We are delighted you have entered the Cancer Research UK Manchester Winter Run! We are all hugely excited about seeing you turn up on 12 th February - the number of people signed up is truly inspiring. We have worked hard on this event over the year, alongside key stakeholders who have enabled us to organise an exciting route for you at the magnificent Etihad Stadium. Our partners at Cancer Research UK are crucial to the vision of the event and it has been inspiring seeing so many of you respond to their message of helping conquer cancer together. It s not too late to start or keep fundraising so please make that last effort! We love that many of you have chosen to enter this event as your first ever running event! We salute you and hope it will be the first of many. We also love the response we have had to our call for volunteers - we are always happy to welcome more so if you have any friends or family or a group that wants to get involved please let us know. Please cheer and thank them for braving the elements to support you on the day, this event couldn t happen without them. From Human Race, as organisers, we want to say good luck (whatever your ambitions on the day)! Help each other keep warm and have a great run!
The START, WELCOME ZONE, FINISH and BAG DROP are conveniently positioned in the same location. The event site is positioned immediately north of the Etihad Stadium and Joe Mercer Way. A map of the event site can be found here: Route Map. We will have a number of starts depending on the distance you are running and the pace you have suggested to us you will run at, these will be between 09:00 and 10:30. Please arrive at least 45 minutes before your allocated wave time. The venue and bag drop will open at 07:45. Your individual start time will be sent to you via email: If you entered the event before Tuesday 7th February you will receive this email on Wednesday 8th February. If you entered the event between Tuesday 7th February and Friday 10th February you will receive this email on Friday 10th February. If you would like to run with friends but have different start times please drop back to the latest start time allocated within your group (please do not move to an earlier time).
Wave Time 2.5km 09:00 10km (Wave 1 Sub 1 Hour) 09:30 5km 10:20 10km (Wave 2 Over 1 hour) 10:30 Above is an outline of the structure of the day. Your individual start times will be emailed to you before the event. Please refer to the previous page for information on when you will receive this. If you are taking part in our 10km distance and you want to run with someone in a different wave you can drop from the 09:30 wave to the 10:30 wave but not the other way around.
Please plan your route well in advance, and plan plenty of time for your journey, including the time it will take to walk from your arrival stop or the event car park to the Bag Drop. Official Event Parking is located conveniently close to the event site, only a 200m walk away from the Start. Please Note: there is a fee of 5 to park in this car park, spaces are limited and will be filled on a first come first served basis. If you are planning on using the event car park please ensure you bring the appropriate change with you. There is no pre-booking service. To access the car park on event day please follow the postcode M11 3DU. This will bring you to Gate 2 of the Etihad Stadium which is off Alan Turning Way, and from this point stewards will direct you to your car parking space. Please Note: There may be queues to get into the car park. To avoid this please arrive early and have your money counted and ready to hand to the stewards. The closest bus stop to the event site is Stop C Alan Turing Way/Philips Park which is served by the number 53, 217 and 218 buses. If these buses are not convenient for you, Stop F Alan Turing Way/Ashton New St is only a 10 minute walk away from the event site, this is served by buses 188, 216, 217, 218, 231, 236, and 237. The Event Site is well connected by the Metrolink. Trams from the city centre to the Etihad Stadium Metrolink stop run every 12 minutes. The stop is only a 200m walk to the Welcome Area, Start and Bag Drop. When you arrive one of our welcome team will direct you to the venue.
APPROPRIATE CLOTHING: Conditions may be (or turn!) very cold and wet so please dress appropriately for the weather. We particularly recommend running gloves and a good hat / beanie. AN OLD TOP &/OR BLACK BIN BAG: It is highly recommended to wear an old jumper to the start to keep you warm and dry. You can leave it in a pen just before the start line. The tops will then be given to Cancer Research UK who will either sell them in their shops or recycle them to raise funds! If you don t have anything then a black bin bag is highly recommended; punch holes in it for your head and arms and it will keep you dry and act as a windbreaker! YOUR RUNNING NUMBER + SAFETY PINS (to securely pin it to the front of your top) Please source your own safety pins, they will not be available on the day. NOTE: the running number doubles up as your timing chip so don t forget this! FRIENDS/FAMILY: Why not invite them to cheer you on! It would also be a really great idea if they look after your bag and coat etc. whilst you run to prevent you having to queue at the Bag Drop. Don t forget to identify a place to meet up with them or any fellow runners after the finish. Due to the crowds that will be there on the day it will make it difficult to find people so remember to make this very specific, e.g. a specific lamppost or tree, rather than just an area. MOBILE PHONE / MONEY don t forget them!
