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Bath Half Marathon

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Bath Half Marathon
DateMarch
LocationBath, United Kingdom
Event typeRoad
DistanceHalf marathon
Established1981; 43 years ago (1981)
Course recordsMen's: 1:01:45 (2016)
Robert Wambua Mbithi
Women's: 1:09:27 (2007)
Liz Yelling
Official sitebathhalf.co.uk Edit this at Wikidata
Participants11,693 (in 2015)[1]

The Bath Half Marathon (stylised as BATHALF) is an annual road running half marathon held in Bath, England, normally on the second or third Sunday in March. It has been held almost every year since 1982. The race was first run in the year after the first London Marathon and has remained a popular race for runners preparing for that event. The next race is scheduled for Sunday 16 March 2025.

It is the largest one-day charity fundraising event in South West England, raising over £2.2 million for charity in 2016.[2][3]

Course

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Main group of runners in 2009, on Pulteney Road, Widcombe

The Bath Half is a fast flat course, straddling both sides of the River Avon. The race starts and finishes at Royal Victoria Park.

The route follows two laps from the park, first heading westbound out of the city centre along the A4 road (Upper Bristol Road and Newbridge Road) to Newbridge and crossing the 'New Bridge' at the 'Twerton Fork' at the beginning of the dual carriageway. From here the race heads eastbound on the A36 back towards the city centre, along Lower Bristol Road, past Churchill Bridge, then continues up Rossiter Road and Pulteney Road South, before going into Great Pulteney Street, U-turning at the former start and finish location and heading back down to Churchill Bridge via the same route to complete the out-and-back section.

The route then crosses the River Avon via the Churchill Bridge, heads past the city centre and Green Park via the A367, before cutting through Monmouth Place to re-join Upper Bristol Road and begin the second lap.

The second lap follows largely the same route as the first, however, the out-and-back section is not included for a second time, and the route makes a direct left turn at the Churchill Bridge instead.

At the Monmouth Place, the route breaks-off from the main loop and continues straight-on up Chapel Row, Queen Square and Queen's Parade as the incline begins to steepen. The route then heads up the only significant hill in the course: the final climb up Royal Avenue back into the park. The incline flattens-out for the final 200 metres of the route where it finishes in front of the Royal Crescent.

Course history

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The course used largely the same route from 2006 to 2020, starting and finishing on Great Pulteney Street with Bath Recreation Ground as the race headquarters.

In 2022, the race relocated to Royal Victoria Park, starting at nearby Queen Square and finishing in the park, next to the new race village. The new course followed largely the same roads, but in a 'different order'. The out-and-back section along Great Pulteney Street was introduced, with the direction of the main loop being reversed; the route ran westbound along Lower Bristol Road and eastbound along Newbridge Road and Upper Bristol Road, finishing with a sharp incline up Marlborough Lane.

In 2023, the course was revised again: the start and finish were both moved to the park's Royal Avenue, and the main loop was switched back to its traditional direction.

