RUNNERS training for the York marathon have been reacting to the changes to the route.

The alterations to the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon were announced in The Press last week, and runners have been urged to take note of the changes.

The run, which takes place on Sunday, October 20, will see thousands of participants run a 26.2mile route which takes them through the city, out towards Heworth, Stockton-on-the-Forest, Gate Helmsley and Murton, before heading back into York.

Event spokeswoman Lisa Ashcroft said: “We’ve revamped the provisional course and now included two small two-way sections, one close to Stamford Bridge and the other near the village of Murton, both of which will allow more supporters to come out and cheer our runners on their marathon journeys.”

Angela Shepherd, one of The Press’s marathon bloggers, said she intended to cycle the marathon route ahead of the event to get to grips with it, and the changes had received mixed reviews among her friends and fellow runners.

She said: “I know a few people aren’t that keen on the ‘out and back’ sections near Stamford Bridge, about the 13 and 14-mile marks. Some people aren’t that keen because you see the faster runners going out ahead of you, but I like that because you can give a wave to the people you know who are faster than you.

“I don’t mind seeing the faster runners going past because it’s something interesting to look at. Other than that, I think the route is pretty much the same.”

In a minor change towards the end of the run, there will also be a slight incline back up towards the University of York, which Angela said could catch out the unprepared.

She said: “I’ve decided that when I go for my longer runs, I will incorporate a hill towards the end so it’s not too much of a shock. We’ve got a shortage of hills around here, but usually I go up Windmill Rise in Holgate, or if I finish around Acomb Green, so will try to incorporate that.

“In terms of training it will mean a little bit of a change when your legs are already tired so when you’re on raceday it’s not too much of a shock. I think a lot of people could get it there and that hill could get a lot of people walking, especially the first timers.”

Dr Jayne Rodgers, from veggierunners.com, said: “The route looks great. It looks like the planners have really gone out of their way to make sure it takes in some countryside, something that lots of city marathons lack.

“We love that it’s a loop too, rather than an out-and-back course. There’s nothing more soul-destroying that running 13 miles in one direction and then running back with exactly the same scenery.”

Hannah Storm, another of our bloggers, said: “The thing that would be really awesome would be if they attracted spectators to those points, which are more far-flung, and are not going to be quite as easy to get to.”

“It’s really key to get people to those area to provide encouragement and boost the runners at that difficult 16 to 20-mile point.”