More than 3,500 runners are expected to take to the streets of Ipswich for the Great East Run - here are the key details you need to know including road closures, where to park and timings.
The Simplyhealth Great East Run will return to Ipswich for the second year today Sunday, September 16.
The route
The runners will embark on a 13.1 mile course which will start on Russell Road, go through the town centre, on to Holywells Park, along the Waterfront, then out of the centre passing Fox’s Marina, Suffolk Food Hall and under the Orwell Bridge. The runners will then return to the town centre and head towards Ipswich Town FC’s Portman Road stadium before running across the finish line in the stadium’s practice pitch complex.
Road closures
Over 70 roads will be closed in Ipswich for the event to take place, we have put together a chart displaying all road closures and what time they are likely to re-open. It has a search bar at the top so you can look for a specific road and plan your day around the closures.
Car parks
The start line of the Simplyhealth Great East Run is located on Russell Road in Ipswich town centre. The nearest car parks can be found on West End Road and on Portman Road. West End Car Park costs £1 an hour to park or £5 for the whole day this car park is best suited for those travelling in from the south. Access into Ipswich is via the A1214 London Road, then right into West End Road. Portman Road car park costs the same as West End Car Park and is better for those arriving from the north A12 from Lowestoft, A140 from Norwich or from the west A14 from Bury St Edmunds. Access to the car park is via Portman Road from the north access off Handford Road.
Timings
At 8am the event site, information point and baggage facilities open to the general public. At 9am the start assembly area opens, 40 minutes later the Simplyhealth Great East Run mass warm-up will take place. At 10am the orange wave of participants will start their run, followed by the white wave at 10.05am and the green at 10.10am.
Places to spectate
If you don’t fancy taking on the 13.1 mile route yourself you can still come down and show the runners some support.
Good places to cheer on friends, family and strangers are at the start line on Russell Road, at the finish line in Ipswich Town Football Club’s practice pitch complex, through Ipswich Town centre, where mile one and mile two of the route will be ran, Ipswich Waterfront, where mile two and mile three will be ran, and at Bourne Bridge where runners will face their sixth mile.
Family and friends can also track runners’ locations using the free Great Run app from the App store.
Water stations
Water stations are located at approximately two miles, five miles, eight miles and ten miles. Water will also be available at the start and in finisher packs. Great Run’s official energy partner Science In Sport (SIS) will be providing energy gels at the water station at mile eight.
Toilets
There will be toilets in the event village in Ipswich Town Football Club’s complex and a small number near the assembly area. Toilets will also be on the running route at the second water station at Bourne Bridge, the third water station at Freston, and the fourth water station returning to Bourne Bridge.
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