Great Manchester Run 2024 route map for 10k and half marathon

This weekend, thousands will take the streets of Manchester as they compete in the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run 2024. More than 30,000 are expected to take part in the 10k and half marathon events this Sunday (May 26).

Televised by the BBC, both runs will feature live entertainment - plus the sound of thousands of supporters cheering on the city's athletes and runners. Established in 2003, it is one of Europe's biggest running events, with routes that take in some of the city's most well-known sites and landmarks.

Last year, the popular running event celebrated its 20th anniversary with Olympic legend Sir Mo Farah one of the many runners to take part. The four-time gold medallist completed the race for a final time after confirming he would retire from elite competition after the AJ Bell Great North event in September 2023.

READ MORE: Great Manchester Run 2024 start time, road closures, route and everything you need to know

Speaking about this year's event, Paul Foster, Chief Executive for The Great Run Company, said: “Over 30k runners are signed up to take part in the world-famous Great Manchester 10k and half marathon event on Sunday, 26 May, with over 100,000 spectators expected to line the streets, roaring runners on from start to finish.

“Not only is the event broadcast live on BBC One to millions, there’s an electric atmosphere from start to finish, with live bands, charity cheer points and tens of thousands of supporters cheering along the way."

The 10k route, which is 6.9 miles shorter than the half marathon, features a number of Manchester landmarks including Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium, the Imperial War Museum at Salford Quays, and The Lowry.

The half marathon route meanwhile, takes runners past both football stadiums, joining the 10k route in running past by the Beetham Tower, the 47-storey skyscraper that will mark the finish line. Here's a rundown of the full route for both the 10k and half-marathon section of the Great Manchester Run this year.

10k route

The 10k run starts on Portland Street and move down Chester Road leading onto Bridgewater Way and White City, before passing Old Trafford. Runners then loop back on themselves via Warren Bruce Road and pass the Imperial War Museum as they make their way back for the second half of the route.

As they head back to Whitworth Street, they will turn off onto Deansgate where the finish line will be in striking distance.

Half marathon route

The half marathon route also starts on Portland street, however, as they make their way to Mancunian Way, instead of going straight down Chester Road, participants will turn off onto the A57 and make their way towards Manchester Piccadilly. Going past the train station, the half marathon runners will then move onto Ashton Old Road and start looping back around the Manchester City Football Ground onto Alan Turing Way.

On the first loop back, runners will then go past Manchester Metropolitan university and move onto a similar path as the 10k route towards Manchester United Football Ground and eventually onto Warren Bruce Road. From this point, the half marathon runners will be on the home stretch, heading towards the finish line on Deansgate via Chester Road.