Some of you will start to receive event packs three weeks out from the events, all the way up the week of the event. If, for whatever reason, you have not received your event pack by the event weekend, simply come and see us at the Information Desk (located in the event village) and we will be able to issue a new pack to you. Please allow plenty of additional time to collect it. For any international entries please collect your packs from the Information Desk on the morning of the event, and please allow plenty of time to collect this.
Running Number: This must be attached to your outside garment on your front with safety pins (we do not supply the safety pins so don t forget them!). This must be visible at all times. On the reverse of your number, you must complete the required medical details. NOTE: this Running Number also contains your timing chip so don t forget / lose it! Cancer Research Back Bib: This is an optional runner bib that we invite you to wear to support Cancer Research UK. All runners will receive this in their pack. Please bring your own safety pins to attach this to the back of your running top. Cancer Research UK Donation Station Bag: Please fill this up with any unwanted clothes, books, etc. and drop it off at the CRUK Donation Station (located near the Bag Drop) before your start. Cancer Research UK will sell the items in their shops and each bag could be worth an additional fantastic 30 for a great cause! Welcome Letter: A summary sheet with all the key information to ensure you have the best Winter Run experience possible. Although we have outlined key timings in this letter please refer to your individual start time (which will be emailed to you), so you know exactly when you need to arrive.
We encourage you to bring a friend or loved one with you to cheer you on and we d recommend they also look after your things whilst you run meaning that you will not have to queue at the Bag Drop and will get your belongings back much quicker! You can also run with your bag if you wish. The Bag Drop is located in the event village. Please allow plenty of time to get to the Bag Drop location and then to queue - e.g. please aim to arrive at the Bag Drop area AT LEAST 30 minutes before your allocated start time. Upon arrival at the Bag Drop area please join the queue and then a crew member will direct you to an individual Bag Drop aisle. You will be given a bag number & a corresponding wristband to put on your wrist immediately. The number given to you will be different to your Running Number. Please do not bring large bags; medium sized back packs are the largest we can store for you. You will only be allowed to store ONE bag at the bag drop. Please have your bag ready when you reach the front of the queue so queuing can be kept to a minimum for others. The bag drop is conveniently positioned next to the finish so you can collect your bag immediately.
Not the most glamorous of topics we know but an important one all the same! We do have a number of toilets in the event site. During peak times (for example, just before the start of a wave) these will become busy. For that reason, if you think that you will need to use the toilet before you start please do build in additional time for queuing as with over 3,500 runners this could take some time! Once you have entered the start area there will be no toilets. Please always be respectful of all property and to those around you by only using the provided temporary toilet units.
The Manchester Winter Run is set to become one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the running calendar, combining a great running route and unique wintry experiences. A big thank you to Etihad Stadium and Manchester City Council for allowing us to bring this event to Manchester. A bigger route map can be found by clicking here: Route Map The course is made up of 5km laps. 10km runners will complete two laps, meaning you pass through the Husky High Five Zone, Water Station and on route experiences twice! Please listen to your start line briefing so you know where the split point is and how many laps you are completing. 5km runners complete one lap and the 2.5km runners complete a shorter lap.
There will be 1 Water Station on route the 5km distance will go through this once and the 10km twice. The 2.5km distance does not go through the water station. When taking a drink please be aware of those behind you, and to prevent any collisions please gradually move over to the side. Please dispose of your bottle in the bins provided. If not possible please throw it to the sides of the road rather than just dropping it so people don t slip on it. Please do not drop unnecessary litter. Whilst running please remain aware of your surroundings at all times and take care of yourself and others. If you feel unwell beforehand please do not take part. If you become unwell during the run please tell a marshal. There will be medical cover at the event provided by British Red Cross. Please fill in any medical details or allergies on the back of your running number. We recommend that you do not wear headphones. However if you decide to run with headphones please keep the volume as low as possible and please ensure that you look around you whenever changing your direction on the course or running around someone. With limited hearing, your understanding of runners around you is reduced so please pay attention to prevent any collisions with your fellow participants. Please remain vigilant and aware of your surroundings and your safety at all times, and listen to any instructions given to you by marshals. Medical vehicles will be deployed at locations along the route, however they will not move unless they have to. It is highly unlikely but in a 999 situation an emergency vehicle may also enter the route on blue lights and runners may need to be temporarily held or moved to the side to allow it through; if this occurs please listen to any instructions given to you by marshals.
