The annual running festival will no longer be based at the Bloomfield hospital site, with headquarters moved to Gosling Creek Reserve next year.

The route will no longer take in a 7-kilometre stretch which started at Forest Road, it will extend further out to Spring Terrace.

Orange Running Festival's recently-elected coordinator Michael O'Mara said the old site had meant the crowds taking off from the start line had been funnelled onto a footpath along Forest Road.

"There was a lot of trip hazards," he said. "This is a much safer course because it's a wider start."

Mr O'Mara said with 1800 runners taking part in 2019, the festival committee had almost had to cap numbers to keep it a safe event.

He said with quite a few people with disabilities taking part in the 5-km and 10-km events with Achillies it had become a concern.

"It made it difficult for us to think about growing the event," he said.

Seasoned festival participants may be worried the updated route will mean more uphills.

Mr O'Mara said that won't be the case.

"The new finish line will mean athletes will be running downhill to finish with Mount Canobolas in the background for photos," he said.

Mr O'Mara said the venue change has meant less bureaucracy for the committee, who won't have to rely on approvals from the many clubs and groups which utilise the grounds out at Bloomfield.

The festival will take place on March 7-8. Registration opens after September 1.