With less than a week until the Vitality Oxford Half Marathon, the 10,000 runners signed up for this year’s event are sure to be feeling a mix of nerves, anticipation, and above all excitement ahead of their half marathon challenge on Sunday 9th October.
Starting on Broad Street, the course has been designed to incorporate the city’s beautiful history, making this historical start position the perfect place to grab a great spot and soak up all the excitement that comes with race day! There is also plenty of room for spectators along Magdalen Street to get a good view of the starting runners, and of course the finishing straight when the heroic runners return!
The Vitality Oxford Half Marathon is always a great family occasion and the city centre start and finish will ensure a number of fantastic viewing points along the way! Parking restrictions will be in place so please do allow extra time for your journey and check the event website for traffic diversions. There are also event specific Park & Ride services running all day from the four Park & Ride car parks, all within 20 minutes of the city centre.
A spokesperson from race organiser GO2, said: “This year has hit a record level of entries and we are delighted it has proved to be so popular. We have more runners than ever that need your support and we are encouraging everyone to come out for the day, take to their doorsteps and cheer on the runners as spectators play a big role in creating the race day atmosphere!
“Picking out a runner's name on their t-shirt gives a much-needed boost when the legs are starting to tire, and the cheers that you hear when heading to the finish line helps to find a little extra energy that you didn't know was there. From elite runners, right through to all those fantastic fundraisers who have taken on the challenge to do something amazing for a good cause, everyone feeds off the support of the spectators. It really makes a massive difference to everyone taking part!”
You can follow all the excitement around the preparation leading up to race day on Oxford’s Half Marathon Facebook page and Twitter @Oxfordhalf. Organisers will also be providing updates throughout the race and after. All other information, including traffic and travel guidance to help you plan your day, can be found on
www.oxfordhalf.co.uk.
