Preparations are well under way for Ipswich’s Great East Run later this year – with up to 3,500 participants expected to take part.
As the date approaches fast, Ipswich Borough Council is once again looking at which roads will be closed – and when – to make the 13.1-mile race safe for all.
Chiefs said the plan for the big day, on Sunday, September 16, is designed to keep closures to a minimum – and roads will reopen as normal once the race passes through.
Portman Road, Princes Street, West End Road, Civic Drive and Key Street are among the streets which will close.
This will be the second year in a row that thousands of runners gather in Ipswich to take on the challenge, and organisers predict the event will be an even bigger success this time around.
One of Suffolk’s biggest sporting events, the half marathon sold out for a second time – five months before the starting pistol sounds.
Alex Jackson, of the Great Run Company, said: “For the second year, the response to the Simplyhealth Great East Run has been overwhelming.
“There’s clearly a huge demand for running in Suffolk and we can’t wait to welcome everyone to the start line in September.
“We’ll continue to work with our local partners to ensure the event can grow and attract more runners from both around the region and throughout the UK in the years to come.”
Runners will kick off the 13.1 mile route on Russell Road, looping around Ipswich Waterfront before heading out towards Freston.
Participants then pass under the Orwell Bridge – where huge crowds are expected to turn out and cheer them on – and cross the finish line at Portman Road.
Staged in partnership with Suffolk County Council (SCC), Ipswich Borough Council and Ipswich JAFFA running club, last year’s Great East Run collected just under £1million for charity.
The event further contributed around £4.5million to the local economy as part of Suffolk County Council’s Most Active County Programme.
Fundraisers, first-timers and competitive club runners were among those involved.
It is part of an initiative fuelling Suffolk’s ambition become the most active county in England.
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