the race you will be able to view and purchase photos online. You will be sent an email with a web link when your photographs are available to view and buy.

Volunteers

There will be many volunteers who have generously given their time to assist along the course and at the start and finish. They are there to help you and help make the race safe. If you have some spare energy please don’t forget to give them the odd wave or “thank you”.