Latest news with #ABPSouthamptonMarathon
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
All you need to know on the route map for the 2025 Southampton Marathon
The ABP Southampton Marathon will be returning to the city on Sunday (April 6) for its 10th anniversary, and thousands are set to take part. Aside from the main event, there will be other distances people can run along, including a half-marathon, 10k, 5k and a Fun Run. All distances will start and finish at Guildhall Square, with the routes taking runners past landmarks like Itchen Bridge and St Mary's Stadium. If you're taking part on the day, you might want to give the route map a look just to have an idea of how you'll be going around the city. According to the event website, the full marathon route begins in Guildhall Square, where you'll run past the ABP Southampton docks. The Southampton Marathon route (Image: APB Southampton Marathon/Strava) After that, you'll go over Itchen Bridge, which offers "glorious views across the Southampton Waters, The Solent and, even, the New Forest". It adds: "Following a section by the shoreline at Weston Shore, the route takes you inside the legendary St Mary's Football Stadium, home to Southampton Football Club (aka The Saints!). "Passing over Northam Bridge with riverside views once again, you will run through the beautiful Riverside Park before crossing into Portswood and running through Southampton Common (home to the UK's second largest parkrun!)." From here, you'll then repeat a second lap of the course to make it a full marathon. An interactive map of the route can be found on the website here. See what's on in your local area (Image: Newsquest) The 10k and 5k route maps are slightly different and can be viewed on the website here and here. For those on the 10k route, you'll go through Queen's Park, over the Itchen Bridge and then complete a loop of Woolston. After that, you'll head back to the city centre, past St Mary's Stadium, before running around many of the city's green spaces. Recommended reading: Dozens of roads to close this weekend for Southampton Marathon: Full list Runners to play chess throughout ABP Southampton Marathon 10k Southampton Marathon 2024 - see 88 amazing photos from the big day You'll conclude with a short distance along Above Bar Street. Meanwhile, the 5k route will take you through Queens Park but will avoid going over the Itchen Bridge and doing the Woolston loop. With St Mary's Stadium in your sight, you'll then turn up towards Solent University and some of the city's green spaces before getting to the finish.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
All Bluestar bus diversions as marathon closes city roads
With the return of the ABP Southampton Marathon on Sunday, bus operator Bluestar has confirmed its temporary timetables and diversions for the coming weekend. The event will see the full closure of Above Bar Street and dozens of other roads across the city. Buses will not serve the Cenotaph or Art Gallery on both Saturday and Sunday, until 8pm after the marathon has finished. Before 7.30am and between 1pm and 4pm on Sunday, the 1 and 2 will divert in both directions between Above Bar and The Avenue, not serving any stops between Cenotaph and Law Courts. Between 7.30am and 1pm, 1 and 2 buses will start and finish at Debenhams and then divert in both directions to The Avenue, not serving stops between Hanover Buildings and Law Courts. READ MORE: DJ who ran first Southampton marathon in 1982 to tackle it again this weekend Buses towards Southampton on the 3 will divert after Brintons Road to terminate at Debenhams on Sunday. The 9.40am and 11am trips towards Eastleigh on Sunday will start at Debenhams and then divert to Hedge End via the M27 – not serving between Southampton and Moorhill Gardens. The 4 route is only affected towards Romsey as buses will start at Castle Way before 1pm on Sunday. Until 2pm Sunday on the 7, buses towards Sholing will go between Woolston Tollbooths and Sholing Estate only. Buses towards Millbrook will start and finish at Castle Way and then divert via Asda to Central Station. READ MORE: The Bluestar 13, 14, 15 and 16 will not run to the city centre between 8am and 2pm on Sunday, and commuters will need to change at Bitterne onto the 3 or 18. During the same time period, the 17 will split into two sections as Woolston to city centre will not be served during the closure of the Itchen Bridge. Buses towards Weston will operate every 30 minutes Woolston Tollbooths and Weston Estate via Wrights Hill. The 18 will also be split into two sections as buses towards Thornhill will start and finish at Debenhams, then divert non-stop via Mansbridge & Townhill Way to Bitterne Leisure Centre. Stops in Northam and Bitterne Shops towards Thornhill will not be served. The 19 and 19a will also be split into two sections between 8am and 2pm due to the closure of Itchen Bridge. READ MORE: Buses towards Thornhill will operate between Woolston Tollbooths and Fairfax Court every 30 minutes. Passengers travelling from Thornhill into the city centre are strongly advised to use the Bluestar 18. Between 8am and 3pm, there will be no service of the Bluestar 20 due to multiple closures at Cobden Bridge and Bitterne Park. Passengers are advised to use the 16 as an alternative route. The Quayconnect will also be disrupted between 8am and 1pm, as buses will divert via West Quay Road and not serve normal stops at Asda, West Quay, Holyrood Church and Telephone House.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
