The Oxford Half marathon is set to debut a brand-new route this year, designed to enhance the race day experience for runners, spectators, local businesses, and city centre crowds.
The most significant change sees the start and finish line moved to the same location on Mansfield Road, reducing disruption to businesses on Broad Street and easing crowd congestion that often built up around the former start line. The new arrangement also requires fewer Saturday road closures, improving city logistics.
Mansfield Road offers additional space for runners as they cross the finish line, giving participants more room to recover and collect their medals compared with the previous endpoint on Parks Road.
Further adjustments include an extended early loop in Summertown and Cutteslowe, adding 1.3km to this section of the course, along with an extra 550m introduced through an extension to the turn point along Banbury Road. These changes maintain the race’s 13.1-mile distance while ensuring smoother flow throughout the city.
The race will begin at 9.30am, with the first finisher expected at 10.35am. The final runners are anticipated to cross the line around 1.44pm, with all roads reopening by 3.00pm, except for Mansfield Road, which will remain closed until 8.00pm to allow for the safe deconstruction of the start and finish line gantry.
Organisers Motiv Sports UK are continuing to work closely with Oxfordshire County Council’s highways authority, emergency services, and other stakeholders to minimise the impact on residents and ensure smooth operations for the city’s much-loved sporting event.
This year’s Oxford Half is expected to attract over 13,000 participants, reaffirming its place as one of the region’s most popular running events.
Read more: Oxford half marathon 2025 sells out as city prepares to welcome 13,000 runners
