On Sunday 16th October, around 13,000 runners took on Oxford’s annual half marathon. The 13.1-mile route started at Broad Street, spanning all the way up to Summertown, and back through Marston. Runners were met along the way by supportive onlookers, as well as musicians, providing entertainment to keep runners upbeat and motivated. 

Runners began gathering in the Event Village in University Parks at around 07:30. In the fresh October air, runners huddled in coats, jogged, and stretched, to avoid pulling cold muscles. Two participants wore black bin bags over their running gear for insulation, which they insisted was a popular strategy amongst athletes.

Among those waiting to get started were John and Andy, whose mum Lorna (an Oxford graduate) had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. The brothers had raised £2,000 for Parkinson’s UK, and spoke about how running for the charity had been an empowering response to their mother’s illness. “It’s good to feel like I’m able to do something,” Andy commented.

Another participant, Libby, was running for Endometriosis UK after having been diagnosed with the condition mere months before the event. She described how her pain had stopped her from being as active as she would have liked to be. The training helped grow her confidence, and she saw the race as an opportunity to prove herself. “If I collapse, I collapse,” she said, somewhat nonchalantly.

Runners started taking to the roads at 09:30. Spectators on St. Giles’ were passed by a diverse crowd of runners. Some had dressed up for the occasion, wearing dinosaur costumes, sporting bee outfits, and even (in the case of two men in particular) carrying washing machines on their backs. These two were raising money for SSNAP, a local charity that supports premature newborns and their families. 

There was a spectacular array of experience and abilities on display. Among the more experienced were winners Andrew Heyes (Oxford Half) and Gary Cooper (Wheelchair Half), who each finished the race in just over 1 hour. Also competing was Sophia, for whom this was her first half-marathon, having only previously participated in triathlons. However, a large proportion of participants had taken up the hobby during lockdown, or even more recently. For many of these, participation in the Oxford Half served as motivation during training. 

Contributing to the diversity was the presence of a handful of Oxfordshire primary schools. Each student had run 12 miles (spread across various school events) before coming to Broad Street to complete their half marathons, as part of the Oxford Schools Challenge. 

As the race came to a close and volunteers dismantled the metal railings, a few thousand half-marathon runners headed into Oxford to enjoy a well-deserved rest.