The fun will begin before you step over the start line with the Warm-Up. This specially created routine performed to classic tunes is sure to get you geared up for the miles ahead. Getting yourself prepared for a run has never been so enjoyable! On the route you will pass through a number of different winter themed areas including our famous Penguin Party and Husky High Five zones. Also please look out for the Ski Themed Water Station, situated about 2.5km into the lap which is somewhere you can grab a quick drink to keep you hydrated. We also aim to keep the atmosphere on the run as exciting as we can. To assist with this we have invited the Batala Mersey Samba Band to entertain you and prepared a range of music to keep you motivated throughout the course. Finally, our team of friendly Polar Bears have been in training for months! These cuddly creatures love a hug or a high five, so make sure you look out for them as you cross the finish line. We will have a team of bears on duty to congratulate you as you pick up your hard earned medal after completing your run. There will also be a photo podium in the event village where you can hold your snowflake medal up high for that perfect post-run shot. There will also be some adorable St Bernard dogs to feature in the photo with you if you wish!
We know lots of you have already started fundraising for official charity Cancer Research UK, helping us bring forward the day all cancers are cured, but there is still plenty of time to begin fundraising. Make sure you ask your friends and family to support your Manchester Winter Run challenge, by donating to your JustGiving page. If you haven t set up a JustGiving fundraising page yet, it s not too late. It s quick and easy to create your page and anything you can raise will all go towards helping give cancer the cold shoulder! We have plenty of advice on how to get started on our website if you re struggling for ideas on how to raise money, and you can download a printable offline sponsorship form here too. Cancer Research UK are hoping to raise a huge 700,000 from this event alone. You are all conquering the cold this winter, but you can also be warm in the knowledge that the money raised will fund life-saving research. Thank you for your support.
Dress for success! You can buy your official event merchandise here. All of these items will be on sale in the Etihad Stadium before and after the run. Please note: merchandise purchased on or after Monday 6th February will not be posted before the event, but can be collected on the day. Official Cancer Research UK Winter Run Series Fleece Lined Beanie - 15.50 Official Cancer Research UK Winter Run Series Performance Hoodie - 32.50 Official Cancer Research UK Manchester Winter Run T-shirt - 15.00 Official Cancer Research UK Winter Run Series Neck Warmer - 9.00
We have some key event partners who are all planning to have an impact on your event experience. Here is what we have on offer Nuffield Health will be out on event day to help you warm up and stay warm! Switzerland Tourism will be there to greet you on the finish line with a delicious bar of Lindt Chocolate! They will also be providing some alpine ambience at the Swiss chalet drinks station and some post-race cuddles in the Etihad Stadium courtesy of their adorable St Bernard dogs. Make sure you head for the mountain-themed podium to grab a photo with the dogs.
The UK s leading coconut water brand Vita Coco will be bringing a ray of sunshine to proceedings to keep you naturally hydrated after you cross the finish line. Enertor will be in the Etihad Stadium demonstrating the advanced technology used in their insoles, so come along and see them to get your exclusive race day discount alongside some handy advice on staying injury free.
We could not put on this event without the fantastic support that we get from the huge team of volunteers that support us. We have a great bunch signed up but could always do with more to join the team! If you know of anybody who might be interested in volunteering at the event then please do tell them to go to http://www.manchesterwinterrun.co.uk/manchester/event-info/volunteer/ for more information and to sign up! Let us give you 5 reasons to pass onto them why signing up to volunteer at the Manchester Winter Run will be the best thing they do to kick start 2017! Working at the event will give you the satisfaction of knowing that you are making a valuable contribution to raising vital funds to support the life-saving work done by Cancer Research UK In 2017 we are aiming to raise 800,000 for Cancer Research UK from the 2 events combined, which is only possible thanks to our dedicated team of volunteers You will experience working at a major Manchester sporting event You will provide invaluable support, improving the experience of participants and spectators You will enjoy meeting new people and being part of a great team we are still in close contact with some of our volunteers who return year on year, and they have truly become part of the Winter Run Series family!
The team behind the scenes is a company called Human Race (www.humanrace.co.uk). We ve been delivering mass participation events for 26 years now, having started with the Windsor Triathlon and an extremely tough duathlon called the BallBuster around Box Hill back in 1991. We are a team of 25 people in the office, and together with hundreds of others who help on event days, we deliver around 35 different mass participation events during the year. They range from running events, triathlons, cycling, open water swims, and events for companies to get their staff fit and healthy. Within these events we also organise events for kids to get the bug for fitness and nurture stars of the future. Our strap line is Crossing the finish line together as we work really hard to put the events together and seeing you cross the finish line is what motivates us. It s a great feeling to know that we ve helped you on your journey. Each finish line you cross can be the step forward into another challenge in life and we love being a small part of that!
If you have any questions that haven t been answered please check out the website or contact us at info@winterrunseries.co.uk We wish you the best of luck for a safe and successful run! Good luck with your final preparations and we look forward to seeing you on Sunday 12 February! Check out the Human Race events calendar for 2017!