30 years of Chester Half Marathon

Boasting a brand new course and city centre finish, the 2012 Chester Half Marathon is celebrating 30 years of success.

"The Chester Half Marathon is a long established and very popular race," says Race Organiser Andy White.  "The race's excellent reputation is due to the hard work and commitment of West Cheshire Athletics Club who have organised the event for the last 15 years.  They have now passed the baton to the Active Leisure Events team and we are proud and excited to be running with it."

The day in question is Sunday 13 May, during the build up to the Olympics, and just two weeks before the Olympic Flame comes to Chester.  The 13.1 mile race will start as usual at Chester Racecourse and, with all roads on the route being closed, will take the athletes up Parkgate Road towards Two Mills, then back through Saughall and Blacon before returning to a memorable finish by the Town Hall and Cathedral.

"The main reason for the change in course from recent years is that we are keen to accommodate more runners to an event that in the past has been greatly oversubscribed," explains Andy.  "Whilst we refer to it as a brand new course we have to bear in mind that for many of the 30 years that the Chester Half Marathon has been held the race actually wound through various parts of Saughall and Blacon.  So for many veteran runners it will feel like old times!

"The people of Saughall and Blacon were very generous in their support of the 2010 Chester Marathon which passed through their communities and are keen to get involved in supporting this race.   We are also very pleased that many members of West Cheshire AC will be helping us on the day."