Purple Wave Great Manchester Run 2024

Purple Wave Great Manchester Run 2024!

Countdown to race day! All the important information you need.

Join us in commemorating a momentous milestone, as this year marks the bicentenary celebration of The University of Manchester, marking 200 years of academic excellence and community spirit. As a highlight of the UoM Purple Wave calendar, the Great Manchester Run 2024 is fast approaching, set to take place on Sunday, 26 May 2024. This event promises to unite UoM students, staff, alumni, and enthusiastic community runners as they collectively transform the streets of Manchester into a vibrant sea of purple!

Participate by taking on the challenge of either the 10k or half marathon, both designed to test your endurance and showcase the strength of our university community. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or a first-time participant, the Great Manchester Run 2024 offers an opportunity for everyone to be a part of this historic celebration.

 

    Your dedication and enthusiasm contribute to the vibrant spirit of this event, making it a memorable occasion for our university and the city of Manchester. We can’t wait to witness the sea of purple flooding the streets, embodying the unity and pride that define The University of Manchester.

    A legacy of success

    With a legacy of remarkable fundraising success since 2016, this event holds special significance as the University celebrates its 200th birthday. The goal is to enter an impressive 1,824 runners for the event who will wear the distinctive ‘Purple Wave’ t-shirt. Not only does this achievement symbolise a significant milestone for our race, but it also pays tribute to the year our esteemed University was founded, in 1824.  

    Moving for a cause

    Most recently, hundreds of wonderful fundraisers have raised tens of thousands of pounds to support good causes on campus. From rebuilding the Paterson cancer research building to providing disadvantaged students with scholarships – brilliant Purple Wave fundraisers have helped make some amazing things happen for our community.

    The 2024 bicentenary Purple Wave will proudly support Manchester’s world-class research. The world is facing huge challenges right now. These pressing global problems need brilliant people to solve them. For nearly 200 years, the discoveries made here at The University of Manchester have changed the world. And every day, more incredible research is going on here. From helping more people survive stroke, to speeding up life-saving cancer research and tackling climate change – the achievements of our talented researchers are extraordinary.

    Your support in this year’s Purple Wave will bring us even closer to the next big Manchester discovery, which could benefit us all. By joining us as a Purple Wave fundraiser this year, you’ll help Manchester’s brightest minds tackle some of society’s biggest challenges.

    If you choose to take part in the Purple Wave as a fundraiser for Manchester’s world-class research, your ticket will be completely free to you. All we ask is that you exceed the minimum fundraising amount of £60 for the 10k and £100 for the half marathon for charity.

    Your training guides

    Boost your confidence and access our training guides today! Whether you’re aiming for a 10k, half marathon, 10 mile, or 5k, our tailored plans will help you achieve your goals and feel unstoppable on race day.

    Purple Wave Tickets

    Booking tickets for our event is a breeze; head over to the Students’ Union website. There, you have the flexibility to select the ticket that suits you. Should you decide to switch gears and embrace the role of a fundraiser, we’re delighted to accommodate the change by seamlessly transferring your ticket to a complimentary fundraising option.

    TICKET SALES ARE NOW CLOSED

    Your token and race number

    **Runners participating in the half marathon will receive their race numbers at their home addresses.**

    You will hear from Great Run soon with regards to redeeming your token and registering your place in the 10k or half marathon. Your token will be included in an email Great Run sends to you from support@info.letsdothis.com titled ‘Your place in AJ Bell Great Manchester Run 2024. Please make sure you respond to their email and follow the instructions provided; this will trigger them to send out your race pack to us at The University of Manchester. Please make sure you use the email that you registered with when you bought your ticket.

    You will need to add ‘1’ to the product and then move to the next page, where your details will be populated. In addition to this you will need to add some runner information and then submit this.  

    Once you have completed this process ( before 17th May) , your race pack will be sent to The University of Manchester. 

    T-SHIRT AND RACE PACK COLLECTION

    For those who have not run the event before or those who feel they need a new one, we will also be providing the Purple Wave T-shirts to all Purple Wave entrants.

    We’d love for you to collect your t-shirt before race day. If you like, you can send a friend or colleague to collect your t-shirt; they will need to know your entry name and provide proof from ‘Let’s do it’.

    If you are running for a charity and want to wear your t-shirt, that is fine, but we ask that you at least wear a purple shirt on the start line before the race so we can get maximum impact in the photos and on the TV.

    We’re looking forward to meeting you at the collection points before the date of your race. T-shirt collection dates and times are listed below:

     

    ALL race packs which have been sent to the university are now available for collection – 

    Student Union Foyer

    Thursday 23rd May 11am – 2pm 

    Friday 24th May 11am – 2pm 

    ( If you cannot make these collection times please send a friend. There will be a last chance to collect on the Sunday from our base at the Pendulum hotel but we suspect this will be very busy re collections)

    Please note that if you have not redeemed your token after 17 May, you must collect this from the Great Run.

