This year’s Oxford Half Marathon is nearly completely sold out – with 90% of places already snapped up by eager runners ahead of the October event.
The race has become one of the most-popular half marathons in the UK and come 15 October 13,000 runners will cross the start line on Broad Street. And with places selling fast, time is running out for people to sign up.
Many of those who have already booked their place will be chasing personal best times – with the Oxford Half Marathon route well known for being fast and flat; thousands of others have signed up for the challenge to raise money for charity.
Runners will be taking part in support of national charities Cancer Research UK, the Alzheimer’s Society, Macmillan Cancer Support and Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, while a host of local good causes will receive a welcome fundraising boost from the event. SSNAP, Special Effect, Helen & Douglas House, Oxfordshire Mind, Restore, Sobell House, Oxford Food Hub, Thames Valley Air Ambulance, Oxford Hospitals Charity, and Yellow Submarine all have teams of runners signed up.
The annual half marathon also has a positive impact on the city’s economy, with runners coming from across the UK to take part, including a growing number who chose to extend their visit to include an overnight stay.
It is an event which has certainly been embraced by the people of Oxford, with large crowds providing support along the 13.1-mile route, and dozens of local volunteers helping on the day.
Organisers LimeLight Sports Club, which also organises the annual Blenheim Palace Triathlon, said they had once again been overwhelmed by the support the event had received locally.
James Hogben, MD at LimeLight Sports Club, said: “The Oxford Half Marathon is one of our most-popular events and the feedback we get from runners who have travelled to take part nearly always includes mention of how welcoming the city is and how amazing the local support is on race day.
“We also know it is increasingly popular with local runners, with 50% of participants coming from Oxford or the wider Oxfordshire area in 2022.
“We fully expect the event to sell out, so our advice to anyone who is thinking of taking part but hasn’t signed up yet is to book a place as soon as possible; they won’t regret it.”
Starting on Broad Street, near Trinity College, and ending on Park Road, the route takes in much of Oxford’s stunning architecture and there will also be live entertainment at various points throughout the course.
To book a place at this year’s Oxford Half Marathon, visit: https://run.limelightsports.club/event/oxford-half-2023.
