Join up to 6,000 runners in this year’s event and raise money for Helen and Douglas House!
After the full approval of a new, improved route for this year’s Oxford Half Marathon the organisers celebrated with a gathering at Iffley Road Track unveiling and officially launching this year’s race – with over 1,200 runners registered already.
Amongst the guests was a true running icon who not only lives in Oxford but has got a very special link with the Iffley Road Track – Sir Roger Bannister, who ran a mile in under four minutes for the first time ever on that very same track on 6 May 1954.
Sir Roger Bannister has also been announced as the official starter of the race on 14th October 2012 and will be sending the runners on their way around the 13.1 mile course.
The Oxford Half Marathon will start at 9.30 am on Grenoble Road near the Kassam Stadium; some of the route’s highlights include running through the impressive MINI Plant Oxford and past the Iffley Road Track, known as the Roger Bannister running track. Runners will be passing the blue plaque which records the event on their way towards the city centre, taking in Oxford’s iconic dreaming spires and world famous university college grounds including Christ Church Meadow and Oxford Academy. After crossing Folly Bridge the route heads south onto the Thames Path before merging onto Abingdon Road and finishing in the Kassam Stadium, home of Oxford United Football Club.
The official charity is Helen & Douglas House, a registered Oxford based charity providing respite and end of life care for children and young adults with life-shortening conditions, as well as support and friendship for the whole family. The two hospice houses are bright, vibrant and positive places, where the emphasis is on living life to the full, even when that life may be short.
The new UKA licensed route can accommodate up to 6,000 runners and the course is largely traffic free with road closures in place. Registration is open, go to www.oxfordhalfmarathon.com to secure your place now. Entry is £29 for affiliated runners and £31 for non-affiliated runners and all finishers receive a medal, a goodie bag and a Brooks technical t-shirt. Now in its 2nd year, the Oxford Half Marathon takes place in Oxford on Sunday 14th October 2012, starting on Grenoble Road near the Kassam Stadium and finishing inside the stadium. Start time is 9.30 am.
Go to www.oxfordhalfmarathon.com for further details about the race and to enter now.
Round&About Magazine is entering a 5 member team and between them are hoping to raise £7,500 for the Oxford Transplant Foundation. If you would like to show your support – or to see how our fund raising is progressing – please go to www.justgiving.com/roundandabout and simply follow the instructions.