The Windsor Running Festival returns on 23-24 September 2023 after missing last year following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Families into running can enjoy a full weekend with the 18th Windsor Women's 10K – previewed here at runABC South – followed 24 hours later by the 39th Windsor Half Marathon on Sunday 24 September.

The 2021 Windsor Half Marathon (pictured above) saw 2,000 competitors running for just over four hours on what must surely be the most majestic of 13.1-mile courses in the UK. With a spectacular start and finish on the Long Walk in front of Windsor Castle, the testing route passes the Copper Horse Statue, the Royal Lodge, Royal Chapel, Cumberland Lodge, Royal School, Prince Consort Statue, Virginia Water and the poignant Queen Elizabeth II Statue.

Windsor Half Marathon is the only race permitted to pass through a private road at nine miles that is not generally open to the public. This enables virtually the entire course to remain within the beautiful and expansive Crown Estate of Windsor Great Park.

The last winners of the Windsor Half Marathon were Eritrean athlete Paulos Surafel (Thames Valley Harriers, 1:05:08) and Lesley Locks (Aldershot, Farnham & District, 1:21:33) and you can catch up with our report of that event here.

For a flavour of the Windsor Half Marathon atmosphere, you can view this brief video...

All finishers will receive the newly designed souvenir medal based on the iconic King Henry VIII Gate at Windsor Castle. The traffic-free course is well marshalled, with six drink stations manned by experienced volunteers. There are toilets on the course as well as at the Race Village, where you will find the secure bag drop plus food and drink franchises.

Children's entertainment has not been forgotten, with face painters and bouncy castles available. There is also a Sprite Sprint for under-10s over 40 metres on the grass alongside Long Walk.

Entries (closing on 20 September) are available from £37.50 at the official website here.

Previous results and reports can be viewed at the runABC South race listing here.

Photo and Video: Joanne Tranter for Run Windsor