Stafford Half Marathon 2026: 13 Road Closures and Diversions Detailed

Mo. Basuony

Published: March 22, 2026 5:02 AM ET

Stafford Half Marathon 2026: 13 Road Closures and Diversions Detailed

The Stafford event attracts elite athletes, club runners and fun participants. The race starts on Victoria Road beside Victoria Park and covers a 13.1-mile course around the town.

Event summary

The race has run since April 1984 and has grown yearly. Runners come from nearby and further afield to compete and raise money for charity.

Race Village will be at Victoria Park for registration and race-day services. The Fun Run uses a one-mile town centre route.

When and where

Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026.
Race Village open: 8:00am to 9:45am.
Safe Bag Storage opens at 8:30am.
Move to start area: around 9:30am.
Half Marathon start: 10:00am (13.1 miles).
Fun Run start: 10:10am (one-mile town route).
First winner expected back: about 11:10am.
Prize giving at the Bandstand: 12:30pm.
Course stewards stood down and main road closures lifted from 4:00pm.
Victoria Road remains closed until 5:00pm.

Route and on-course facilities

The course loops past Rowley Park, along Wolverhampton Road and the A34. It continues via Baswich, Kingston Hill and the A513 for Beaconside.

Runners then traverse the town top and Common Road, rejoin the A34, circle the town centre and finish at Victoria Park. Faster competitors often finish in just over an hour.

Water stations are at two, six, eight and ten miles, and at the finish. Water is supplied in cups, with disposal points after each station.

Toilets are at the Race Village and as portables at Rowley Park, Weeping Cross and Portal Road. St John Ambulance Brigade provides first aid across the route.

Road closures and traffic management

Stafford Half Marathon 2026 will see 13 road closures and diversions across the town. Organisers advise allowing extra travel time on race day.

Newport Road: closed 9:50am–10:30am, or until last runner passes.
West Way: traffic management 9:50am–11:50am, or until last runner passes.
Rowley Park: closed to vehicles 7:00am–12:00pm.
Wolverhampton Road: traffic management 9:50am–1:50pm.
Lichfield Road to Weeping Cross: traffic management 9:50am–1:50pm.
Ampleforth Drive: traffic management 10:00am–1:50pm.
Baswich Lane to Two Waters Way: traffic management 10:00am–1:30pm.
Tixall Road to Birkdale Drive: traffic management 10:00am–2:00pm.
Weston Road: single lane closure 10:00am–2:00pm.
Sandon Road crossing point: traffic management 10:00am–2:00pm.
Common Road: single lane closure 10:00am–3:00pm.
Stafford town centre: full road closure 6:00am–4:00pm.
Victoria Road: closed 6:00am–5:00pm.

Guidance for participants and spectators

All entrants must follow the Participant Code of Conduct and pre-race briefing. Competitors should arrive ready to run and be self-sufficient.

No swapping race numbers or handing places to others is allowed. Runners should allow extra travel time and observe personal hygiene rules, including avoiding spitting.

Respect stewards, volunteers and fellow runners. A minimum pace of 12 minutes per mile applies on the day.

Fun Run notes

Fun Run numbers can be collected on Saturday at Victoria Park to reduce postage. Collection on race day remains possible if needed.

The Fun Run starts from the Victoria Park monument, heads past the train station and out onto Newport Road. It follows the opposite direction to the Half Marathon and encourages fancy dress.