Results

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Year Date Competitors Athlete Nationality Time (h:m:s) Athlete Nationality Time (h:m:s)
1982 21 March Unknown Nigel Gates  United Kingdom 1:03:01 Joyce Smith  United Kingdom 1:11:45
1983 20 March Unknown Nigel Gates  United Kingdom 1:04:24 Annette Roberts  United Kingdom 1:15:35
1984 18 March Unknown Maurice Cowman  United Kingdom 1:04:13 Priscilla Welch  United Kingdom 1:12:13
1985 17 March Unknown Steve Anders  United Kingdom 1:03:29 Veronique Marot  United Kingdom 1:11:10
1986 16 March Unknown Steve Anders  United Kingdom 1:02:35 Veronique Marot  United Kingdom 1:10:23
1987 15 March Unknown John Wheway  United Kingdom 1:03:02 Veronique Marot  United Kingdom 1:11:53
1988 20 March Unknown John Wheway  United Kingdom 1:04:11 Sally Ellis  United Kingdom 1:11:38
1989 19 March Unknown John Wheway  United Kingdom 1:04:26 Bronwen Cardy-Wise  United Kingdom 1:15:20
1990 18 March Unknown Steve Brace  United Kingdom 1:05:11 Veronique Marot  United Kingdom 1:13:46
1991 17 March Unknown Chris Buckley  United Kingdom 1:04:41 Karen MacLeod  United Kingdom 1:13:31
1992 15 March Unknown Colin Walker  United Kingdom 1:03:59 Ann Roden  United Kingdom 1:15:26
1993 14 March Unknown Steve Brace  United Kingdom 1:04:05 Andrea Wallace  United Kingdom 1:09:39
1994 20 March Unknown Chris Buckley  United Kingdom 1:03:44 Hayley Nash  United Kingdom 1:13:15
1995 19 March Unknown David Taylor  United Kingdom 1:04:22 Karen MacLeod  United Kingdom 1:14:17
1996 17 March Unknown Phil Makepeace  United Kingdom 1:05:15 Hayley Nash  United Kingdom 1:16:10
1997 16 March Unknown Gareth Davies  United Kingdom 1:06:55 Hayley Nash  United Kingdom 1:18:37
1998 8 March Unknown Stuart Hall  United Kingdom 1:06:52 Melanie Ellis  United Kingdom 1:15:34
1999 21 March Unknown Tony Graham  United Kingdom 1:06:58 Debbie Gunning  United Kingdom 1:18:36
2000 12 March 2,831 Alan Sheppard  United Kingdom 1:05:48 Helen Purdy  United Kingdom 1:15:55
2001 11 March 3,091 Paul Green  United Kingdom 1:04:57 Annie Emmerson  United Kingdom 1:11:13
2002 10 March 3,486 William Musyoki  Kenya 1:04:14 Jo Lodge  United Kingdom 1:14:01
2003 16 March 3,582 Huw Lobb  United Kingdom 1:04:51 Debbie Robinson  United Kingdom 1:11:57
2004 14 March 3,767 Joseph Riri  Kenya 1:02:20 Miriam Wangari  Kenya 1:14:37
2005 20 March 5,898 Simon Tonui  Kenya 1:02:53 Susan Partridge  United Kingdom 1:13:10
2006 19 March 5,993 Simon Kasimili[4]  Kenya 1:04:08 Cathy Mutwa[4]  Kenya 1:12:43
2007 25 March 8,165 Tewodros Shiferaw  Ethiopia 1:02:09 Liz Yelling  United Kingdom 1:09:27
2008 16 March 10,054 Raymond Tonui  Kenya 1:05:21 Roman Gebresse  Kenya 1:13:09
2009 15 March 10,690 Simon Tonui  Kenya 1:03:09 Joyce Kandia  Kenya 1:11:49
2010 7 March 5,293 Ezekiel Cherop  Kenya 1:03:03 Michelle Ross-Cope  United Kingdom 1:12:07
2011 6 March 10,848 Edwin Kipkorir[5]  Kenya 1:04:00 Edith Chelimo[5]  Kenya 1:11:25
2012 11 March 10,695 Edwin Kiptoo  Kenya 1:02:01 Jane Muia  Kenya 1:11:19
2013 3 March 11,062 Tewodros Shiferaw[6][7]  Ethiopia 1:03:26 Polline Wanjiru[6]  Kenya 1:10:28
2014 2 March 11,208 Nicholas Kirui[8]  Kenya 1:03:13[9] Perendis Lekapana[8]  Kenya 1:10:53[9]
2015 1 March 11,693 Paul Martelletti[1]  United Kingdom 1:05:27 Emma Stepto[1]  United Kingdom 1:13:48
2016 13 March 11,352 Robert Mbithi[10]  Kenya 1:01:45 Lenah Jerotich[10]  Kenya 1:12:24
2017 12 March 12,748 [11] Ben Fish  United Kingdom 1:05:16 Ruth Barnes  United Kingdom 1:15:32
2018 4 March Cancelled due to snow[12]
2019 17 March 11,348 Chris Thompson  United Kingdom 1:03:09 Kate Reed  United Kingdom 1:12:44
2020 15 March 6,827 Paul Pollock  Ireland 1:04:14 Becky Briggs  United Kingdom 1:14:34
2021 Cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions
2022 16 October 6,857 Kadar Omar  Ethiopia 1:05:04 Atsede Gidey  United Kingdom 1:11:54
2023 15 October 9,240 Jonathan Escalante-Phillips  United Kingdom 1:04:25 Phillipa Williams  United Kingdom 1:13:05
2024 17 March 8,421 Omar Ahmed  Ethiopia 1:04:42 Becky Briggs  United Kingdom 1:14:24
Leading runners in 2006, Simon Tonui and Simon Kasimili

