The Fleet Half Marathon was in the vanguard of the 1980s running boom, and it's still going strong and providing excellent value for money after 45 years, with entries costing £30 for attached runners/£32 for unattached. The 45th milestone event, on Sunday 29th March 2026, will be marked by a surprise retro gift – something to remember the 1980s – in addition to the usual finisher's medal.

With just under three months to race day, now is the best time to secure your bespoke 45th-anniversary T-shirt (blue or white, unisex or female cut) designed to celebrate the history of this race, which was first held on 4 April 1982, with a start and finish in Rushmoor Arena.

The current Fleet Half Marathon champions are Army athlete Dean Williamson (Colchester Harriers, 1:07:41) – a 2:17:45 marathon runner, pictured above leading – and Nina Griffith (Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow AC, 1:14:44), who ran her half marathon PB at Fleet in 2025 and went on to record 2:36:46 for third in the Manchester Marathon a month later.

Nearly 2,500 completed the race within the three-hour cut-off time, with almost 500 inside 90 minutes, showing how fast the route can be in the right conditions. The present course, based at the Calthorpe Park Race Village, has rather fewer undulations than the original circuit.

Fleet Half Marathon is 100% organised by volunteers from Fleet & Crookham AC, most of whom are runners themselves. Other highlights of the race that is run by runners, for runners, include FREE professional race photography; Pace Makers for 1:30, 1:40, 1:45, 1:50, 2:00, 2:10, and 2:20 finish times; a traffic-free route, and over 125 enthusiastic volunteers cheering you on your way.

The 2026 Fleet Half Marathon supports Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care in Farnham, providing palliative and end-of-life care for adult patients and families living with an advanced or terminal illness. Several voluntary community groups are involved on race day, managing various aspects of the race, including water stations, kit storage and marshalling the route.

The host club, Fleet & Crookham AC, is a family-focused running club offering road running, cross country, and track and field opportunities for all ages, 8 to 80-plus. To learn more, visit the club website here.

Results and previous news items on this runABC Featured Race are at the runABC South race listing.

Photos courtesy of Fleet Half Marathon Race Director, Penny Abbott