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Reading Half Marathon
Finish of the half marathon in 2010 at the Madejski Stadium
DateMarch/April
LocationReading, United Kingdom
Event typeRoad
DistanceHalf marathon
Established1983 (41 years ago) (1983)
Official sitewww.readinghalfmarathon.com

The Reading Half Marathon (currently known as the Unleashed Performance Reading Half Marathon for sponsorship reasons) is a half marathon road running event held on the streets of the English town of Reading, first held in 1983. The race is normally held on a Sunday in March or early April of each year. The race is open to everyone from fun runner to elite athlete, and was one of the first town races to include wheelchair athletes.[1][2]

The 2024 race was held on 14 April. The 2025 race is scheduled to be held on 23 March.[3]

History

[edit]

The race was first run on 13 March 1983, and has been run every year since, with the exceptions of 2001, 2018, and 2020. From 2003 to 2018 the race was organised by Sweatshop, the chain of running equipment shops founded by Chris Brasher in 1971. From 2019 the race was organised by Goldline Events, who also organise the Ikano Bank Robin Hood Marathon Events and goGIRL (Brighton & Hove). Since 2021, the race has been sponsored by Unleashed Performance, promoters of fitness centres, nutritional products and performance wear. Previously headline sponsors have included Digital, Asics, Mizuno, Vitality and Sage.[1][4][5][6]

In 2001, the race was cancelled due to restrictions imposed during the 2001 outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. In 2018, the race was cancelled due to heavy overnight snowfall. The 2020 edition of the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all entries automatically transferred to 2021 and all registrants given the option of transferring their entry to another runner or to 2022. For similar reasons, the 2021 edition of the race was postponed to November of that year.[7][8][9][a]

Course

[edit]
The half marathon climbing Russell Street in West Reading in 2004

The Reading Half Marathon has had several courses over its life. The inaugural race in 1983, and several subsequent races, used University of Reading's Whiteknights Campus for both the start and finish. Other early courses involved use of the South Reading Leisure Centre and the Rivermead Sports Centre, on the banks of the River Thames, as start and/or finish, but recent races have used Green Park Business Park and the adjacent Madejski Stadium, both to the south of Reading, for these purposes.[1][14]

The current course starts in Green Park Business Park, which it loops before proceeding eastwards through Whitley Wood to the Whiteknights Campus, which lies between the 4-mile (6.4 km) and 5-mile (8.0 km) markers. The route then heads north, passing close to the ruins of Reading Abbey and through the Abbey Gateway, before traversing the town centre between the 6-mile (9.7 km) and 8-mile (13 km) markers. Leaving the town centre by Oxford Road and a steep climb up Russell Street, the course then loops around West Reading until the 11-mile (18 km) marker. The course then heads back south to the Madejski Stadium, where it finishes within the stadium.[15]

Records

[edit]
In 2005, Julius Kimutai chases down Malack Olemengera and a wheelchair athlete.

The current male course record is 61 minutes 19 seconds, by Patrick Makau in 2008. The female record is 69 mins 35 seconds, set by Liz Yelling in 2008. The male wheelchair record is 45 minutes 59 seconds, set by David Weir in 2006, while the female wheelchair record is 65 minutes 17 seconds, set by Mel Nicholls in 2015.[1][16][17][18][19]

Winners

[edit]
In 2007, the marathon passes down Liebenrood Road.
In 2019, the marathon passes through Reading's Abbey Gateway.
In 2023, the marathon passes along the Bath Road.
Year Date Men's race Women's race Men's wheelchair Women's wheelchair Rf.
2024 14 April Ben Cole

(1:05:39)

Kate Estlea-Morris

(1:14:26)

[20]
2023 2 April Ollie Lockley

(1:04:35)

Naomi Mitchell

(1:12:12)

[4][21]
2022 3 April James Connor

(1:05:58)

Kate Drew

(1:14:38)

[22]
2021 7 November Omar Ahmed

(1:02:14)

Philippa Bowden

(1:13:29)

