Ipswich Twilight 5k: Timetable, road closures and list of elite athletes taking part

Around 300 schoolchildren are due to take part in the Daily Mile wave at 1.45pm. Runners set off from starting line at the elite race in 2016. Picture: LUCY TAYLOR

A new format is in place for today’s extravaganza, with a series of different waves taking place throughout the afternoon.

Organisers decided to separate the 5k and 10k, the latter of which will set off in August, to encourage people of different capabilities to join the town’s growing running community.

Timetable of waves

The first runners – around 300 schoolchildren – will set off at around 1.45pm for the Daily Mile wave, inspired by a national initiative to keep school pupils healthy and active.

This year, for the first time ever, organisers decided to split the two Twilight Races into separate events. Picture: LUCY TAYLOR

At 2.15pm the Most Active County Family Run will see people of all ages tackle a 2km run, before businesses from across the region take on the ABP 5k Business Challenge at 3pm.

An hour later, at 4pm, a Q&A session will be taking place, before the three 5k waves commence.

The first – for people planning to run the distance in 30 minutes or over, is taking place at 4.45pm.

A second wave will kick off at 6pm for people aiming to finish between 20 minutes to half an hour.

Elite runners are then due to take centre stage at 7pm, as the final wave sponsored by Ipswich Building Society starts.

Timetable of events at the Ipswich Twilight 5k 2018. Picture: IPSWICH TWILIGHT RACES (Image: IPSWICH TWILIGHT RACES)

Waterfront road closures

Race directors are reminding people of a series of road closures coming into force today as the Twilight 5k sweeps around Ipswich Waterfront.

Below is the full list, coming into force from approximately 1.30pm to 7.30pm:

Representatives from John Banks handing over the lead Twilight 5k race car ahead of this weekend's event. Picture: JOHN BANKS (Image: JOHN BANKS)

St Peters Dock, closed from the car park access to Foundry Lane

Foundry Lane, full length

Albion Wharf, full length

Common Quay, full length

Neptune Quay, full length

Road closure signs have gone up around the town's Waterfront. Patteson Road is due to be closed from 1pm until 7.30pm, from Anchor Street to Orwell Quay. Picture: ARCHANT (Image: ARCHANT)

Coprolite Street, from the residential access to Neptune Quay

Orwell Quay, full length

Helena Road, full length

Patteson Road, from Anchor Street to Orwell Quay

Ship Launch Road, from Helena Road to the lock gates

The 2018 5k Twilight Road Race map. Picture: IPSWICH TWILIGHT RACES (Image: IPSWICH TWILIGHT RACES)

Island Site Road – Private, full length

Elite athletes

Gemma Steel – Charnwood

Has a 5k road personal best of 16:00.

Miss Moyes, from West Suffolk, is a rising star in the running world. Picture: PICASA (Image: Archant)

She ran close to that with 16:02 as she finished in second in the Twilight elite race last year.

Since then, she has had an excellent nine months, finishing ninth in the European XC championships in December.

Ms Steel was also a member of the winning GB team who came second in the Inter-Counties XC Championships in March.

She ran for GB in the IAAF world half marathon championships in Valencia in March, and came third in the Great Ireland Run 10k in Dublin in April, representing England.

Emily Moyes, one of the elite athletes due to take part in tonight's most challenging 5k race. Picture: PAGEPIX LTD (Image: Pagepix Ltd.07976 935738)

Faye Fullerton – Havering

Ran her 5k road personal best of 16:18 at the Twilight elite race in 2016.

Ms Fullerton also celebrated a 73:56 personal best for Great Britain in the IAAF world half marathon championships in Valencia in March.

She finished third in the prestigious Brighton 10k in April, and has been selected to run for Great Britain in the European 10000m cup next Saturday.

Iona Lake – CoNAC

Specialises in steeplechase, but has a 16:37 personal best on the flat.

Ran the 3000m steeplechase for England in the Commonwealth Games last month in Australia, finishing in eighth place.

Emily Moyes – West Suffolk

Started as a junior with Stowmarket Striders, and has in more recent times been specialising in steeplechase.

She won the England under 20/under 23 3000m steeplechase in 2017, and qualified to run for Great Britain in the European under 20 championships in Italy.

Just last week, she retained her BUCS 2000m steeplechase title.

Adam Hickey – Southend

Ran his 5k road personal best of 14:13 at the elite Twilight race in 2016, but has a historical track best of 13:41.

He finished second in the South of England XC championships in Brighton in February, and came first in the National XC championships at Parliament Hill in the same month.

Mr Hickey came third in the Inter-Counties XC championships in March, and finished first in the Home Countries International XC in March, representing England.

He has also represented Great Britain on several occasions over the last decade.

Richard Allen – Aldershot, Farnham and District

Mr Allen made a big break through last month, with a 14:07 personal best to win the English 5k road championships in Cheshire on his debut.

Adam Clarke – AFD

A regular on the Diamond League circuit, Mr Clarke has a track 5000m personal best of 13:39 from 2017.

His road personal best is 14:21 and looking to improve that today.

He ran his first half marathon in March, winning at Hastings.

John Beattie – Newham & Essex Beagles

A former Great Britain international at the marathon, Mr Beattie now concentrates at distances up to half marathon.

He has a road 5k personal best of 14:04, and was fourth in the elite Twilight 5k race last year.

Mr Beattie was also inner of the Norwich Lord Mayor’s Classic 5k in 2017.

• Keep up with the action as it happens today – we will be updating our homepage and social media channels throughout the day for pictures, video and interviews.