Our guide to the 2020 Saucony Cambridge Half Marathon with route map, road closures and runners’ information

There will be a number of firsts at the Cambridge Half Marathon on Sunday (March 8) as about 12,000 runners take on the 13.1-mile race.

The new route for the race is a first as it passes through two University of Cambridge Colleges - King’s and Jesus.

Another first is encouraging runners to have their own reusable bottles to refill at drink stations with the aim of making the event more sustainable and reduce plastic waste.

Another first – a sign of the times – will be stewards at drinks stations and at the finish line wearing plastic gloves as well extra hand sanitising stations at the event to help combat the risks, however small, of spreading the coronavirus.

A statement from the organisers, OSB Events, said: “With the Cambridge Half Marathon fast approaching, we are monitoring advice regarding coronavirus, as set out by the UK government, NHS and World Health Organisation. We urge everyone planning to attend the event to do the same.”

It adds: “We will continue to monitor the situation and will update you all as required.”

No plastic bottles will be given out on Midsummer Common, which is the start and finish line for the half marathon, or from the first drink station on course. Plastic cups will be available, but event organisers have stressed that these can be recycled and none will end up in landfill.

The race organisers have said if this trial goes well, they will remove plastic bottles from the other drink stations at future events.

The new route means that road closures around the city will be different this year –see the panel below right. Most begin at 4am on Sunday.

For people visiting the city by car, diversion routes will be in place and all car parks – with the exception of Grafton West – will be open throughout the event.

Bus services will continue to run although the stops on Trumpington Street and Downing Street are suspended, with an alternative stop on Emmanuel Street.

Runners who are cycling to the event will be able to use a bike park on Midsummer Common.

The first runners will set off at 9.10am, with the rest leaving in waves up until 10am.

For more details, visit cambridgehalfmarathon.com.

Information for runners: Travel, toilets, water, timings and more

Getting there: The HQ for the event and the start point will be Midsummer Common, Victoria Avenue. This is where the stage, enquiries area, bag storage, toilets, first aid and coffee vendors will be located. There is no vehicle parking at the start site. Free cycle parking is available, however, until 3pm.

All pre-purchased parking at Grafton West Car Park is now sold out, you cannot access this car park without a pre-purchased ticket. Those people who have purchased a space, will receive an e-ticket and full arrival information to the email provided when they registered.

Four Park & Ride stations are in operation at Milton, Trumpington, Newmarket Road and Madingley Road.

Anyone who purchased tokens before February 9 will have been sent them. Tokens purchased through the Cambridge Half Marathon shop after February 9 were sent out separately until March 2. Others must pay £8 on the day, if there are spaces available. Children under five can travel for free with a fee paying adult, but concessionary passes are not valid on this special service. 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 Midsummer Common, Victoria Avenue. See below for a list of road closures.

Start time: Race announcements begin at 8.30am on Sunday, March 8, with a warm-up from 8.55am and participants will be invited to the start line for 9.10am.

Water stations: Organisers are looking to eradicate the use of plastic bottles at the event over the next three to five years. This year, they will trialling the use of compostable cups or your own reusable bottles only at Midsummer Common and drink station one, with the support of Cambridge Water. Drink stations two, three and four will all remain as 330ml sport cap bottles.

The stations will be located after 3.1 miles (Queens Road), 6.1 miles (Barton Road), 9 miles (Trumpington) and 11.3 miles (Trumpington 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. The permanent toilets in Jesus Green, Midsummer Common & on Chesterton Road will also be available on the morning of the event.

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, 1hr 45, 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: Overnight rain clearing to sunshine and blustery showers.

Cambridge Half Marathon 2020 road closures

• Garret Hostel Lane (4am-11.30am)
• Trinity Lane (4am-11.30am)
• Lower Park Street (by Jesus College entrance 4am-2pm)
• Park Parade (4am-2pm)
• Richmond Terrace (4am-2pm)
• St John’s Road (4am-2pm)
• Thompson Lane (4am-2pm)
• Benet Street (4am-5pm)
• Bridge Street (4am-5pm)
• Green Street (4am-5pm)
• King’s Parade (4am-5pm)
• Market Hill (4am-5pm)
• Petty Cury (4am-5pm)
• Senate House Hill (4am-5pm)
• Sidney Street (4am-5pm)
• St Mary’s Passage (4am-5pm)
• Trinity Street (4am-5pm)
• Victoria Avenue (4am-5pm)
• Elizabeth Way bus lane (north only 5am-11.30am)
• Queen’s Road (south only 6am-12.30pm)
• Barton Road W(west only 6am-1pm)
• Newnham Road (south only 6am-1pm)
• Silver Street Both (6am-2pm)
• Fen Causeway (6am-2pm)
• Trumpington Street (6am-2pm)
• Church Lane, Trumpington, (8am-1pm)
• Coton Road (8am-1pm)
• Grantchester Road, Grantchester, (8am-1pm)
• High Street, Grantchester, (8am-1pm)
• Maris Lane, Trumpington, (8am-1pm)
• Mill Road, Grantchester, (8am-1pm)
• King’s Lane (8am-2pm)
• Queen’s Lane (8am-2pm)
• Trumpington Road (north only (8am-2pm)
• Maids Causeway/Newmarket Rd (8.30am-11.30am)
• Chesterton Road/Lane (west only 8.30am-11.30am)
• Elizabeth Way (north only 8.30am-11.30am)
• Elizabeth Way (from Chesterton Road to Milton Road, north only 8.30am-11.30am)
• Milton Road/ A1134 (Mitcham’s Corner, west only 8.30am-11.30am)
• Northampton Street (west only 8.30am-11.30am)
• Jesus Lane (east only 9am-2pm)

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