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Wolverhampton Marathon: New route revealed for course

The new course route for this year's Wolverhampton Marathon has been unveiled – as organisers hope for a bumper year for entries.

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The Carver Wolverhampton City Marathon, which is in its 19th year, will take place on Sunday, September 4.

And the new route has been unveiled for this year's event.

Participants will now start on Connaught Road instead of Park Road West. Race director Mary Harding, said: "Our new course is faster and flatter than the old one. We have tried to improve it a bit. The full marathon will be two laps of the half marathon.

Where the new route will take runners on their challenge

"It is a different start area, so we've moved round the corner into Connaught Road. There will be some parts of the old course, but we've looked at taking out a number of fiddly bits and make it more user-friendly."

The route has been redesigned this year as it was due to be remeasured next year.

Mary added: "We have to have it remeasured every nine years. It is eight years since we have done it."

A more detailed break-down of the course for all athletes

For those that don't fancy taking on the 26-mile marathon, there are a range of events to sign up to.

Runners can take on the more manageable Carver Half Marathon. There is also the Banks's 10k Run, the Cousins 20k Cycle Event, the Callprint Walk in the Park, where participants can take a stroll around the park at their own pace, and the Children's Mini Marathon.

The marathon originally started when in 1998, the late Roy Carver together with Ivan Savage, then Carvers group sales director, came up with a plan to put the Wolverhampton Marathon back on the city events programme.

The marathon was joined in the events programme by a half-marathon and a relay challenge. In 2013 the organisers decided to remove the relay challenge and replace it with a 10k.

In subsequent years the 20k cycle ride was added and last year, the events saw the addition of the 3k walk to take part in West Park. Since its launch, the marathons have raised more than £350,000 for local charities. This year, Compton Hospice, Wolverhampton Rheumatology Support Group, The Haven and The Mayoral Charity Fund will receive a share of the proceeds.

To see pictures of last year's events or to enter any of the events visit www.wolverhamptonmarathonevents.co.uk

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