[23]
2020 5 April postponed then cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic [7][12][13]
2019 17 March Scott Overall

(1:03:50)

Stephanie Twell

(1:11:37)

Chris Nash No starters [10][24]
2018 18 March cancelled on the morning of the race due to heavy overnight snowfall [25][26][27]
2017 19 March Andy Vernon

(1:03:08)

Charlotte Purdue

(1:12:15)

[28][29]
2016 3 April Robert Mbithi

(1:03:57)

Jenny Nesbitt

(1:12:54)

Gary Donald

(1:22:41)

No starters [30][31][32]
2015 22 March Stephen Kiplagat

(1:03:10)

Lily Partridge

(1:10:32)

No starters Mel Nicholls

(1:05:17)

[15][16][33]
2014 2 March Scott Overall

(1:04:44)

Susan Partridge

(1:12:18)

[34][35]
2013 17 March Andrew Lesuuda

(1:04:15)

Emily Biwott

(1:12:14)

Phil Hogg

(0:59:15)

Jade Jones

(1:09:11)

[36][37][38]
2012 1 April Edwin Kipyego

(1:03:08)

Alice Mogire

(1:11:01)

Stephen Lightbown

(1:08:59)

Kate Rowe

(3:15:35)

[2][39][40]
2011 20 March Simon Kasimili

(1:03:08)

Edith Chelimo

(1:11:22)

David Weir

(0:48:18)

No starters [41][42][43]
2010 21 March Edwin Kipyego

(1:03:03)

Susan Partridge

(1:12:47)

[44]
2009 29 March Kiplimo Kimutai

(1:02:46)

Joyce Kirui

(1:12:49)

Brian Alldis

(0:54:37)

No starters [45]
2008 2 March Patrick Makau

(1:01:19)

Liz Yelling

(1:09:35)

Tushar Patel

(0:54:18)

No starters [1][19]
2007 25 March Simon Kasimili

(1:03:36)

Louise Damen

(1:10:47)

David Weir

(0:46:06)

No starters [18]
2006 9 April Simon Kasimili

(1:04:51)

Cathy Mutwa

(1:12:10)

David Weir

(0:45:59)

[17][46]
2005 6 March Julius Kimutai

(1:01:51)

Cathy Mutwa

(1:13:09)

[47][48]
2004 7 March Julius Kimutai

(1:01:38)

Galina Ignatieva

(1:14:27)

Tushar Patel

(0:54:36)

Shelly Woods

(1:06:37)

[5][17][47][49]
2003 9 March Carl Warren

(1:06:33)

Catherine Mutua

(1:16:42)

[1]
2002 10 March Michael Kosgei Rotich

(1:03:23)

Andrea Green

(1:16:36)

Tushar Patel

(0:59:22)

Paula Craig

(1:35:03)

[50]
2001 cancelled due to 2001 outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease [51]
2000 12 March Sammy Bitok

(1:02:56)

Birhan Dagne

(1:14:23)

No starters Carol Hutchins [52]
1999 14 March Sammy Nyangincha

(1:04:18)

Lyubov Denisova

(1:15:18)

[1]
1998 15 March James Kuria

(1:03:59)

Maria Bradley

(1:16:08)

[1]
1997 16 March Spencer Duval

(1:04:50)

Lucia Subano

(1:15:44)

[1]
1996 31 March Gary Staines

(1:03:31)

Carolyn Horne

(1:19:08)

[1]
1995 30 April Baha Tulumba

(1:04:49)

Kathryn Bailey

(1:15:31)

[1]
1994 10 April Andrew Leach

(1:06:46)

Tanya Maria Ball

(1:24:40)

[1]
1993 28 March Paul Evans

(1:01:38)

Alison Fletcher

(1:16:49)

Ian Thompson

(0:59:23)

Tanni Grey [1][5]
1992 26 April Steve Brace

(1:02:20)

Scholasica Ndigingi

(1:11:36)

[1][b]
1991 7 April Steve Brace

(1:04:28)

Celia Duncan

(1:18:59 )

