The men's course record was given a fright as 2,446 runners finished the 36th Lambert & Foster Paddock Wood Half Marathon on Sunday, 8th March 2026. This was a new attendance record for Kent's largest half-marathon after 2,364 runners finished last year's race.

Conditions were dull, overcast and surprisingly cool as the massed pack set off from the Race HQ at British Car Auctions in Eldon Way. The host club, Paddock Wood AC, had again provided pacers for the following times: 1:20, 1:25, 1:30, 1:40, 1:45, 1:50, 2:00, 2:15, 2:30, and 2:45.

Cole Gibbens, of Tonbridge AC, returned and successfully defended his title in 1:04:43 – the second fastest time ever achieved on the gently undulating Paddock Wood course through the Kent hopfields.

This was a new PB, only bettered at Paddock Wood by Alexander Leprêtre's 2022 course record (1:04:38) for Barnet & District AC. Gibbens had been provided race bib #1 by the organisers (pictured above, leading).

The male podium was completed by Amittai Ben-Israel (Thames Hare & Hounds, 1:06:50) and James Turner (Brighton & Hove City AC, 1:06:51) in a top-quality race that saw 20 men finish in less than 70 minutes.

W35 Tracy Barlow (Thames Valley Harriers) took the women's trophy home in a tidy 1:14:00. This was 1:35 outside the brilliant course record of 1:12:25 set by Lucy Jones (Herne Hill Harriers) last year.

W35 Amy Clements (Kent AC, 1:15:22) and W45 Helen Gaunt (Tonbridge AC, 1:18:26) were the runners-up as 1:25:00 was breached by the top 19 women.

The final finisher returned to Eldon Way in just over three hours, and the full results are available via the comprehensive runABC race listing here     

Full race information is available at the Paddock Wood Half Marathon website here

Photo courtesy of James Ridger (Paddock Wood AC)