Countdown to the Bath Half
With just over a week to go until tens of thousands of people descend upon the city for the Bath Half Marathon, Richard Mills looks behind the scenes at the event that has raised £26 million for charity since 2000 and involves 145 official race charities.
When is it and when is the Family Fun Run?
The main event gets under way at 11am on Sunday, March 15, and the Family Fun Run begins at 11.20am.
The race starts and finishes along Great Pulteney Street.
The fun run is around 3/4 of a mile and entrants will head down Pulteney Road as far as North Parade Road, before turning and running back again.
Family Fun Run participants are asked to assemble in Edward Street before the half marathon starts at 11am.
Bath Half 2020 route
The Bath Half starts in Great Pulteney Street, looping down Pulteney Road then following two laps out along the Upper Bristol Road and Newbridge Road to the Newbridge Turnpike (Twerton Fork) and back to Great Pulteney Street, along the Lower Bristol Road via Churchill Bridge, Green Park and Queen Square.
For 2020, due to development works at Bath Quay, race organisers are having to divert the course around the Ambury and Corn Street, and the position of the start/finish line will be adjusted to maintain the measured distance.
Toilets and water stations
Toilets are provided at all first aid posts and at all drink stations.
There are also toilets in the runners’ village and inside the assembly area for each start bay.
Last year, water and HIGH5 energy gels were provided at the following locations: water - 2 miles, 5 miles, 8 miles, 10.5 miles, 12.5 miles; energy gels - 6.5 miles - first lap only.
Large mile markers signs will be erected on each measured mile mark, and every 5km.
Organisers say they are providing additional intermediate chip timing points at 5km, 10km, 15km and 20km.
Entrants should check their race number matches the number on the front of the envelope and timing chip, organisers say.
The website states: “The IPICO timing chip records your race time if you don’t wear it you won’t be recorded in the results. Tie the chip onto one shoe using the tags provided on the day.
“If you want to leave your kit in our baggage tent please tear off the detachable tag on the bottom of your race number and thread through the end handle of your bag. All baggage is left at the owner’s risk.”
Travel information
Great Western Railway has organised additional services for competitors and spectators on race day.
On the day, trains from Bristol Temple Meads run from 7.30am, and trains to Bath will go around every 30 minutes, if not more often.
There will be a number of changes and diversions to normal scheduled bus services on race day.
Further details of the amended services will be published on the Travel West website closer to the event.
Race organisers have advised people to use the council’s three park and ride sites: Lansdown, Newbridge and Odd Down.
Services at all three sites start at 8am and buses will operate every 7/8 minutes up to the start of the race.
Ticket sellers will be working at sites during the morning to help keep queues down.
It costs £3 per adult payable on the bus (under 16s travel for free) and parking is free.
Organisers say it speeds up the whole process if you bring the correct change.
On its website, it states: “Both the Lansdown and the Odd Down Park & Rides will operate throughout the race.
“The service from Odd Down will terminate at Lyncombe Hill next to Widcombe Parade, a 15 mins walk to the Runners Village (via Bath Spa station and Manvers Street) throughout the day.
“Services are expected to be very busy between 8.00 and 9.30am for runners and between 9-10.30am for spectators.”
Viewing and entertainment points
Start and finish at Great Pulteney Street, Churchill Bridge, Green Park, Queen Square, Royal Victoria Park, Station Road, Weston Lock Retail Park.
Car parks
According to the Bath Half website, there are seven designated car parks for the day.
They include:
■ Newbridge Park and Ride: 700 places - this area, which is on the course route, will be closed during the race from 9.45am-2pm.
■ Odd Down Park and Ride: 1,250 places
■ Lansdown Park and Ride: 880 places
■ Charlotte Street: 1,100 places
■ Avon Street: 500 places - access in and out of this car park will be closed from 9.45am until 2pm.
■ Podium: 550 spaces
■ Manvers Street: Closed.
■ Southgate Centre: 870 places.
The website states: “City centre car parks will be busy, both for competitor and spectator parking (city centre hotels are full on race day) and displaced residents parking from the course route (and access routes).
“So allow extra time for your journey and plan an alternative car park where possible.
“Please note that there is no parking at Bath Sports & Leisure Centre or Bath Cricket Club.
“Live parking updates for city centre car parks are available at www. bathcarparks.co.uk.”
Road closures around race starting point
For the following roads there will be road closures and parking suspensions from 6am-6.30pm, with footpath closures from 8am-4pm: Argyle Street, Edward Street, Great Pulteney Street, Grove Street - adjacent to Argyle Street, Henrietta
Street, Johnstone Street, Laura Place, Pulteney Bridge, Pulteney Mews, Riverside path - from North Parade to Spring Gardens Road, Spring Gardens Road, Sunderland Street, Vane Street, William Street.
Residents will be allowed access on foot to their properties, but no bicycles will be permitted.
On Saturday, March 14, from midday there will be additional parking suspensions on the south side of Great Pulteney Street and on both sides of William Street for setting up.
Course route closures and suspensions
For the following roads there will be parking suspensions from 6am4pm and road closures from
9.45am-4pm: A4 dual carriageway, A4 Newbridge Road, A36 Lower Bristol Road, Ambury, Broad Quay, Charles Street, Chapel Row, Charlotte Street, Churchill Bridge, Churchill Bridge Gyratory, Claverton Street eastbound, Corn Street, Darlington Street, Green Park Road, Lower Bristol Road, Midland Bridge Road, Midland Road, Newbridge Road, Pinesway, Pulteney Road, Queen Square, Queen Square Place, Rossiter Road, Sydney Place, Upper Bristol Road, Windsor Bridge Road.
Access route parking suspensions:
Between 6am and 3.30pm parking suspensions will be in place to provide alternative access routes for emergency services and buses on the following roads: Cleveland Walk, Junction Road, Kingsmead Square, Lansdown Road, Lower Oldfield Park, North Road, Oldfield Road, Old Newbridge Hill, Second Avenue, Sydney Place, Upper Oldfield Park, Widcombe Parade, Walcot Street.
Additional footpath closures From 10.45am-11.30am there will be a footpath closure on the Halfpenny Bridge and adjacent section of Claverton Street.
From 11am-4pm the footpath on Newbridge Road between park and ride and Turnpike will be closed.
Wells Road closure
A367 Wells Road northbound carriageway will be closed from 9.45am-4pm.
Widcombe Parade traffic changes
Parking will be suspended on Widcombe Parade from 6am to 4pm to allow temporary stops for local bus services.
Traffic flow will be reversed while course route closures are in place between 9.45am-4pm approximately.
All through traffic will be directed southbound up Wells Road.
Kingsmead diversion Temporary traffic arrangements will be in place to ensure access to the central Kingsmead area during the half marathon via a temporary loop through Dorchester Street and St James Parade.
Avon Street car park closure Due to development works at Bath Quays, the course will be diverted along the Ambury and Corn Street, also requiring the closure of Avon Street car park between 10.45am2pm approximately.
High Street bus gate suspension The normal day time operation of the bus access gate on High Street and Northgate Street will be suspended on race day to allow crosstown traffic while the course route closures are in place.
Recycling centre closed
The household recycling centre on Midland Road will be closed all day.
First aid and medical services These services are provided by St John Ambulance assisted by paramedics from the NHS South West Ambulance Service Trust and a team of specialist doctors and nurses.
First aid posts in marked marquees are located at roughly one mile intervals around the course, plus a large first aid tent in the Runners’ Village and a primary medical facility at the finish in Great Pulteney Street.
For more information about the Bath Half, go to bathhalf.co.uk.