Running News Daily

Chester Marathon returns this Sunday, What runners need to know

Runners are ready to take the start line in the MBNA Chester Marathon this Sunday.

Thousands of runners are expected to take part in the two road races on Sunday morning – the full 26.2-mile event, plus the 26.2km Metric Marathon.

Due to the road closures that will be in place throughout the day, motorists are urged to make use of a diversion route around the A483 between Gresford and Chester, the A534 between Gresford and Broxton, and the A41 between Broxton and Chester.

Spectators are urged to show their support to the runners as they power their way through the course.

Joint event organiser Chris Hulse said: “Spectating this kind of event is a great way to spend a Sunday morning.

“We are inviting people to experience all the drama and excitement without actually having to run themselves!"

Chris added: “The pandemic forced us to move the half marathon to just a fortnight before the MBNA Chester Marathon. As it happens, it provided an ideal sharpener race for the runners in preparation for Sunday’s full marathon.

“Whilst it was brave to host two of our events in as many weeks, we felt it was the right thing to do and the feedback we have already received from runners bears this out.”

From the event’s traditional base at Chester Racecourse, starting at 9am, the runners are greeted and the race set off by the Town Crier. Runners head into the city centre passing the Town Hall, Cathedral, under the Eastgate Clock, past the Amphitheatre and through the Walls before heading out of the city across the Old Dee Bridge.

The marathon route offers vantage points for spectators in the city, especially from the City Walls as runners pass under four city gates early in the event.

Runners then leave Chester, through Handbridge and Eccleston, past the Duke of Westminster's estate, through Pulford, before crossing the border into Wales and through the villages of Lavister and Holt. Crossing the river at Farndon, the return to England signals the beginning of the home stretch through Churton, Aldford and Huntington.

Chris added: “The runners really appreciate the support they get from Chester’s great crowds, whether out on the route or at the Racecourse, and we hope many Cestrians will make a day of it!”

MBNA Chester Marathon has been cancelled due to the pandemic

The organizers of the Essar Chester Half Marathon & MBNA Chester Marathon/Metric Marathon have announced the cancellation of their 2020 events.

The organizers say that runners registered for both events will be contacted by email on July 17 confirming the cancellation and outlining the next steps regarding refunds, deferrals and other options available to them.

Joint Race Organizer Chris Hulse, of Active Leisure Events, said “It is a decision we have made with a heavy heart.

“We have been closely monitoring the ever-evolving situation around the Covid-19 pandemic, the latest government guidance and developments emerging throughout the events industry.

"It’s clear that staging two large scale mass participation events this year would be inappropriate.”

“Therefore, we are sincerely sorry to announce the cancellation of the 2020 Essar Chester Half Marathon scheduled for September 20, the 2020 MBNA Chester Marathon/Metric Marathon scheduled for October 4, and the 2020 Chester Triple. Our overriding priority is the safety and health of our runners, staff, contractors, volunteers, spectators, local community and society as a whole.”

The news will be disappointing to many runners.

The organizers spent a significant amount of time exploring, considering and planning numerous alternative scenarios, to enable the events to go ahead safely. However, the amount of uncertainty and lack of clear direction surrounding large scale events, plus a significant 66% of runners stating they would not be comfortable taking part in events in 2020, further contributed to their decision.

“It’s not what anyone wanted but it’s essential that everyone’s health and wellbeing take priority over all else,” added Joint Race Organizer Andy White.

The Active Leisure Events team would like to offer a huge thanks to their runners, sponsors, volunteers, local council, medical teams and other key stakeholders for their understanding and support throughout this incredibly difficult time. Andy added: “We have been overwhelmed by the generous outpouring of positive comments and well-wishes."

The team are now fully focused on their 2021 events and hope runners will all be able to join them next year.

MBNA Chester Marathon have announced important changes ahead of this weekend's race due to severe weather conditions

Active Leisure Events who put on the annual MBNA Chester Marathon and Metric Marathon said all races are still due to go ahead this Sunday (October 6) but they have had to make some changes to the start and finish lines.

To ensure the event goes ahead as planned, they have made some essential changes due to this week's 'adverse' weather conditions which has seen torrential rain that has left extremely poor ground conditions at Chester Racecourse where the race is due to start and finish.

The changes are as follows:

Change of start location - Both the MBNA Chester Marathon & Metric Marathon will now start on Nuns Road instead of the Roodee, at the planned start times – 9am for the marathon & 10.15am for the metric.

Runners’ pens will be set out along this road which runs behind and parallel to the Chester Racecourse main stands. Runners will move through the starting gantry & then turn left onto New Crane Street and from here the route will continue as planned up Southview Road, Canal Street & through the city.

Change of finish location - Both races will now finish on Castle Drive, alongside the historic Chester Walls. Due to the new finish location, runners will be routed around Chester’s historic Grosvenor Park prior to following Dee Lane to the iconic run in on The Groves. There will be a marquee at the finish, where you will pick up your finisher’s medal, t-shirt & goody bag as normal.

The new start and finish areas mean that the whole route is now on hard surfaces (no grass) so whatever the weather is on race day, your trainers should be clean, even if they aren’t dry!

A spokesperson for Active Leisure Events added: "Whether it is your first or 100th marathon we promise you an amazing race, and a memorable finale to the 2019 Chester triple.