Thousands of running are expected to take to the streets of Oxford for this year’s Oxford Half Marathon, which is set to return on 16 October.
Founded in 2010 to celebrate running, movement, and the Oxford community, the Oxford Half Marathon will kick off at 9.30am on Oxford’s iconic Broad Street in the city centre.
The race will take runners on a flat 13.1-mile route that passes through Old Marston, down the River Cherwell, through the University of Oxford’s Lady Margaret Hall, before finishing in Parks Road.
Alongside cheering on the runners, there will be plenty for friends and family to do in the Race Village in Oxford University Parks, which opens from 07.30am.
There will also be different activities across the city centre, including live entertainment and street food and drinks from local vendors.
Although registration is closed, people can still join the race by either running for charity – Headway Oxfordshire, Helen & Douglas House, Oxfordshire Mind, Sobell House SSNAP SpecialEffect, Restore or Oxford Food Hub – or by becoming a LimeLight Sports Club member.
Runners who have opted to pick up their race pack from the event village can do this on Saturday, 15 October, between 10.00am to 5.00pm. Race packs cannot be collected on the morning of Sunday, 16 October.
Expect road closures
On the race weekend (Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 October), there will be changes to usual traffic routes in Oxford. The complete list of roads to be closed can be found below, along with their latest reopening times. Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained on all roads.
On Saturday 15 October, Broad Street (between Turl St & Magdalen St East) will close at 08.00am. At 6.00pm, the remainder of Broad Street, along with Parks Road (between Holywell Street & South Parks Road) and a small section of Museum Road, will close.
These roads will remain closed on Sunday, 16 October, and reopen no later than 6.00pm. Parking suspensions will be in place throughout this period on Broad Street, Parks Road and Museum Road.
All additional roads listed below close at 08.00 on Sunday, 16 October, with the exception of Holywell Street, which closes at 0600am. Parking suspensions will be in place on all roads.
Reopening no later than 11.00am
Magdalen Street East, St Giles (southbound carriageway).
Reopening no later than noon
Banbury Road (between Marston Ferry Road & A40/Elsfield Way)
Reopening no later than 1.00pm
A40 westbound off-slip (Marston Junction), Cherwell Drive, Elms Drive, Elsfield Road, Marsh Lane, Marston Ferry Road and Cycle Path, Oxford Road (between Cherwell Drive & Elsfield Road)
Reopening no later than 1.30pm
Banbury Road (between St Giles & Marston Ferry Road), Bardwell Road, Belbroughton Road, Chadlington Road, Charlbury Road (between Belbroughton Road & Linton Road), Fyfield Road, Linton Road (between Charlbury Road & Chadlington Road), Norham Gardens, Norham Road
Reopening no later than 2.30pm
Brasenose Lane, Catte Street, Holywell Street (between Parks Road & Mansfield Road), Jowett Walk, Longwall Street (Access Only), Magdalen Bridge/High Street (between Longwall Street & the Plain Roundabout), Mansfield Road, Radcliffe Square, South Parks Road, St Cross Road, Turl Street (between Broad Street & Market Street), Parks Road (between South Parks Road & Banbury Road).
Reopening no later than 6.00pm
Broad Street, Museum Road and Parks Road.
