Runners prepare for Chesterfield’s big race day
More than a thousand runners are preparing to hit the streets of Chesterfield this weekend when they take part in one of the town’s biggest mass participation events.
Chesterfield Marathon Road Closures and Route Information
Runners from as far afield as America are expected to take part in the Drainage 2000 Chesterfield Marathon on Sunday 20 September, raising funds for Kids ‘n’ Cancer and many other worthwhile local causes.
Participants will be running in the full marathon, half marathon and the team relay event, where four competitors take a share of the course, with all events starting and finishing at Queen’s Park in Chesterfield.
In addition to the races, Kids ‘n’ Cancer has organised a massive ‘Party in the Park’ to bring the community of Chesterfield together to celebrate another fundraising achievement.
There will be something for everyone to enjoy, from a cocktail with local bar and restaurant Maison Mes Amis, to hours of fun at Proctor’s Fun Fair and activities including a rodeo bull and sumo wrestler suits.
The park will also be full of food and market stalls, as well as face painting, hair braiding, and target football. Live music on the main stage will kick off at 1.30pm to keep the music lovers entertained until 8:30pm, bringing the day to an end with a firework display.
The full and half marathons and the team relay race will all start at 8.30am and road closures will be in place on race day around the route, with local diversions in place.
Organisations that are already set to benefit from the scheme include MacMillan, The Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity and the British Heart Foundation, as well as community groups like Chesterfield District Scouts and the Friends of Holmebrook Valley and Eastwood Park groups, thanks to the volunteers that have already registered.
The event will also see the reunion of around youngsters who have received proton therapy treatment at either the ProCure Proton Therapy Centre in Oklahoma City or the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute in Jacksonville, US.
Former patients, aged between three and 20, and their families from around the country will come together on race day, with doctors and welfare staff also travelling from the US to Derbyshire for the reunion.
Mike Hyman, co-founder of Kids ‘n’ Cancer, said: “We’re really excited that race day is nearly upon us and we can’t wait to see people of all ages and abilities taking to the starting blocks at Queen’s Park.
“Last year was an absolutely fantastic day and we are looking forward welcoming spectators and supporters to help us celebrate and raise vital funds for some incredibly worthwhile causes.
“We hope the race will help to put Chesterfield on the map and, with people coming from abroad to support runners, it will be fantastic for the local economy. We are sure it will be a memorable day for everyone.”
The Chesterfield Marathon route will see runners head out of Queen’s Park, through the town centre onto the A617, then looping around onto Slack Lane, Park Road and Chesterfield Road before hitting Mansfield and Hasland Road.
Once the runners hit Hady Hill the Half Marathon participants will then head back towards Queen’s Park for the finish, with Full Marathon runners making their way along the A61 to the Casa Hotel, towards Pevril Road and through to Dunston. From there, the route will pass through Loundsley Green and Holme Brook Valley Park before reaching Ashgate Road and heading back towards the town centre – finally returning to Queen’s Park for the finish.
The event was recently granted an official road race licence from UK Athletics (RunBritain), which now means that runners who are affiliated to a club can now take their time from the event and add it to their official results from the racing calendar.
The male and female winners of the full marathon will receive a cash prize of £250 and free entry for next year, and the half marathon winners will get £200 and free entry next year.
