Take your marks for the Unleashed Performance Reading Half Marathon 2023

THE STREETS of Reading will once again be taken over by thousands of runners when the Unleashed Performance Reading Half Marathon returns on Sunday 2 April.

Participants taking on the 13-mile course range from elite athletes to enthusiastic amateur runners. The half-marathon starts and finishes inside the Select Car Leasing stadium. With a shorter Green Park Challenge taking place alongside the main half marathon.

As usual, there will be a number of road closures around the route of the half marathon, full details of all routes and roads affected can be found at: www.reading.gov.uk/leisure/things-to-do/events/reading-half-marathon

Participants in the main race are due to gather at Green Park for a 10.15 am start when they will then embark on a route around Reading, taking in the University campus before they make their way into the town centre.

Runners will then travel westwards before heading south to the finishing line via the A33 Relief Road. A full route map can be found at: www.readinghalfmarathon.com/pages/reading-half-marathon

A series of rolling road closures and diversions will be in place at a variety of times between 7 am and 3 pm. Roads will be re-opened as soon as runners have passed through and it is safe to do so. All roads are expected to be re-opened by 3pm.

Residents and visitors are being asked to plan ahead and allow extra time for any journeys they intend to make on the day.

On race day there will be around 700 people staffing the route who play a vital role in making the race happen. The Council supports this major event by co-ordinating the road closures, running the information point at the stadium for racegoers and providing the residents’ hotline.

Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Culture and Leisure, said: “The Unleashed Performance Reading Half Marathon is a major event in Reading’s calendar, as well as being one of the largest Half Marathons in the country. It is recognised as being one of the key annual events for runners nationally and brings huge numbers of visitors into the town. The race is famous for superb crowd support, a great atmosphere and an unbeatable finish. Why not come out along the route and show your support for the thousands of runners who will be taking part?

“As always, there will be a number of road closures throughout the day. This is necessary to host such a large road race and residents are asked for patience and cooperation during the short time the race will be passing around Reading. I would encourage residents and visitors to check their journey plans ahead of Sunday 2 April. There is a residents’ helpline available on the day on 0118 937 2771.”

For up-to-date information and full details of all affected roads please visit www.readinghalfmarathon.com or call the Residents’ helpline on 0118 937 2771.

Road closures

The following roads can be closed at any point between 7am and 3pm, but as a guideline the closures will go on at the times stated below and will be removed as soon as it is safe to do so. Diversion routes will be in effect and people are encouraged to allow extra time for journeys.

• A33 (southbound) 9.45am – 11.30am entire Bennet Rd gyratory system
• Bennet Road 9.50am – 3.00pm entire length
• Basingstoke Road 9.50am – 11.25am between Imperial Way & Callington Road
• Island Road 9.30am – 2.35pm entire length
• Hartland Road 9.30am – 11.40am entire length
• Whitley Wood Road 9.30am – 12.00pm between Hartland Road & Shinfield Road
• Shinfield Road 9.30am – 12.30pm between Whitley Wood Road & Christchurch Road
• Pepper Lane 9.30am – 12.30pm entire length
• Christchurch Road 9.30am – 12.30pm entire length
• Kendrick Road 9.30am – 1.00pm entire length
• London Road 9.45am – 12.40pm between Sidmouth Street & Crown Street
• London Street 9.00am – 12.40pm entire length
• Mill Lane (north & southbound) 7.00am – 12.40pm entire length
• Duke Street 9.30am – 12.40pm entire length
• Thorn Lane 9.30am – 12.40pm entire length
• Yield Hall Place 9.30am – 12.40pm entire length
• Minster Street 9.30am – 12.40pm entire length
• Gun Street 9.30am – 12.40pm entire length
• King Street 9.30am – 12.40pm entire length
• King’s Road 9.30am – 12.40pm between Abbey Street and King Street
• Abbey Square 9.30am – 12.45pm entire length
• Abbey Street 9.30am – 12.45pm entire length
• Abbots Walk 9.30am – 12.45pm entire length
• The Forbury 9.30am – 12.45pm entire length
• Butter Market 9.30am – 12.45pm entire length
• High Street 9.30am – 12.45pm entire length
• Market Place 9.30am – 12.45pm entire length
• Blagrave Street 9.30am – 12.45pm between Forbury Road and Friar Street
• Valpy Street 9.30am – 12.45pm entire length
• Friar Street 9.00am – 12.50pm between Blagrave Street and West Street
• Station Road 9.30am – 12.50pm entire length
• West Street 9.00am – 12.50pm entire length
• Oxford Road 9.30am – 1.05pm between West Street and Bedford Road (restricted access from 9am)
• Russell Street 9.30am – 1.00pm entire length
• Tilehurst Road 9.30am – 1.15pm between Russell Street and Liebenrood Road
• Liebenrood Road 9.30am – 2.00pm entire length
• Bath Road 9.00am – 1.50pm between Circuit Lane and Coley Avenue
• Castle Hill 9.00am – 1.50pm entire length
• Coley Avenue 9.30am – 1.40pm between Bath Road and Berkeley Avenue
• Berkeley Avenue 9.30am – 1.55pm between Rose Kiln Lane and Shaw Road
• Rose Kiln Lane (northbound) 9.30am – 1.55pm between Berkeley Avenue and junction with A33
• A33 (northbound) 9.30am – 3.00pm between Bennet Road and IDR
• Lindisfarne Way 9.45am – 11.30am westbound – no access to A33
• Longwater Avenue 7.00am – 3.00pm entire length
• Brook Drive 7.00am – 3.00pm entire length
• Northern Way 6.00am – 4.00pm entire length
• Hoops Way 7.00am – 4.00pm entire length
• Shooters Way 7.00am – 4.00pm entire length

The main arterial routes in the town centre will remain open:

North: A4074 Woodcote Rd to A4155 to IDR and A4155 Henley Rd to IDR. East: J10 – A329 Wokingham Rd – London Rd – Sidmouth St – Queen’s Rd – IDR. West: J12 – Bath Rd – Honey End Lane – Tilehurst Rd – Water Rd & Grovelands Rd – Oxford Rd – Chatham St –IDR.

Access from the south will be restricted as runners get underway. Visitors travelling into Reading on the M4 are advised to use junctions 10 and 12 until 2pm to avoid delays.

Access to hospitals:

Royal Berkshire Hospital: Access from London Road ; Berkshire Independent Hospital : access from Bath Rd/Berkeley Avenue; Dunedin Hospital: access from IDR – Castle Hill – Bath Rd access lane (allow for delay). Circle Hospital: access via Basingstoke Rd and Manor Farm Road.

All town centre car parks will open as normal, apart from Oracle Riverside, which will open at 12.40pm – use Oracle Holy Brook.

The Smallmead Recycling Centre will open at 3pm. 

Ends