[1]
1990 1 April Steve Brace & Nick Trainer

(1:03:32)

Angie Pain

(1:12:21)

[1]
1989 2 April Paul Cuskin

(1:04:11)

Marina Sammy

(1:13:43)

[1]
1988 10 April Paul Cuskin

(1:03:16)

Karen MacLeod

(1:14:09)

[1]
1987 5 April Kevin Forster

(1:02:07)

Paula Fudge

(1:12:45)

[1]
1986 6 April Paul Davies-Hale

(1:02:39)

Ann Ford

(1:12:09)

[1]
1985 24 March Kingston Mills

(1:03:55)

Véronique Marot

(1:12:56)

Mike Bishop

(1:16:31)

[1][53]
1984 25 March Michael Hurd

(1:04:39)

Karen Holdsworth

(1:13:56)

[1][c]
1983 13 March Mark Cursons

(1:07:45)

Sarah Rowell

(1:16:00)

[1][54]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The 2020 race was originally due to be held on Sunday 5 April. However on 15 March it was announced that the race had been postponed due to the pandemic. The race was later scheduled for Sunday 1 November before being cancelled.[10][11][12][13][7]
  2. ^ In 1992 the course was shortened by approximately 700 metres due to a bomb-scare.[1]
  3. ^ The 1984 course appears to have been short of the full half marathon distance.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Stan Eldon. "Reading Half Marathon". Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Archived from the original on 23 September 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Mizuno Reading Half Marathon – Race Info". Archived from the original on 10 September 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  3. ^ "Reading Half Marathon". Reading Half Marathon. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Reading Half Marathon". Unleashed Performance Reading Half Marathon Goldline Events Limited. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "28-year of the Reading Half Marathon". Reading Post. Surrey & Berkshire Media Ltd. 18 March 2010. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  6. ^ "Sage expands its commitment to communities with new Reading Half Marathon partnership". runbritain.org. Archived from the original on 12 April 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  7. ^ a b c "Important Announcement". Reading Half Marathon Goldline Events Limited. 3 September 2020. Archived from the original on 4 September 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". Reading Half Marathon Goldline Events Limited. Archived from the original on 4 September 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  9. ^ Gantzer, Olivia (3 September 2020). "Reading Half Marathon 2020 cancelled". Reading Chronicle. Archived from the original on 3 September 2020.
  10. ^ a b Aldridge, James (17 March 2019). "Reading Half Marathon 2019: the results". GetReading. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  11. ^ Adams, Luke (16 March 2019). "Reading Half Marathon: More than 14,000 people taking part". Reading Chronicle. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  12. ^ a b Aldridge, James (16 March 2020). "Reading Half Marathon postponed due to coronavirus outbreak". Berkshire Live. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  13. ^ a b "New Date Announcement". Reading Half Marathon Goldline Events Limited. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  14. ^ "Reading Half Marathon 2011 Course Map" (PDF). Reading Half Marathon. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  15. ^ a b Slevin, Jennie (6 January 2015). "Reading Half Marathon 2015: How the course changeos for this year's run". www.getreading.co.uk. Trinity Mirror Southern. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  16. ^ a b "Vitality Reading Wheelchair Half Marathon 2015 – Provisional Results" (PDF). www.readinghalfmarathon.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  17. ^ a b c "Course Records". Asics Reading Half Marathon. Archived from the original on 17 December 2006. Retrieved 24 January 2007.
  18. ^ a b "2007 Results". Asics Reading Half Marathon. Archived from the original on 30 April 2008. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
  19. ^ a b "Search 2008 Results". Asics Reading Half Marathon. Archived from the original on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
