The Bristol Half Marathon is held every September, usually early on in the month. I moved to Bristol in August 2009 so missed out on that years event but I have literally just signed up for the 2010 run and can't wait! (Well, actually, having just completed the London Marathon I can wait, in fact I am happy to wait until September!) There's something lovely about being able to run the city you live in, I love the feeling of running on roads that are usually full of cars! The 2010 promises to be a great event, especially as Run Bristol have teamed up with the International Kite Festival, which will also be held in Bristol on the same weekend. Around 16,000 applied for the 2009 event, so we're talking serious numbers for a half marathon and event organisers hope it will be nearer to 20,000 this year. It's not too late to enter this year's event, don't forget you could enter just to walk or you can enter to break records! read more

Bristol Half Marathon - From Website - Fitness & Instruction Near Me

How to review the half marathon? Well, it was quite easy at first, so much so that I had to keep telling myself to stop getting carried away and slow down. Then we ran down the Portway. And kept running... And kept running... Oh, look, there's Steve Cram! And kept running...And kept running... And turned around at Sea Mills. And kept running...And kept running... And when we returned to the city centre, that's when I really felt it - between 10 and 11 miles. I wanted to stop for every centimetre of that mile. Once I'd cleared 11 I knew there was just over a mile to go, and there was no way I was going to grab a breather (finishing without stopping once being a MAJOR motivator by this stage). I finally crept around the centre and finished 1.57.34 (without stopping). Not a great time, but if you'd told me when I'd just graduated university with about three extra stone to show for it that I ever do this , I would have laughed at you. It's a great sense of achievement. There's pretty much a 50/50 split between my friends who have and have not done the half marathon, and when it comes up in conversation, I always feel proud to fall in the 'have' camp. So, sign up now - it's not until next September so you have plenty of time to get ready, and in truth the day itself is mainly a joy - it's all the training that's a pain (though it's more boring than anything else). Having said all that, I did it four years ago, and I've rarely been tempted to to sign up again since! read more

This is a real Bristol event - if you want to feel part of the city, you have to do this. If you have never run a race before, they say you should train for 3 months - perfect...it is held in September every year, so you have summer to get outdoors (another reason why the Downs are packed with people this time of year!). 2008 is a really special one as it will the 20th. And some reasons to do it: - the goodie bags are really good compared to the Cardiff & Bath equivalents - although Bristol is pretty hilly, the circuit for the race is pretty flat - the crowd support is amazing - it is very well organised and sponsored (lots of hydration stops) - loads of people do it for charity so if Scooby Doo and Mr Gorilla can, so can you See you there http://www.bristolhalfmarathon.com/ read more

Runners love this, for obvious reasons. It's possibly third in reverence behind the London Marathon and the Great North Run. Thousands of people line up for this challenging race which takes participants all the way along the magnificent Avon Gorge, to Clifton and back down towards the Hippodrome. The majority of people tend to run it for charity, ie. They get all their nearest and dearest to sponsor them either per mile for the race as a whole. It is great for the city to have it's own race and while it's not quite the London Marathon it does attract serious and professional runners from across the world. But for those non-runners amongst us it is merely a bit of an inconvenience, the roads are shut for a morning and there are all these uber motivated people piping up about the run for months before and months afterwards. Not good. read more

This was my first ever half marathon - and it was amazing! The support from the people of the city is just great, and the atmosphere is electric! The race itself is really flat, and one for PBs. The first five miles go out along the portway, along the gorge and under the suspension bridge. The scenery is just great, and the whole day is very well organised. Drinks stations fall at 3,6 and 9 miles, with lucozade sugar stations at 4 and 8 (if i remember correctly!). A great race, and great atmosphere, just makes you want to run further and faster! read more

One of Bristol's biggest and best events of the year, the Bristol Half Marathon route takes runner under the Clifton Suspension Bridge and all around the town. Thousands of people line the streets to support the runners and the event is well covered by the local newspaper too. read more