adidas Originals Bermuda Shorts

The UK's second biggest marathon, the Adidas Manchester Marathon, returns on Sunday 14 April.

Renowned for its excellent PB potential, it's the UK’s flattest major marathon and also bills itself the friendliest, thanks to the famously brilliant crowd support on the route.

The first marathon in the Manchester area was run in 1908, starting and finishing at the Saracen’s Head pub in Warburton.

What everyone's reading

Through the years the event has been run along various routes with different start and finish points, but now starts and finishes in Trafford, close by to Old Trafford stadium, the home of Manchester United.

Here is all the info you need ahead of the 2024 race, whether you are a runner or spectator.

What time does the Adidas Manchester Marathon start?

Proceedings kick off with the elite wheelchair race at 8.55am, followed by the elite runners at 9am. Following this, participants will set off in 10-minute intervals, with the last wave at 11:10am.

The coloured bar at the bottom of your runner’s bib correlates with your specific start time, which is allocated by the estimated finish time you entered when registering.

Runners need to arrive at the start access point on Talbot Road at the appropriate time – find full details in the table below.

Will there be a bag drop at the event?

Yes, there is a bag drop available for those running the Adidas Manchester Marathon.

It is located at Lancashire Cricket Club, M16 0PX, and athletes are advised to leave 30 additional minutes before their start access time to drop off their bag.

One small bag is permitted – eg, a small rucksack or small sports bag. You will be given a numbered wristband in exchange for your bag, which you must use to collect after the event. The number on it has no relation to your bib number.

What is the Adidas Manchester Marathon course?

The start and finish line are based around Old Trafford with the 26.2-mile route showcasing some of Manchester’s highlights.

Participants will set off underneath Trafford Arch at White City Circle, making their way past Old Trafford before heading to the city centre via Chorlton and Hulme.

After reaching the city centre, runners will then head towards Stretford, passing through Sale before turning off before Timperley and reaching Altrincham at around the 16-mile mark.

The final leg of the route will take runners through Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, with Talbot Road leading the way to the finish line.

adidas Originals Bermuda Shorts | How many aid stations are there on the route?

There are eight aid stations spread out along the route. All of these offer water, while stations three (at 9.3 miles), five (at 15.7 miles) and seven (at 21.9 miles) will offer Science in Sport GO Isotonic Energy Gels (containing 22g of carbs). The available flavours are: Pineapple, Apple, Fruit Salad, Blackcurrant, Orange and Lemon and Lime.

Event organisers recommend bringing additional hydration and nutrition based on your individual needs. You can find the full details of aid stations on the route here:

Drink Station	Distance (miles)	Absorb	SIS Gels
1	3	YES	NO
2	6	YES	NO
3	9.3	YES	YES
4	12	YES	NO
5	15.7	YES	YES
6	18.8	YES	NO
7	21.9	YES	YES
8	24.5	YES	NO
Finish	26.2	YES	NO

How do I get to the start line?

The tram network is the simplest way to get to and from the event. Recommended tram stations with route crossing points are Old Trafford (one-min walk), Trafford Bar (10-min walk) and Imperial War Museum (20-min walk).

The following tram stations do not have access to the start line: Wharfside Way, Exchange Quay and Pomona.

There is extremely limited parking near the start line and with road closures, so it is highly discouraged that runners try to park near Old Trafford.

For those travelling by car, there are over 100 Park and Ride locations in Greater Manchester. Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Beige Black.

Manchester Marathon bei a limited amount of disabled parking for participants who require it. It must be booked in advance, with a deadline of Friday 5 April 2024. You can find more details here.

If travelling by rail, organisers recommend traveling to Manchester Piccadilly or Victoria stations. From here, you can then connect with Metrolink trams to take you to the start line.

If you’re arriving at Oxford Road train station, you will need to make the short walk to St Peter’s Square tram stop, where you can then board a tram.

How do I get my race number?

If you live at a UK address, a pack containing your bib number will have been posted to you in advance of the race.

Pack collection on the day is only for international participants outside the UK and for those participants who have not received their pack in the post.

Can I wear headphones?

Palace x adidas Campton.

Runners who choose to use headphones are advised to have them in one ear and remain aware of their surroundings. Noise cancelling headphones are not recommended.

Is there a race cut-off time?

The finish line will close six hours after the last participant has crossed the start line and roads are re-opened in stages.

If you cannot keep to the six-hour pace, you will be asked to either get into the sweep bus or move to the pavement and continue unassisted.

If you have started and get to a point where you cannot continue, Manchester Marathon recommends you head to the nearest tram stop and make your way back to the event village.

Are there any toilets on the course?

There will also be toilets at each drink station en route. For relay teams there will be toilets at each handover station.

Although there are toilets in the start area, these are limited and queues are likely so organisers advise using the toilet before heading to the start line.

The majority of event toilets are located on Warwick Road and Trafford Town Hall car park, as well as inside the Event village.

adidas Originals Bermuda Shorts | What are the best locations for spectators to watch the Adidas Manchester Marathon?

Manchester City Centre for miles 4-6 where spectators can be passed by the runners twice.
Sale for miles 11 and 21/22, again spectators are passed twice and a good spot if you do not want to travel around.
Altrincham for miles 15.5-17, previous runners always enjoy the Altrincham section of the route, where you'll find live music and lots of crowd support,
Chorlton-Cum-Hardy for miles 24-25. Avoid the busy finish line and cheer on runners over their last couple of miles.

What if I can’t compete anymore?

If you have purchased race insurance via Active Refund during your registration for the Manchester Marathon, you are able to claim back a refund if your circumstances are covered.

Unfortunately, the window to defer to 2025 or transfer your entry to someone else closed on 5 February 2024.

Can I run for charity?

It’s never too late to start fundraising for a charity. Although official charity places have been filled, you can still raise money for a charity of your choice and you can do this through sites such as GoFundMe and JustGiving.