Our guide to the 2019 Saucony Cambridge Half Marathon with route map, road closures and runners' information
Thousands of runners will take part in the eighth annual Saucony Cambridge Half Marathon on Sunday (March 3).
Up to 10,000 are expected to take on the 13.1-mile course which winds it way through the the city and nearby villages.
Many will be supporting Cancer Research UK, the headline charity partner, and Alzheimer’s Research, the national charity partner.
Scores of other runners will be raising valuable funds for more than 30 other charities supported by the event.
The half marathon returned in 2012 with 3,000 competitors. In 2016 the course was revised to include a single loop, which meant it was able to grow to 7,000 competitors. The event in 2019 is set to be the largest yet, with capacity for 10,000 entries.
As it has in previous years, the start and finish of the race will take place on Victoria Avenue, off Midsummer Common.
Local charity partners East Anglia Children’s Hospices (Each) and Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre will also have large teams of supporters running in the event.
Runners taking part on behalf of Each, who were given 30 entries to the event as a charity partner, visited the charity’s Milton base on Tuesday, February 22.
Bronte Graver, Each Cambridgeshire community fundraiser, said: “The Cambridge Half Marathon has established itself as a big event in the city calendar, so we were delighted to receive 30 places in the event
this year.
“I am pleased to say, from the meet-up we had on Tuesday, the runners are making the most of this opportunity for us.
“We wish them the best of luck for the day and would, also, like to say thanks to everyone who has sponsored them.”
Information for runners: Travel, toilets, water, timings and more
Getting there: The event HQ and start point is on Midsummer Common. There is no vehicle parking at the start site. Free cycle parking is available, however, until 2pm. Those using the special Park & Ride services must arrive in time for the bus to leave by 7.30am. Four Park & Ride stations are in operation at Milton, Trumpington, Newmarket Road and Madingley Road. The Babraham Road site is not in use. Those who bought Park & Ride tokens before February 3 have been sent them. Others must pay £8 on the day (children under 5 ride for free with a fee-paying adult). Special services will return those with tokens to the Park & Ride stops until 3pm, but tokens can also be used on the normal Park & Ride services after that.
Route: The event is on closed roads, and starts and finishes on Victoria Avenue. See below for a list of road closures.
Start time: Race announcements begin at 8.30am on Sunday March 3, with a warm-up from 8.55am and participants will be invited to the start line for 9.10am.
Water stations: There will be four water stations on route, offering water bottles with sports caps and High 5 Isotonic Gels. You will never be more than 2.9 miles from a water station. They are stationed after 2.3 miles (Bridge Street), 5.1 miles (Trumpington), 8 miles (Barton Road) and 10.8 miles (Bridge Street).
Toilets: There will be toilets and urinals on Midsummer Common, and there are 24 toilets on route - six at each of the four drinks stations.
Timing: All runners will have an electronic timing chip on the back of their number. There is a cut-off time for the event of 3 hours 30 minutes. Four pacers will be running to hit times of 1hr 30, 2hr, 2hr 15 and 2hr 30. Results will be posted live at cambridgehalfmarathon.com.
Presentations: The top three male runners and the top three female runners will be presented with prizes in the stage area between 12pm-12.15pm.
Rules: Runners are not allowed to wear headphones for safety reasons.
Photographs: Don't miss special galleries of runners on the Cambridge Independent website, and a picture special in next week's newspaper.
Weather: Read the latest forecast.
More information is available via the runners' guide.
Cambridge Half Marathon 2019 road closures
The following road closures will be in place on Sunday:
Victoria Avenue – closed 4am-4pm
Maids Causeway/Newmarket Road – closed 9.15am-10.30am. Westbound reopens at 10.30am but eastbound side remains closed until 1.30pm
Elizabeth Way – bus lane closed between Newmarket Road and Chesterton Road,
6am-1.30pm
Chesterton Road – closed westbound, 6am-1.30pm
Magdalene Street/Bridge Street – closed 6am-1.30pm
Sidney Street/Market Hill/King’s Parade – closed 4am-11.30am
Trumpington Street – closed 8.30am-1pm
Trumpington Road – closed southbound 8am-12pm
Church Lane/Grantchester Road/Mill Way/High Street/Coton Road – closed 9am-12pm
Barton Road – closed westbound
6am-1.30pm
Fen Causeway – closed between Newnham Road and Trumpington Road, 6am-1.30pm
Silver Street – closed between Trumpington Road and Queen’s Road, 6am-1.30pm
Newnham Road/Queen’s Road – closed southbound between Fen Causeway and Garret Hostel Lane, 6am-1.30pm
Garret Hostel Lane/Trinity Lane/Trinity Street/St John’s Street – closed between Queen’s Road and Round Church,
4am-3pm.
Read more
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