Worcester half and full marathon

 Lost Numbers or Timing ChipsIf you have mislaid your race pack or it hasn’t arrived in the post, please come to registration and we will issue you with a new pack. Please give yourself enough time to do this before the start of the race.Minimum Age: Marathon – 18 years old

Full Marathon:The Full Marathon runners follow the same course as the Half Marathon until they enter the village of Oddingley for the second time; they then carry on straight through the village and start the second lap. They then follow the same course again except just before they get to the village of Himbleton there is a right turn past Huddington entering a loop that brings them back to the far side of Himbleton rejoining the original Half Marathon Course. They then repeat the route along Hay Lane, through Spernal Green and back to Oddingley before retracing their original steps past the Pear Tree Hotel and following the Half Marathoners along the canal towpath to yourfinish on the Worcester Warriors Site.

The race start is across the road from the Warriors Ground and we encourage you to walk across early before the race start time at 9:30. You’ll arrive at the amateur car park where there are allocated pens dependent on your estimated finishing time. We’ll do a short briefing before walking you out to the start on Offerton Lane.

Directions and ParkingSixways Stadium, Warriors Way, Worcester WR3 8ZE  FREE parking is provided at Sixways Stadium.By RoadTake Junction 6 off the M5 motorway. Take the A4538 to Droitwich. Sixways is signposted from the motorway junction island.By RailWorcester Shrub Hill Station Make your way to Worcester Bus Station which is approximately a 15-minute walk into the city centre or take a short taxi ride (there is a taxi rank right outside the station). A taxi to Sixways Stadium will cost approximately £8-£10.Worcester Foregate Street StationWorcester Bus Station is a short walk into the city centre and signposted.

Cut Off TimesMuch as we hate the idea of cut off times we cannot ask our volunteers to be out all day. There are no cut off times for the half marathon, but in the full marathon if you do not reach the 11 mile point (where the half turns for home) by 2 hrs and 15 minutes you will be directed to complete just the half marathon, for which you willstill get a finish time, medal and tee shirt. If it looks like you are going to take 6 hours or more we may support you with a following car, but we will always communicate with you before that happens.Baggage & ToiletsA baggage drop off area will be provided at Worcester Warriors near the finish area and your bags will be available for collection after the race. There are plenty of toilets available for you to use on the Worcester Warriors Ground by the finishing area. Please make use of these before you head across to thebriefing/start area as there are no toilets once you leave the Warriors ground side. On the course, there is one portaloo for use at 6 / 13 miles.Music Whilst RunningNo earphones please! From 1 April 2016, a new rule regarding the wearing of head phones in road races was introduced into the 2016-2018 edition of the UKA Rules of Competition: –“The wearing of headphones, or similar devices, (other than those medically prescribed), is not permitted in races on any single carriageway road that is not wholly closed to traffic.”We will uphold this rule this race has some places where hearing a marshal is absolutely critical. Anyone seen using earphones will not have their results recorded.

Registration on Race DayIf the race limit hasn’t been reached, then there will be entries available on race day.  Registration will be open from 7:30am. Lost Numbers or Timing ChipsIf you have mislaid your race pack or it hasn’t arrived in the post, please come to registration and we will issue you with a new pack. Please give yourself enough time to do this before the start of the race. Minimum Age: Half Marathon – 17 years old.

Half Marathon:The race route follows Offerton Lane up to Smite by the Pear Tree Hotel. Turning right to head to the village of Oddingley you will take another right turn and head for another lovely village, Tibberton. Once Through Tibberton you’ll take your first left turn of the race and head through the village of Crowle and then Himbleton. Once past Himbleton the route turns left onto Hay Lane and heads for Spernal Green. Aiming then for Dunhamstead you return to Oddingley where Half Marathon Runners make the return journey back up to the Pear Tree Hotel and then downhill along Offerton Lane. After crossing the canal bridge and turning right you take another right to go onto the canal towpath. Following the canal for 400 meters you will then be directed left and onto the Worcester Warriors Rugby Club Site. The finish is then another 200 meters right by the main pitch Rugby Stands. 

The race start is across the road from the Warriors Ground and we encourage you to walk across early before the race start time at 9:30. You’ll arrive at the amateur car park where there are allocated pens dependent on your estimated finishing time. We’ll do a short briefing before walking you out to the start on Offerton Lane.

Directions and Parking:Sixways Stadium, Warriors Way, Worcester WR3 8ZE FREE parking is provided at Sixways Stadium.By Road:Take Junction 6 off the M5 motorway. Take the A4538 to Droitwich. Sixways stadium is signed from the motorway junction.By Rail:Worcester Shrub Hill Station From here make your way to Worcester Bus Station which is approximately a 15-minute walk into the city centre or take a short taxi ride (there is a taxi rank right outside the station). A taxi to Sixways Stadium will cost approximately £8-£10.Worcester Foregate Street StationWorcester Bus Station is a short walk into the city centre and signposted.

Cut Off Times Much as we hate the idea of cut off times we cannot ask our volunteers to be out all day. There are no cut off times for the half marathon, but in the full marathon if you do not reach the 11 mile point (where the half turns for home) by 2 hrs and 15 minutes you will be directed to complete just the half marathon, for which you willstill get a finish time, medal and tee shirt. If it looks like you are going to take 6 hours or more we may support you with a following car, but we will always communicate with you before that happens.Baggage & ToiletsA baggage drop off area will be provided at Worcester Warriors near the finish area and your bags will be available for collection after the race. There are plenty of toilets available for you to use on the Worcester Warriors Ground by the finishing area. Please make use of these before you head across to the briefing/start area as there are no toilets once you leave the Warriors ground side. On the course, there is one portaloo for use at 6 / 13 miles.