For the first time since 2019 a capacity field of 500 runners enjoyed the sixth staging of the River Thames Half Marathon on Sunday 29 October 2023. This renaissance was the work of the River Thames Running event series established by RUNFEST, the company behind the GoFundMe Richmond RUNFEST, Worthing RUNFEST, and GoFundMe Kew The Run races.

River Thames Running takes entrants onto the banks of the longest river in England for a dynamic series of events comprising the River Thames Half Marathon, Hampton Court Half Marathon, Kingston Breakfast Run and Kingston Half Marathon.

The beautiful Surrey town of Walton-on-Thames was the venue for River Thames Half Marathon with a dramatic start close to Walton Bridge at Wilde Brunch Cafe. There is a car park within a 10-minute walk for £1 all day – a rare value for money find these days – and Walton Station is just 1.4 miles from the Race HQ.

The course starts with a five-mile loop before staying on the Thames Towpath for most of the route between Walton and Hampton Court Palace (at nine miles) before turning for home. The surface is multi-terrain with road, gravel path and some grass but is described as 'flat as a pancake, fast, scenic and largely traffic-free'.

First to receive the fabulous bottle-opener medal was M40 Paul Piper (West 4 Harriers, 1:12:14) closely followed by local club runner Duncan Wilmer (M40 Walton AC, 1:12:58). Unattached runner Chris Wright (1:14:39 PB) was third.

Molly Smith (unattached, 1:17:56) took the honours in the women's race on her half marathon debut – finishing sixth overall – from W35 Melissah Gibson (Ealing Eagles, 1:23:08) and W40 Kate Murrell (Norwich RR, 1:26:29).

The top 37 were under 90 minutes and 278 beat two hours as 474 finished in 3:22:33. 

The next event in the River Thames Running Series is the 11th Hampton Court Half Marathon from Thames Ditton on Sunday 18 February 2024 and full details are here.

Link to the River Thames Half Marathon results at runABC South race listing here.

Photo of race medal courtesy River Thames Running website