Effects of COVID-19 pandemic

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The 2020 event faced criticism after it went ahead on despite the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly increasing; the UK went into lockdown nine days after the race took place.

A number of organisations pulled out, and local MP Wera Hobhouse called for it to be cancelled, saying "protecting the most vulnerable in our city from a further spread of the infection must be the priority." Organisers denied accusations they were irresponsible, and the event took place with half the usual number of participants.[13] Bath MP Wera Hobhouse later said lives probably would have been saved had the event been cancelled, but the "organiser had no guidance from Government to stop the event." Bath Half race director said "We are not aware of any data or evidence linking outdoor participation events such as the Bath Half with the spread of COVID-19, or with any fatalities from COVID-19 ... In the absence of any such data this type of discussion could be regarded as speculation, even scaremongering."[14]

The 2021 event was first postponed to September, and then cancelled in April 2021 owing to uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 restrictions, combined with planned road closures for improvement works.[15]

The 2022 event was originally scheduled for 13 March, but the race was subsequently pushed back to 29 May due to "pressure on the highways" while extensive roadworks were ongoing in the city. The race was then postponed for a third time, being moved to 16 October.

The 2023 event remained at the autumn date, taking place on 15 October, and in 2024 the race returned to its traditional March date for the first time since the pandemic.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Bath Half 2015: Paul Martelletti is first British winner since 2003 after recording fourth half-marathon success in a month, Bath Chronicle, 1 March 2015, archived from the original on 2 April 2015, retrieved 12 March 2015
  2. ^ "Bath Half Marathon". Bath Half. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  3. ^ "Bath Half Marathon". Visit Bath. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  4. ^ a b Bath Half Marathon 2006, Running High/Sports Systems, 19 March 2006, retrieved 6 December 2014
  5. ^ a b "Thousands compete in 30th Bath half marathon". BBC Somerset. 6 March 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  6. ^ a b Ellis, Rachel (4 March 2013). "Runners Praise Best Ever Bath Half". Bath Half Marathon. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  7. ^ Organisers say Bath Half Marathon 2013 is best ever, This is Bath, 3 March 2012, retrieved 7 March 2012
  8. ^ a b Ellis, Rachel (3 March 2014). "Record attendance and high spirits at the 2014 BATHALF". Bath Half Marathon. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  9. ^ a b "2014 results". Bath Half Marathon. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  10. ^ a b Ellis, Rachel (14 March 2016). "VITALITY BATH HALF MARATHON 2016 EVENT REVIEW: RUN-FAST ATHLETES ROBERT MBITHI AND LENAH JEROTICH CLAIM TITLES". Bath Half Marathon. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  11. ^ "More than 700 Bath Half runners left without medals". BBC Somerset. BBC. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  12. ^ "Runners turn out for cancelled Bath Half Marathon". BBC Somerset. BBC. 4 March 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  13. ^ "Coronavirus: Bath half marathon goes ahead despite backlash". BBC News. 15 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  14. ^ Sumner, Stephen (13 May 2020). "MP says cancelling mass gatherings "probably would have saved many lives"". Bath Echo. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  15. ^ "Bath Half Marathon postponed until 2022 due to uncertainty over COVID-19". Bath Echo. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
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