    Collection points from Great Run info station :

    Saturday 25 May Great Northern Warehouse 10am – 4pm 

    Sunday 26th May Manchester Central from 7.30am 

    Half-marathon participants’ race packs will be sent to your home address.

    MEET POINT

    As we celebrate our 200th birthday, we’re excited to make this event a truly special event! We can’t wait to see you at the Pendulum Hotel on Sackville Street.  (Here, you’ll have the opportunity to collect your t-shirt and race pack, drop off baggage, catch up with friends, ask any questions you may have, use the toilets. 

    Timing

    Join us at the Pendulum Hotel starting at  7.30 am ( for half marathon runners) 8am for 10km runners to prepare for this fabulous day! We encourage you to arrive early to get the most out of this experience. 

    Refreshments  

    The café in the hotel is easily accessible from the room we are meeting in and there is an outdoor area attached. This would be perfect for a pre-race coffee or a post-race bite to eat.  

    Take a look at the Pendulum Garden Bar Menu. 

    Find out about the drinks menu

    All the water in the hotel taps is drinking water and you will also be able to have your water bottles refilled at the bar in the café. Please note there are not water fountains at the venue.  

    BAGGAGE DROP

    At the Pendulum, you may leave your personal things in a designated location. Since there isn’t much room here, please bring as little as possible.  

    PLEASE NOTE BELONGINGS ARE LEFT AT OWNERS RISK  

    There is no parking available at the hotel; instead, we advise you to take the bus, bike or lift wherever possible. If you’d like to park at one of the University carparks, you can access Charles Street.

    See how you can access car parks near and on campus.

    Support on the day

    We’ll provide massages and physiotherapy both before and after the event. These services are complimentary, but if you wish, you can contribute to Manchester’s life-changing research.

    Face painting 

    To complete your racing attire, our volunteer face painters will be on hand to add some go faster stripes or the famous Manchester Bee.  

    CHEER POINT

    On the route, racers will pass the Purple Pit Stop on the A56, know as the ‘Cheer Point’.

    You can find this at What3Words///valve.scar.toxic

    This position allows supporters to cheer our runners at:
    – 8km and on the way home at 2.5km – 10k
    – 12 miles and on the way home at 8 miles – half marathon

    The point is easily accessible from Cornbrook tram stop and from Manchester city centre you can catch any tram in the direction of Eccles, Altrincham, or East Didsbury and alight at Cornbrook. A short walk up to the main road and turning right, then supporters should see all the purple.

    We’d love people to bring whistles, bells, pan lids, wooden spoons, or anything else that can create a noise to cheer on the runners. We will have a gazebo and music to keep our runners motivated.   

    Send your supporters to this point if they plan to watch the event so that we can have the biggest impact possible.  

    The cheer point will be ready to welcome our first half marathon runners; this time will be confirmed soon. The team will be there to cheer throughout the day until our last runners have passed through at 3pm. 

    ROUTE MAPS

    Find out more about the route maps and you’ll know exactly what to expect. 

    START TIMES

    HALF MARATHON SCHEDULE:

    • FROM 7.30AM: Half-marathon runners meet at the Pendulum Hotel. Our team will be there to welcome and greet you in our own UoM Purple Wave area.   
    • Please check your race packs for your assigned assembly point and start time.  

    10K SCHEDULE:

    • FROM 8AM: Our 10K runners can meet at the Pendulum Hotel. Our team will be there to welcome and greet you in our own UoM Purple Wave area.  Please allow time to enjoy the event with the Purple Wave runners. Please arrive no later than 10 AM. 
    • 10:45 AM: 10K Purple Wave group photographs outside the Pendulum Hotel. 
    • 11:20 AM: Runners leave the Pendulum Hotel to walk to the UoM Purple Wave start area: https://goo.gl/maps/XeKHCBUg7uxGKUci8?coh=178572&entry=tt.   
    • 11:35 – 12:45: 10K Warm up for all – our group will move onto Portland Street starting area at this point together.     
    • 12:45 PM: 10K Official start time. Please make sure you are joining the Purple Wave start time! 

     

    UOM SPORT MEET POINT AFTER THE FINISH LINE

    After you’ve completed the race, celebrated, and grabbed your medal, you can swing by the Great Run exhibition stands on Peter Street. UoM sport will be there, and you can arrange to meet friends, grab some goodies, and unwind before returning to the Pendulum Hotel. 

    Find us between Deansgate and Southmill Street (M2 5QR). what3words: ties.bands.bottom.

    Volunteering for Purple Wave events

    We are looking for cheer point managers, general volunteers and cheerers, and people to help with set up and breakdown. All opportunities to volunteer can be seen and joined here.

    Find out more

    Sport and Activities

    See our wide range of opportunities to get involved and be active in whilst you study at Manchester.

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