Stafford Half Marathon: Route and road closures and everything you need to know
It's an annual springtime tradition which brings thousands of people to the streets of Stafford to take on a challenging course around the county town.
The annual event sees everyone from aspiring international athletes to club and fun runners line up on Victoria Road, right next to Victoria Park, and take a 13.1-mile course around Stafford which takes in the sights and sounds of the town, as well as the loud support and applause of people lining the streets.
Held since 1984, the half marathon has grown in size and popularity and is an event that runners love to be part of, coming from the local area and further afield to line up at the start and strive for fast times and big funds for charity.
We've taken a closer look at the history of the event, where it goes and what goes into the day, so please get your running shoes on, stretch your muscles and and get ready to run along this guide to the Stafford Half Marathon.
When is the half marathon taking place and where does it start from?
The Stafford Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, March 23, with Victoria Park again being home to the Race Village where registration will take place, and the race starting on Victoria Road.
There will also be a Fun Run which will take runners through the historic streets of Stafford.
When did the event first take place?
The first Stafford Half Marathon was held in April 1984 and has grown in popularity with more and more crowds lining the route each year cheering on the runners.
What are the timings for people taking part in the event?
The race village at Victoria Park will open at 8am and be open until 9.45am, allowing people to make enquiries to volunteers at the scene.
From 8.30am, the Safe Bag Storage area will be open, while refreshments will be served at various tents in the race village, before runners will be asked to head to the start area on Victoria Road at around 9.30am.
The Half Marathon will start at 10am along a 13.1 mile course, while the fun run will start at 10.10am along a one-mile town centre route, and the first runner is expected to be back at the finish line by 11.10am.
The end of the day will see a prize-giving at the Bandstand in Victoria Park at 12.30pm, and the half marathon course will be closed, stewards stood down and road closures lifted from 12.30pm to 1pm.
What are some of the most important things for runners to remember on the day?
Runners are asked to read and observe the Participant Code of Conduct and obey the general pre-race briefing information.
This includes coming ready to run and minimise interaction with other people by being as self-sufficient as possible, while under no circumstances swapping numbers or giving a place to another participant.
Runners should also leave more time than they normally would to get to and from the event and also be aware of personal hygiene, avoiding spitting and nasal clearance.
They should also be respectful to event stewards, volunteers and other participants and mindful of surroundings and impact on others, while also keeping a minimum pace of 12 minutes per mile.
What do fun runners need to remember for the day?
Entrants in the Fun Run will be able to collect run numbers from Victoria Park on Saturday, due to race organisers wishing to keep postage costs down, but can still pick up on the day if necessary.
The run starts at 10.15am after the half marathon has set off and heads towards the train station and out onto Newport Road, with the Fun Run starting from the monument in Victoria Park, with the area signposted.
It will go in the opposite direction to the Half Marathon and runners are being encouraged to dress up for the run.
What will the route be for the Half Marathon?
The route will take runners out onto the Newport Road, around Wolverhampton Road and onto the A34, before heading out past Baswich and Kingston Hill and onto the A513 for Beaconside.
From there, it will head west over the top of Stafford, then head back down the A34 back into the town centre, with the final mile looping around the town centre before the finish back at Victoria Park.
Will there be facilities on the route for runners?
Water stations will be available at three miles on Salt Avenue, seven miles at Birkdale Drive and 10 miles at the top of Stone Road, as well as at five miles and the finish line at Victoria Park.
A disposal point has been provided after all of the water stations and runners are being asked to hold on to rubbish until they reach these points.
Toilet facilities will be at the race village at Victoria Park and portable toilets will be available near the water stops at Salt Avenue and Birkdale Drive, as well as at Beaconside after 8.5 miles.
St John Ambulance Brigade will be on duty throughout the race, so anyone requiring first aid assistance should either approach first aid personnel at the water stations or one of the stewards on duty.
Due to the nature of the route, first aid treatment will be provided as soon as possible and if it is an emergency an ambulance will be sent to the scene.
What road closures are in place for the event?
With the event taking place over several hours, it will mean that a number of roads will be closed for long periods during the event, which include:
- Tenterbanks and Victoria Road - 7am to 3.30pm
- Newport Road - 9.50am to 10.45am
- A34 northbound - 10am to 11.30am with an alternative route through Silkmore Lane
- Baswich Lane northbound - 10am to 11.30am and junction with St Thomas Lane from 10am to 12.30pm
- A518 Weston Road westbound - 10am to 12.30pm
- Portal Road - 10am to 12.30pm
- Sandon Road - 10.15am to 12.30pm
- Stone Road southbound dual carriageway - 10am to 12.30pm
- Holmcroft Road - 10.15am to 12.30pm
- Town centre closures from 7am, including Mill Street, Mill Bank, South Walls, Earl Street and Bridge Street
Where can I go to find out more about the event?
Full details of the event, where to stand to watch and all other information can be found on the Freedom Leisure website.
Comment Guidelines
Iconic Media encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.