  20. ^ "MYLAPS Sporthive Event Results". results.sporthive.com. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  21. ^ "2023 - Reading Half Marathon results" (PDF). runABC. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  22. ^ "2022 - Reading Half Marathon results" (PDF). runABC. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  23. ^ "Official Results" (PDF). Unleashed Performance Reading Half Marathon Goldline Events Limited. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  24. ^ "Sage Reading Half Marathon Provisional Results". 17 March 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  25. ^ "Reading Half Marathon". Brasher Leisure Ltd. Archived from the original on 24 March 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  26. ^ Taboada, Khadija (18 March 2018). "Reading Half Marathon 2018 cancelled due to heavy snowfall". InYourArea. Archived from the original on 25 March 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  27. ^ "Reading half-marathon: Runners take part in cancelled race". BBC Berkshire. BBC. 18 March 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  28. ^ Perryman, Francesca (19 March 2017). "Reading Half Marathon 2017 sees more than 10,000 runners take to streets". getreading.co.uk. Trinity Mirror Southern. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  29. ^ "Vitality Reading Half Marathon 2016 – Provisional Results" (PDF). Brasher Leisure Ltd. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  30. ^ Hyde, Nathan (3 April 2016). "Reading Half Marathon sees thousands of runners, winners, world record setters and fancy dress fundraisers". www.getreading.co.uk. Trinity Mirror Southern. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  31. ^ "Vitality Reading Half Marathon 2016 – Provisional Results" (PDF). Vitality Reading Half Marathon. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  32. ^ "Vitality Reading Wheelchair Half Marathon 2016 – Provisional Results" (PDF). Vitality Reading Half Marathon. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  33. ^ "Thousands take part in Reading Half Marathon 2015". BBC. 22 March 2015. Archived from the original on 22 March 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  34. ^ Adkins, Natasha (2 March 2014). "Thousands line the streets to cheer runners in the 2014 Reading Half Marathon". getreading.co.uk. S&B Media. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  35. ^ "Mizuno Reading Half Marathon 2014 – Provisional Results" (PDF). Brasher Leisure Ltd T/A Sweatshop. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  36. ^ "Kenyans dominate Reading Half Marathon 2013". BBC. 17 March 2013.
  37. ^ "Half Marathon" (PDF). Brasher Leisure Ltd T/A Sweatshop. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  38. ^ "Half Marathon – Wheelchair" (PDF). Brasher Leisure Ltd T/A Sweatshop. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  39. ^ "2012 Provisional Race Results – Complete" (PDF). Reading Half Marathon. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 April 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  40. ^ "2012 Provisional Race Results – Wheelchair" (PDF). Reading Half Marathon. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  41. ^ "Reading Half Marathon 2011" (PDF). Reading Half Marathon. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  42. ^ "Thousands take part in Reading half marathon". BBC News website. BBC. 20 March 2011. Archived from the original on 20 March 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  43. ^ "Crowds turn out to cheer Reading Half Marathon". www.getreading.co.uk. S&B media. 20 March 2011. Archived from the original on 22 March 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  44. ^ "Reading Half Marathon 2010" (PDF). Reading Half Marathon. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 March 2010. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  45. ^ "Search 2009 Results". Reading Half Marathon. Archived from the original on 2 April 2009. Retrieved 30 March 2009.
  46. ^ "Reading Half Marathon 2006 Results" (PDF). Asics Reading Half Marathon (via Internet Archive). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2006. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
  47. ^ a b "Julius Kimtai". Running Team Simba. Retrieved 13 October 2008.[dead link]
  48. ^ "Reading Half Marathon 2005 Results" (PDF). Asics Reading Half Marathon (via Internet Archive). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 April 2006. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
  49. ^ "Half marathon sees troubled start". BBC News website. BBC. 7 April 2004. Archived from the original on 2 April 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
  50. ^ Reading Evening Post, 2002-03-13, pages 23–42
  51. ^ "RW's Top 100 UK Races of the Year". Runners World. February 2002. Archived from the original on 9 September 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
  52. ^ Reading Evening Post, 2000-03-15, pages 21–36
  53. ^ Douglas Henning, Alan Porton, ed. (1985). Digital Reading Half Marathon Pictorial Souvenir. The Reading & Berkshire Newspaper Group. p. 24.
  54. ^ Eldon, Stan (2002). Life on the Run. Arthur H Stockwell. ISBN 0722334095.
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