Halstead & Essex Marathon

The Halstead & Essex Marathon starts and finishes at Halstead Leisure Centre, Colne Road, Halstead, Essex CO9 2HR which will act as Race HQ. There will be refreshments, showers, toilets, masseurs, changing and baggage storage facilities, all accessed from the rear of the complex beyond the Start/Finish line.

The race is mainly through quiet and picturesque country lanes, undulating with small valleys. Many runners state this is the most beautiful marathon course they have ever run. There’s an ‘out-run’ from Halstead through Pebmarsh into the lanes of the Essex/Suffolk border, where the route enters a 10 ½ mile loop, most of which is run twice, in 2015 this route has changed so please be aware. After completing most of the second lap there’s a different mile-long ‘in-run’ back to Race HQ. The route is almost all on secondary roads but there is a short section of grass (400m) in the final mile. If you should feel that you’re unable to complete the course you should report to the nearest marshal who will arrange transport for you back to the finish. If you don’t complete the course you must not cross the Finish Line and are asked to report to the officials at the Finish Line and state you didn’t complete the race.

There are mile markers throughout. 6 water stations serve runners 10 times. Similarly, 2 sponge stations serve runners 4 times. We also provide the facility for you to have your own drinks delivered to the water stations. You should clearly label your own drink(s) with your running number and place them in the containers (numbered 1 to 6) at Race HQ. Should this facility be of interest, we strongly recommend that you arrive early. For logistical reasons we cannot commit to delivering an unlimited number of drinks, so when the crates are full the service will be suspended. Runners’ drinks will be delivered to the course at 9.15am. We ask you to be fair to each other and bring no more than 3 drinks each (since any more is unnecessary given the provision of water). You may also attach 1 gel to your drink(s) securely with sticky tape. Please deposit rubbish at a water station or drop it close to a sign to help us keep our countryside beautiful.

The course is marshalled throughout, with experienced runners at key locations. In addition, the course is very well sign posted so that runners continuing after marshals have withdrawn will be able to follow the route. Whilst we don’t have a time limit on the race, we reserve the right to begin to withdraw marshals after 5 hours. We have adopted this policy due to the long day for all our volunteers, First Aid and Race HQ staff. Water stations and signage will remain in place until the last runner and tail bike have completed the course.