The Great Bristol Run takes place this weekend with thousands of people challenging themselves over either a 10km course or a half marathon on Sunday (May 14) morning.
The day will see runners take part in either the Family Run event, the 10K and the Half Marathon and the course will twist and turn its way around the Old City, Redcliffe, the city centre, Hotwells and the Harbourside.
The major event will see a number of roads around the city centre closed for varying amounts of time - organisers are running a rolling programme of road closures to allow the races to go ahead safely, but at the same time minimise the disruption to motorists and cyclists as the day continues.
READ MORE: Great Bristol Run results: How to see your finishing time for 10K and Half Marathon
The first roads will start to close at 4am on Sunday, May 14 and all roads should be reopened by 5pm. The Great Bristol Run will begin at 9am and the thousands of runners will be at the starting line at different times, so waves of runners will be making their way around the course throughout the day.
There will be a live start-line DJ, on-course music zones and post-race celebrations in Millennium Square. This year’s event will also host the third annual Visually Impaired (VI) Runners 10k Challenge – the UK’s first dedicated race for blind and partially sighted runners.
Paul Foster, Chief Executive of the Great Run Company said: “The AJ Bell Great Bristol run is an inclusive celebration of running that shows the city at its best every year. With runners of all ages and abilities taking part for all kinds of reasons, the atmosphere is unbeatable and we can’t wait to welcome everyone to the start line on May 14.”
When does the race start?
Things will be kicking off from 7.30am on Sunday with the opening of the information point located at the Lloyds Amphitheatre.
The first race of the day gets underway with the sold-out AJ Bell Great Bristol Family Run, which will see budding runners of all ages take on a one-mile challenge. This race starts at 9am on Anchor Road with an official warm-up for participants at 8.53am.
The official charity partner of the Family Run, The Grand Appeal is encouraging everyone to join in celebrating the 30th anniversary of the much-loved Wallace and Gromit film, by sporting their own pair of ‘wrong trousers’ around the course.
Then at 9.18am the 10K warm-up takes place - with the wheelchair race starting at 9.25am followed by the VI race at 9.28am. The 10K orange wave starts at 9.30am, followed by the green wave at 9.37am and the pink wave at 9.44am.
From 10am anyone taking part in the half marathon is invited to gather at the assembly area near Anchor Road, before a warm-up at 10.20am. The first wave of runners, the orange wave, will kick off at 10.30am, followed by the green wave at 10.40am and the pink wave at 10.50am.
It is expected that all runners will be finished and the event site closed by 3pm.
What roads are closed?
There will be a rolling programme of road closures starting from Anchor Road at 4am on Sunday in order to ensure a safe running route for the 15,000 runners taking part. All roads should be reopened by 5pm.
Roads will be reopened in phases once each section is clear of runners, litter and event infrastructure. During the road closure vehicular access will not be possible. Unless otherwise stated or pre-agreed. Pedestrian and emergency service access will be maintained to all properties throughout the event.
That route weaving around the Floating Harbour, the Old City, Redcliffe, Castle Park and The Centre will mean many main roads in Bristol will be closed for hours. The road closure zones and the times are as follows:
Zone 1 (Anchor Road and Canons Marsh)
• Anchor Road will be closed between 04:00 and 17:00
• Lime Kiln Rd/ Cannons Way residents will be able to enter and/or exit via Partition St/ Lower College St and across Anchor Road until 0830 and after 1230, once it is safe to move vehicles.
Zone 2 (Hotwells)
• Hotwell Road Outbound of city to Humphry Davy Way will be closed between 0630 and 1300
• Access to Dock Gate Lane, Pembroke Place, Rownham Mead, Charles Place, Oakfield Rd, Merchants Road will be restricted between closure times. Vehicles will be permitted to exit streets and drive towards Jacobs Wells Roundabout on Hotwell Road until 0830.
• Hotwell Rd will remain open to traffic at all times on the inbound to city side of road, towards Jacobs Wells Roundabout.
Zone 3 (The Portway and Hotwells (west))
• Hotwell Road at Bennett Way to A4162 Sylvan Way incl A4 Portway and Bridge Valley Road will be closed between 0600 and 1430.
• Residents with property’s located on The Portway between Sylvan Way and Riverleaze are able to use a vehicle lane installed for the event. Residents are permitted to enter at the Sylvan Way junction on to The Portway and exit on to Riverleaze. Residents are asked not to park cars on the road to ensure access can be maintained.
Zone 4 (Cumberland Basin/Spike Island/Wapping Wharf)
• Avon Crescent, McAdam Way, Brunel Lock Road, Brunswick Place, Cumberland Rd, Wapping Rd, Gas Ferry Rd, Hanover Place, Mardyke Ferry Rd, Smeaton Rd, Ashton Ave, Commercial Road will be closed between 0530 and 1400
• Residents will be able to exit until 0830, after this time vehicle movement is prohibited, unless prior arrangements have been made with the event organisers. If you require your car between 0830 and 1400 we recommend you park outside of the road closure area. Avon Crescent can exit on to Brunel Way Southbound at all times.
Zone 5 (Old City)
• The Grove, Prince Street, Wapping Road, Queen Square, Welsh Back, Little King Street, Queen Charlotte Street residents will be able to exit until 0845, after this time vehicle movement is prohibited, unless prior arrangements have been made with the event organisers. Queen Charlotte Street NCP Car Park can exit via Welsh Back and over Redcliffe Bridge or Prince St Bridge until 0915.
Zone 6 (Redcliffe & Castle Park/Bristol Bridge)
• Redcliffe Hill (inbound traffic), Redcliffe Way towards Temple Circus, Victoria Street, Counterslip, Queen Street, Castle Street, Lower Castle Street, Broad Weir, Newgate, Wine Street, High Street will be closed between 05:30 and 1500. Residents will be able to exit until 0845, after this time vehicle movement is prohibited, unless prior arrangements have been made with the event organisers. If you require your car between 0845 and 1500 we recommend you park outside of the road closure area.
Zone 7 (The Centre)
•Baldwin St, Marsh St, Broad Quay Colston Ave, St Augustine’s Parade, Park Street/ College Green (access only as far as Anchor Rd and the Marriott Hotel), Lewin’s Mead, Christmas Street and Quay Street, will be closed between 0700 and 1530.
Vehicle access into The Centre is restricted during closure time. Residents will be able to exit until 0830, after this time vehicle movement is prohibited, unless prior arrangements have been made with the event organisers. If you require your car between 0830 and 1530 we recommend you park outside of the road closure.
Route map
The Family run route map (above)
The 10K route map (above)
The Half Marathon route map (above)
How do I find out my time afterwards?
You can view your race results on the AJ Bell Great Run results page here. Make sure the correct event is highlighted and then you can search by your Race Number or Surname.
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