Wokingham Half Marathon returns next month in all its glory after a fallow year due to Covid 19 and there is a real buzz around the historic Berkshire market town. Wokingham means 'Wocca's people's home' after Saxon chieftain Wocca who owned lands from Woking to Wokingham. 

It's just over a half marathon in distance between those similarly named habitations but the Wokingham Half course stays close to its Cantley Park HQ with a new town centre loop and an out and back rural section on fully closed roads.

Wokingham Half has been producing super fast times since 1984 and the race records are held by Phil Wicks (1:03:14) and Liz Yelling (1:11:09). A particularly feisty race in 2019 saw eight men inside 67 minutes and six women under 80 minutes.

The last race in 2020 was won by Jonathan Cornish (Hercules Wimbledon, 1:07:13) and Louise Damen (Winchester, 1:16:23) and there were 2,632 finishers in 3:14:44. The race has a 3,000 runner limit and a 3:15:00 cut-off time for safety reasons.

David Cliff Estate Agents are the main sponsors again and mass event touches include a race village with catering; massage; kit tent; changing and showers; bespoke medals; pace runners; bib-tag race timing and free good for age places. A full UKA permit has been obtained and the course is certified accurate, so results will appear on Power of 10 and count for rankings.

Race day is Sunday 27 February and entries close officially on Wednesday 16 February although the race organiser suspects it could be as soon as this weekend as it heads for a sell-out! Fees are £32/£34 unaffiliated and professional race management is by Racesolutions.

There is excitement building on social media and the inaugural winner in 1984, Paul Harris, has joined in by posting: "Fantastic race! I was fortunate enough to win the event the year I ran it and have fond memories. I hope everyone has a great day".  

Race information and entry available at the Wokingham Half website

Image courtesy Wokingham Half Marathon on Facebook