New hand on the tiller at Wokingham Half Marathon
Wokingham Half Marathon has been producing super fast times since 1984 and it’s the first post Christmas half marathon in the local area plus the opening race in the Berkshire Road Running Championships. Sunday, 24 February is the date to mark in your diary but don't delay your entry as there are just 3,000 numbers available.
Course records of 1:03:14 (Phil Wicks, 2012) and 1:11:09 (Liz Yelling, 2008) stand proudly as testament to the PB potential of the scenic route on rural lanes in the Berkshire countryside. The course resembles a frying pan, with a three-mile out and back handle and the start and finish in Cantley Park.
Earlier this year there were 1,867 finishers in 3:16:46 and the top 1,000 were home inside 1:52. Officially there is a 3:10 cut-off to ensure the safety of all at what could be a very cold time of year. This is a much loved race with local clubs and the top three men's teams were Clapham Chasers, Reading Road Runners and Bracknell Forest Runners. Guildford & Godalming, Reading Road Runners and Hart Runners headed the women's teams.
Wokingham Half Marathon supports many local good causes and community groups and in turn is supported by them with their volunteers helping to marshal the route, manage the water stations and look after the race village. Volunteers are always welcome to join the Wokingham Half Marathon community and interested parties can make contact via the race website below.
Next year will mark the retirement of long term organisers Peter and Barbara Evans and the race management has been handed to the experienced team at Racesolutions Limited with support from Roger Pritchard, Richard Whybrow and Reading Road Runners to ensure a smooth transition.
Wokingham Mayor Rob Stanton said: “After more than 30 years of organising the popular Wokingham half-marathon, Peter had stepped down from his duties. It was a pleasure in my final month as Mayor to present him with a Mayor’s Award for services to the voluntary sector and sport in the Wokingham Borough”.
Full race and entry details at the new Wokingham Half Marathon website here
Image of the 2018 race courtesy Wokingham Half Marathon