16/01/2026
Continuing on with our posts about the big day (4 more sleeps!), now it's all about that time between you starting and finishing.
There'll be nearly 2000 of you on the start line, and it can get a wee bit congested. It's therefore really important that you start in a place appropriate for your expected finish time. We'll have signage up to help you find that, and there'll be pacers with flags on their back too (thanks Northern Pacing Volunteers!) Once you set off, simply follow the car with the big clock on it (thanks, Alexanders Nissan https://www.alexandersmotorgroup.co.uk/nissan/).
The course is all on roads, and the only "hills" are two gentle bridges over other roads. A couple of miles in there will be some speedbumps going through Bishopthorpe, so make sure you're running no faster than 20mph through this section please. After Bishopthorpe you're out in the lovely countryside with just your thoughts and the aromas of Deep Heat from your fellow competitors to keep you company. When you come to a T-junction, listen to the marshal and turn left! You'll have a bad day if you go wrong here.
There are water stations at 4, 6 and 10 miles, and there'll be rubbish collection nearby. Please discard of rubbish only in the vicinity of these bins, don't carry your cups half a mile down the road then chuck them in a bush, that's littering. If you have to, leave your rubbish by the next marshal instead. The same goes for gel packets please - we do a sweep at the end but it's impossible to find them all if we don't know about them.
There are so many marshals on the course, and every year they prove how magnificent they are! Make sure you listen out for their instructions and they'll keep you safe. We have the extra special treats of some roadworks on the course this year, but our marshal teams are all over it.
The final sharp left bend takes you into the Racecourse. Watch out for the pothole on that corner, there'll be marshals to guard it! The finish is just a few hundred short, sweet metres inside the Racecourse. Smile as you approach (if you can), our photographers JPO Photography (https://www.jpo-photography.co.uk/) will be aiming to get snaps of everyone, and will be giving them to you for free!
After crossing the line head for your water, chocolate, and merch! Please only collect the merch that's stated on your number. If you ordered the wrong size, or transferred from a giant, or are so filled with envy that you regret not buying one, then we will do our absolute best to facilitate swaps and sell spares after the race is finished, and will also take orders for more to be made - card payments only please 💳
So while you were off trotting around the south of York, your friends and loved are free to bask in the warmth of the Race HQ. The Racecourse café will be open for the following:
* 8:00am for tea and coffee
* 9:00am for sandwiches and snacks
* 11:00am to 1:00pm for hot food.
The Knavesmire Pub is also just a five minute walk away, and will be opening especially for you to serve hot drinks and hot food, and would love to welcome you.
That's just about everything for today - tomorrow we'll cover the after race stuff.
