THE Basingstoke Half Marathon and 10k will be held on Sunday, October 2.

The races will begin at War Memorial Park and finish at the same place after participants take on a fantastic run alongside some lovely countryside roads.

Entries are now closed, with just a few places available on the day.

Destination Basingstoke is organising this huge event.

READ MORE: Basingstoke gets ready for half marathon

If you have entered you can check your running bib number here.

The race programme is also available to download here.

There will be road closures in place in Basingstoke during the time of the runs.

The Gazette has put together everything you need to know about the half marathon event.

Place and time

The half marathon starts at the War Memorial Park at 11am and will end at the same place. 

Route

The race course heads out of town on closed roads towards the village of Cliddesden. When you pass the Jolly Farmer pub, turn left by the village pond to head up towards Cliddesden School.

As you enter the village of Ellisfield at mile 4, turn left towards the church, then right down College Lane with a downhill to mile 6.

Turn right and right again before you climb back up past The Fox Inn returning to Ellisfield, then take a left towards Farleigh Wallop.

Between miles 8 and 9 there is the legendary ‘Big Dipper’ at Bedlam Bottom where the road drops by 100 feet and then regains it almost immediately.

Then follow the tree-lined Avenue to mile 9, and from here it is downhill to the finish.

Once you reach the crossroads you will turn right downhill with some fabulous views across the countryside.

Back through Cliddesden and towards town, taking a right by the Holiday Inn to return to the race village in War Memorial Park with the last 130m on grass in the park.

Time of road closures

The highways authorities, in consultation with the police, have agreed road closures for the whole of the route to secure the safety of all runners and other road users. 

Although the race starts at 11, the road closures will come into force from 9.30am as it takes time to set them up.

Where at all possible, access to houses will be maintained for as long as possible, but the marathon organisers are asking people to co-operate with marshals and the traffic management teams that are installing the closures.

Roads affected

Approximate timings for each area are explained below, and roads will be re-opened as soon as possible, please be aware that there could be delays outside of these estimated times, and the road closure order will be in place for the whole period.

  • Closure of Grove Road between Venture Roundabout and junction with Whistler Close, estimated between 9.30am and 2.45pm.
  • Closure of A339/Hackwood Road both directions from Venture roundabout to junction with Farleigh Road (B3046). It is estimated this closure will be from 10am until 2.30pm. Access will remain only from Poynings Crescent and the Holiday Inn northbound, and for emergency vehicles. Diversion route for the A339 will be Tunworth Road and Huish Lane to Old Basing and the A30.
  • Closure of Farleigh Road (B3046) in both directions from junction with A339 to junction with Grammarsham Lane at Farleigh Wallop between approximately 10am and 2.30pm.
  • Closure in both directions of Church Lane/Hackwood Lane/Northgate Lane between Cliddesden village and Ellisfield (junction with Grammarsham Lane) estimated between 10am and 2.30pm.
  • Closure of Woods Lane – 10am to 2.30pm (access only)
  • Closure in both directions of Church Lane in Ellisfield up to junction with Green Lane Ellisfield, estimated between 10am and 2pm.
  • Closure of Church Lane Ellisfield from junction with Green Lane to junction with College Lane at Wildmoor Farm estimated between 10am and 2pm.
  • Closure of College Lane between junction with Church Lane at Wildmoor Farm and junction with Berrydown Lane estimated between 10am and 2pm.
  • Closure of Berrydown Lane between junction with College Lane and junction with Green Lane estimated between 10 and 2pm
  • Closure of Green Lane between junction with Berrydown Road and Church Lane, Ellisfield estimated between 10 and 2pm.
  • Closure of Grammarsham Lane/The Avenue between Ellisfield and the junction with Farleigh Road (B3046) between 10am and 2pm.

Diversions & Alternative Routes

Access to or from Alton (A339)

  • The A339 is closed between the Holiday Inn and the turning to Tunworth from 10am until 2.30pm.
  • Traffic approaching Basingstoke from Alton will be diverted on to the B3349 via Odiham to join the A30 or M3 at Hook, these are the only routes accessible for HGVs.
  • Lighter traffic can use the A339 as normal between Alton and the junction with Tunworth Lane (just before the road goes under the M3, before you reach The Holiday Inn) as you approach Basingstoke. To access Basingstoke, you will be diverted to turn right along Tunworth Lane, then take first left down Huish Lane to get to the A30 in Old Basing (near Olivers Fish & Chip shop) turn left at the traffic lights, it will add around 1.5 miles or 5-10 minutes to your journey.
  • If you are travelling from Basingstoke to Alton, take the A30 east towards Old Basing and turn right at the traffic lights near Oliver’s Fish & Chip Shop to follow the diversion, you will be directed right at the T junction, you will then emerge on to A339 beyond the road closure.

Black Dam and Grove Road Area

  • Access in and out of the Black Dam area from Black Dam Way will be unaffected all day. However, Grove Road – between the junction with Whistler Close and the Venture roundabout – will be closed most of the day. This means access in and out of houses served by this part of Grove Road will be controlled by marshals and they will assist any vehicles to exit the area onto Black Dam Way.There can be no access from Grove Road (east) on to the Venture roundabout throughout the race (approx. 10am to 2.30pm).

Cliddesden/Ellisfield and Farleigh Wallop

  • The B3046 (Farleigh Road) will be closed between its junction with the A339 (just south of Basingstoke) and the top of Farleigh Hill (the crossroads) in both directions, as will Woods Lane, between around 10am and 2pm, as this road is used on the outward and homeward parts of the race course. Access for those needing reach houses and businesses in this area will be maintained but under the direction of marshals so please be patient, particularly in the village of Cliddesden as it tends to get very busy outside The Jolly Farmers pub, and if you do have to use the closed road for access, please drive very slowly. No through traffic will be allowed, diversion signs will be in place.
  • Closures along The Avenue at Farleigh Wallop, Grammersham Lane, Green Lane, Berrydown Lane, College Lane, Northgate Lane, Church Lane (from Cliddesden School and church), all have ‘rolling closures’ this means that the road will open as soon as possible after all the runners have past through. Again the closures will be put in place from around 10am and marshals will be there to help your safe passage in or out of the area if access/egress is needed.
  • Station Road and other lanes leading from the closure area back on to the A339 are unaffected and may be used as diversion routes. Traffic approaching the closure area along Bagmore Lane from/to the A339 will be diverted to avoid the closure of Bagmore Lane between the junction with College Lane and Green Lane.

SEE ALSO: Hampshire County Council moots major move to close slip roads near Basingstoke

Poynings Crescent/Holiday Inn/Co-op

  • Access out of Poynings Crescent will be northbound only (towards Basingstoke) throughout the race and will be managed by marshals, please be careful as there will be runners and spectators in this area so travel extremely slowly. Access on to Grove Road (west towards Viables & QMC) is unaffected all day. Holiday Inn customers are encouraged to use the car park access on Grove Road (by Texaco/Co-op). Hackwood Road northbound between Venure and Hackwood roundabouts is unaffected.