DJ who ran first Southampton marathon in 1982 to tackle it again this weekend
A DJ who ran in the first Southampton Marathon in 1982 is set to take on the challenge again this year. Jon Vamplew, who used to volunteer as a host for the city-wide event, has completed 22 marathons overall in his life. Together with his wife Eleanor, he will tackle the half marathon this time out - 44 years after running his first full race in Winchester in 1981. Jon explained that he was originally inspired to run a marathon after being involved in a motorcycle accident in Eastleigh. 'A car pulled across me and I fractured my wrist and knee,' he explained. Jon Vamplew before the ABP Southampton Marathon in 2022. (Image: Jon Vamplew) 'I started getting better, fit to run and out came the London Marathon. I couldn't get into the London so I went into the Winchester Marathon, and then the first Southampton Marathon.' READ MORE: Dozens of roads to close this weekend for Southampton Marathon: Full list Jon used to race with the likes of Kriss Akabusi, though his motorcycle accident ended his time as a track runner. 'I started running to work because I lived in Eastleigh and worked in Bitterne Park,' he said. 'So I used to run part of the marathon track every day when I ran to work, I could tell you blind folded where the drains are.' Jon will be running in his tenth Southampton Marathon this weekend, though on reflection, he thinks that last year's race was the hardest he had ever faced. Jon Vamplew running in the ABP Southampton Marathon and hosting the event. (Image: Jon Vamplew) 'It was 55 mph gusting winds,' he said. 'On the first lap it was fine because you were hidden behind people, on the second lap we were going on Weston Shore running sideways to avoid the wind, and over the Itchen Bridge. 'The wind was just battering. I've done South Downs, I've done London, but that was probably the hardest one. I saw someone get blown over at the bottom of Southampton.' READ MORE: Three others from Jon's running club the Halterworth Harriers will be running in the event, which he previously hosted. Jon Vamplew's tshirt for this year's ABP Southampton Marathon. (Image: Jon Vamplew) In 2017, he ran the full race, had a shower and then went on stage for two and a half hours to cheer other people on as they approached the final straight. Jon explained that he, quite literally, likes to get stuck in. "I belong to running clubs and like to get a bit of mud," he said. "Most people try to avoid it but I try to aim for it."
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Runners to play chess throughout ABP Southampton Marathon 10k
They're the chess mates set to play the game throughout a charity 10k at next month's ABP Southampton Marathon. Kevin Sawers, from Bitterne, has found a fellow runner and chess enthusiast to join him in aid of a city charity, thanks to the Daily Echo. The 47-year-old will be joined by Nick Wilson, 46, after he spotted our appeal. READ MORE: Walk of the Week: five mile circular stroll around Eastleigh parks and woods Together they will play chess while running in aid of Communicare, which helps vulnerable, isolated people in Southampton. Kevin, who is a member of Hedge End Running Club, said: "Last month, I put out a plea in the Echo for a partner, so I could bring running together with one of my other favourite pastimes, playing chess. "After seeing the coverage, Nick, who has been running for 27-years and is a friend who lives near us, got in touch to offer to partner with me to run and play chess at the same time. "We're now on a mission together to raise as much money as possible for Communicare." The pair can be sponsored at The 10th anniversary ABP Southampton Marathon, which encompasses a 5k, 10km, half marathon and full marathon, takes place on Sunday, April 6. Communicare is still looking for runners and walkers to join its team. To download the registration form, visit Communicare manager Annie Clewlow added: "We're sure Kevin and Nick will delight the watching crowds on the day and help raise vital awareness and money for us in the process. "The current economic climate means we need fundraising like this more than ever before. Every penny we receive goes towards making someone's life better. "We're here to help people live their best lives, rather than to just exist. The money raised will help support our multi-generational initiatives befriending people in communities city-wide, through our Good Neighbours Network. Our mission is to eradicate loneliness and isolation, which potentially represents a significant health risk in all age groups." Communicare is currently supporting more than 750 individuals/families through tasks including, befriending, transport for appointments and assistance with shopping and always needs more donations and volunteers to help with its work.
