Essential for safety of runners

After months of training thousands of fitness fanatics will lace up their running shoes and make their way to the start line at Blair Drummond Safari Park this weekend.

For some this will be their first marathon while for others a new personal best time will be in their sights – with organisers describing the route as fast after an undulating first five miles.

Runners and their supporters will be required to park at one of the designated park-and-ride areas throughout the city before being bussed out to the start. These will be located at Castle View Business Park, Raploch Road, Prudential and Springkerse Park and Ride.

A number of roads across the Stirling area will be off limits for much of the day to allow those taking part to complete the race and for organisers to set up and dismantle the route.

After setting off from the safari park at 9am runners will loosen up their limbs as they run north along the A84 for around four miles until they reach Doune. This road will be closed to traffic between 5am to 11am while the next stretch from Doune to Dunblane will be shut until 12.30pm.

As participants reach the village of Doune they will exit on to Balkerach Street before heading along Main Street where they will be met by the stunning sight of Doune Castle – the first of the top landmarks runners will encounter on the route.

Around four miles of rural road running will follow before cheering crowds greet the participants as they enter the sporting hotbed of Dunblane – hometown to stars such as Andy and Jamie Murray along with Olympic finalist Andrew Butchart.

After heading down Doune Road, turning right on to Old Doune Road at the Tesco supermarket and leaving the town via Stirling Road runners will make a beeline for the Keir Roundabout, which is close to the site of the controversial proposals for the Park of Keir development.

People living in these areas are being urged to plan ahead as roads will be closed to traffic until noon.

The A9 will then carry the runners to their next point of interest – Bridge of Allan. Runners will head along Henderson Street, passing the Memorial Park, before being greeted by a stunning view of the city as they leave towards Graham’s Family Dairy.

One of the Stirling area’s finest sights will then come into view in the form of the Wallace Monument – towering over the University of Stirling grounds.

After a lap of the picturesque campus the runners will embark on their final stretch before the city centre finale. With almost half of the route completed the pack will run past Wallace High School and along Alloa Road towards the A91 and the Manor Powis Roundabout.

All routes being used between the Keir Roundabout and the Manor Powis Roundabout will be closed to road users until 1.30pm while the A91 between Alloa Road Roundabout and the Muirton Roundabout will be closed from 10am to 2pm.

Runners will complete around two miles southbound on the A91 before they turn right at the Muirton Roundabout on to Forthside Way. They will then pass Stirling’s premier sports facility The PEAK and the Vue Cinema before the Shore Road bridge will carry runners into the city.

Routes between the Muirton Roundabout and Players Road Roundabout will be shut off to road users until 2.15pm.

Two laps of the town will follow before runners finish up beneath Stirling Castle at Falleninch Field where the national Armed Forces Day was held in 2014.

A number of busy city centre roads will be closed to motorists on the big day to allow exhausted runners to complete the final stretch of the race.

Routes between the Players Road Roundabout and Dumbarton Road, which include the city centre and the Riverside area, will be shut until 4.15pm while Raploch Road and Dumbarton Road will be closed until 4.45pm.

However, those closed latest will be the parts of Raploch Road, Back O’ Hill Road and the A84 which sit between Raploch Road and Castle View Business Park Roundabout – with closures in place until 6.30pm.

Last month letters were sent out by organisers the Great Run Company to residents and businesses affected by the closures.

Event director Jamie Still said: “These closures are essential to ensure the safety of our participants during the marathon. While we recognise that there will be disruption to residents and businesses on the day, we have strived to minimise these.

“We would recommend those affected to take a look at the closures and plan accordingly.

“We’re looking forward to the event taking place and we’re sure it will be a great day for Stirling.”

For more information go to greatrun.org/stirling-scottishmarathon/road-closures.