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Oct 2017
8:40pm, 7 Oct 2017
8,557 posts
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Ness
Yes. Car park closed. Just had an email. Am looking at alternative parking.
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Oct 2017
4:19pm, 14 Oct 2017
8,563 posts
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Ness
Just thought I’d mention on here. Mainly in the hope that if I go back and run next year (+ if the racecourse parking is closed again) I might remember, or at least factor in the cost ;). I’d advise not using the Grosvenor shopping centre NCP. It’s ok to get to but cost £16.20 for the amount of time we were there. Didn’t even stop for a post race ale... ahem.... I mean post race rehydration... I think there are more reasonably priced ones in the area! 
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Oct 2017
5:34pm, 14 Oct 2017
3,057 posts
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larkim
I parked for free on Curzon road North. Very very convenient. Worth remembering!!
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Oct 2017
8:33pm, 14 Oct 2017
8,564 posts
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Ness
Thanks, larkim.
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Sep 2019
10:24am, 18 Sep 2019
8,694 posts
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larkim
Resurrecting this "year agnostic" thread for Chester now we're about 2.5 weeks out. Happy to give any steers to non-locals about the event, fingers crossed for good weather and good performances all round.
Fetch race portfolio says there are 23 of us taking this on this year, and another 8 doing the "metric". I believe AutumnLeaves is on RaceAngel duties too, and I remember well how lovely it was being spotted and encouraged up the "incline" (!) that is Sandy Lane.
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Sep 2019
11:22am, 25 Sep 2019
8,771 posts
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larkim
Thought I'd put some notes down for the route for anyone not local / familiar with it.
Race start
From the race course, the start can get a bit congested particularly exiting across the track. Watch for trip hazards as I think they put some matting down to cross the race course.
Out onto the road for a short distance, then right turn through a terraced street.
At the end of this there is actually a bit of a drag up to the city centre, where there's a nice spot for family to support outside of the town hall. At the end of the half marathon, the drag you come up is at mile 13, so be grateful you're fresh for that one! All the height you gain you lose again coming out of the town centre down to watergate bridge.
Again, there's a brief drag up here on the opposite side of the river that lasts about 400m, so I'd be waiting until you climb out of that before you think about looking at your average pace for the race so far.
Up through Eccleston
Nice and flat along here, though you are climbing a bit up to a high point just after you turn sharp right at Eccleston, about 4.5 miles into the race. Once throuugh this falls gradually and is (to my memory) pretty damned flat up to about 12 miles.
Loop to Farndon
At just over 12 miles there's a 90deg right turn where you'll be meeting some runners who are 2 miles ahead of you as you go around a loop. The back road of the loop is quite narrow and very "country lane" so not a great surface.
Once you exit the loop you head into Holt and after going down a residential road there's a nasty (for me anyway!) little drop down a steep bit of road to get to the bridge back across the Dee and back into England.
Farndon back
On the opposite side of the river you come through Farndon and the climb out of the river valley catches some out as they fire themselves up it. From memory, this was where I saw a lot of people drop off the pacing groups as they went too hard up it and struggled to hold onto the group. Take your time, you won't lose more than about 10-20s.
The route does now climb gently along some back lanes but then falls away again down through the lovely village of Aldford. 20m done.
A relatively boring stretch next, nice and flat really with a descent as you come back in sight of Chester. This descent down to river level is what you'll be climbing up again as you crest Sandy Lane at about 24 miles. Watch out for Race Angels to support you up the road. It's not steep, if you manage your effort it will only affect pace for that mile by about 20-30s max (possibly less), but don't try to maintain pace unless you're feeling super strong.
After cresting here, along the dual carriage way and then down towards the river past Grosvenor Park. It's a bit twisting round this section, and you end up on some hard cobbles to run on - not particularly uneven, but they do feel hard on your legs.
When you come under the railway bridge at 26 at about 26 miles you'll be dropping onto the grass of the race course which is always a bit longer and lusher than you'd want. But you're nearly home!!
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Sep 2019
11:25am, 25 Sep 2019
13,290 posts
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Homer
Thanks Larks. I'm in the metric so I may see you there
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Sep 2019
11:27am, 25 Sep 2019
18,602 posts
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flanker
Great summary. I'm almost looking forwards to it again
Where do the metric runners join the main race? There was some great support & banter last year when the courses met.
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Sep 2019
11:31am, 25 Sep 2019
8,773 posts
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larkim
THey meet up just before the marathon turns into Aldford I think, but also run side by side in opposite directions all the way from Sandy Lane to Aldford bridge.
I did the metric a few years ago and it worked well because of the hour offset - so I was broadly finishing the metric with people completing the marathon at a similar pace.
Weather looking "ok"-ish at the moment - drizzly with SW wind which should be a help on the return for the marathoners.
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Sep 2019
11:41am, 25 Sep 2019
13,291 posts
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Homer
Its a new one for me and just a slow plod on the cards so I'd rather not have the drizzle ... ho hum
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