New route for the Great West Run

This Sunday (13 October) sees the return of Exeter’s Great West Run.

Roads to be closed for the event:
• Northernhay Place
• Bailey Street
• Sidwell Street
• Exeter High Street
• South Street
• Western Way (one Eastbound Lane)
• Frog Street
• A377/Exe Bridges (one Northbound Lane)
• Okehampton Street
• Okehampton Road
• Exwick Road
• St Andrews Road
• Crediton Road
• Stoke Road
• Cowley Bridge Road
• New North Road
• Streatham Drive
• Prince of Wales Road
• Pennsylvania Road (crossing point at Prince of
Wales Rd & Union Rd)
• Union Road
• Mount Pleasant Rd
• Pinhoe Road
• Blackboy Road

All roads are expected to reopen by 2pm with the exception of Sidwell Street which will open later in the afternoon.

The popular half marathon (13.1 mile) is taking a new route through the city centre and is expected to have around 3,500 runners taking part for a number of local and national charities.

John Harvey, Exeter City Centre Manager, Exeter City Council said “We are excited to be welcoming The Great West Run into Exeter city centre. This will be a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate the success of all who are taking part.”

The new course will go through Exeter in a single lap while maintaining many of the popular spectator spots from previous years.

The Great West Run is expected get support from runners, spectators, race volunteers, local businesses and charity partners from around the country.

One of many sponsored runners Lynsey Southern from Bideford, North Devon is taking part in Exeter’s Great West Run in aid of Children’s Hospice South West. She said: “Running has been a newly acquired love, only 18 months ago I was unable to run for five minutes without feeling like I was about to collapse.

“Being a mother of three healthy children, Children’s Hospice South West – and Little Bridge House in particular (as this is on my doorstep) – has always been in my mind. But last summer my friend gave birth to a beautiful little boy Eddie, sadly it quickly became apparent that he was seriously ill, and in the first few months of his birth was diagnosed with Menkes disease – a very rare life-limiting illness. Now I had a personal reason to support the charity – Eddie was cared for by the wonderful staff at Little Bridge House.

“I feel privileged to have been invited to run the Great West Run for this remarkable charity whose mission is to make the most of short and precious lives. Sadly Eddie died in May, aged just 11 months, so I will be running in his memory, picturing his dazzling smile. Despite his pain Eddie was a fighter and this thought will spur me to the finish line.”

The Great West Run will cause some disruption to local traffic with road closures across the city from 6am and will be re-opened as the runners pass through from 9:45am onwards.

Residents of Exeter have been asked to plan any journeys ahead of time to avoid delays.