Reading Half Marathon
Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox athletics race The Reading Half Marathon (currently known as the Unleashed Performance Reading Half Marathon for sponsorship reasons) is a half marathon road running event held on the streets of the English town of Reading, first held in 1983. The race is normally held on a Sunday in March or early April of each year. The race is open to everyone from fun runner to elite athlete, and was one of the first town races to include wheelchair athletes.<ref name=RHM1>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=mrhmri>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The 2024 race was held on 14 April. The 2025 race is scheduled to be held on 23 March.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
HistoryEdit
The race was first run on 13 March 1983, and has been run every year since, with the exceptions of 2001, 2018, and 2020. From 2003 to 2018 the race was organised by Sweatshop, the chain of running equipment shops founded by Chris Brasher in 1971. From 2019 the race was organised by Goldline Events, who also organise the Ikano Bank Robin Hood Marathon Events and goGIRL (Brighton & Hove). Since 2021, the race has been sponsored by Unleashed Performance, promoters of fitness centres, nutritional products and performance wear. Previously headline sponsors have included Digital, Asics, Mizuno, Vitality and Sage.<ref name=RHM1/><ref name="rhm2024ao20230424">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=gr28>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2001, the race was cancelled due to restrictions imposed during the 2001 outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. In 2018, the race was cancelled due to heavy overnight snowfall. The 2020 edition of the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all entries automatically transferred to 2021 and all registrants given the option of transferring their entry to another runner or to 2022. For similar reasons, the 2021 edition of the race was postponed to November of that year.<ref name="2020.cancellation">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="2020.cancellation.options">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>Template:Efn
CourseEdit
The Reading Half Marathon has had several courses over its life. The inaugural race in 1983, and several subsequent races, used University of Reading's Whiteknights Campus for both the start and finish. Other early courses involved use of the South Reading Leisure Centre and the Rivermead Sports Centre, on the banks of the River Thames, as start and/or finish, but recent races have used Green Park Business Park and the adjacent Madejski Stadium, both to the south of Reading, for these purposes.<ref name=RHM1/><ref name=arhfmap>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The current course starts in Green Park Business Park, which it loops before proceeding eastwards through Whitley Wood to the Whiteknights Campus, which lies between the Template:Convert and Template:Convert markers. The route then heads north, passing close to the ruins of Reading Abbey and through the Abbey Gateway, before traversing the town centre between the Template:Convert and Template:Convert markers. Leaving the town centre by Oxford Road and a steep climb up Russell Street, the course then loops around West Reading until the Template:Convert marker. The course then heads back south to the Madejski Stadium, where it finishes within the stadium.<ref name="gr2015su">Template:Cite news</ref>
RecordsEdit
The current male course record is 61 minutes 19 seconds, by Patrick Makau in 2008. The female record is 69 mins 35 seconds, set by Liz Yelling in 2008. The male wheelchair record is 45 minutes 59 seconds, set by David Weir in 2006, while the female wheelchair record is 65 minutes 17 seconds, set by Mel Nicholls in 2015.<ref name=RHM1/><ref name=whm15>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=recs1>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=res2007>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=res2008>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
WinnersEdit
| Year | Date | Men's race | Women's race | Men's wheelchair | Women's wheelchair | Template:Abbr | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 14 April | Ben Cole
(1:05:39) |
Kate Estlea-Morris
(1:14:26) |
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}}</ref> | |||
| 2023 | 2 April | Ollie Lockley
(1:04:35) |
Naomi Mitchell
(1:12:12) |
citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |||
| 2022 | 3 April | James Connor
(1:05:58) |
Kate Drew
(1:14:38) |
citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |||
| 2021 | 7 November | Omar Ahmed
(1:02:14) |
Philippa Bowden
(1:13:29) |
citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |||
| 2020 | 5 April | postponed then cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic | Template:R<ref name=bl2020pp/><ref name=rhmnda/> | |||||
| 2019 | 17 March | Scott Overall
(1:03:50) |
Stephanie Twell
(1:11:37) |
Chris Nash | No starters | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| 2018 | 18 March | cancelled on the morning of the race due to heavy overnight snowfall | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref><ref name=iya2008rc>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |||
| 2017 | 19 March | Andy Vernon
(1:03:08) |
Charlotte Purdue
(1:12:15) |
<ref name=gr2017res>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |||
| 2016 | 3 April | Robert Mbithi
(1:03:57) |
Jenny Nesbitt
(1:12:54) |
Gary Donald
(1:22:41) |
No starters | <ref name="gr2016rep">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| 2015 | 22 March | Stephen Kiplagat
(1:03:10) |
Lily Partridge
(1:10:32) |
No starters | Mel Nicholls
(1:05:17) |
<ref name=gr2015su/><ref name=whm15/><ref name="bbc20150322">Template:Cite news</ref> | ||
| 2014 | 2 March | Scott Overall
(1:04:44) |
Susan Partridge
(1:12:18) |
<ref name=gr20140302>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=mehm14res>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |||
| 2013 | 17 March | Andrew Lesuuda
(1:04:15) |
Emily Biwott
(1:12:14) |
Phil Hogg
(0:59:15) |
Jade Jones
(1:09:11) |
<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| 2012 | 1 April | Edwin Kipyego
(1:03:08) |
Alice Mogire
(1:11:01) |
Stephen Lightbown
(1:08:59) |
Kate Rowe
(3:15:35) |
citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref><ref name=respdfw2012>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| 2011 | 20 March | Simon Kasimili
(1:03:08) |
Edith Chelimo
(1:11:22) |
David Weir
(0:48:18) |
No starters | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref><ref name=bbc2011>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=gr2011>Template:Cite news</ref> | |
| 2010 | 21 March | Edwin Kipyego
(1:03:03) |
Susan Partridge
(1:12:47) |
citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |||
| 2009 | 29 March | Kiplimo Kimutai
(1:02:46) |
Joyce Kirui
(1:12:49) |
Brian Alldis
(0:54:37) |
No starters | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| 2008 | 2 March | Patrick Makau
(1:01:19) |
Liz Yelling
(1:09:35) |
Tushar Patel
(0:54:18) |
No starters | <ref name=RHM1/><ref name=res2008/> | ||
| 2007 | 25 March | Simon Kasimili
(1:03:36) |
Louise Damen
(1:10:47) |
David Weir
(0:46:06) |
No starters | <ref name=res2007 /> | ||
| 2006 | 9 April | Simon Kasimili
(1:04:51) |
Cathy Mutwa
(1:12:10) |
David Weir
(0:45:59) |
citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | ||
| 2005 | 6 March | Julius Kimutai
(1:01:51) |
Cathy Mutwa
(1:13:09) |
citation | CitationClass=web
}}Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref name=ii2005>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | ||
| 2004 | 7 March | Julius Kimutai
(1:01:38) |
Galina Ignatieva
(1:14:27) |
Tushar Patel
(0:54:36) |
Shelly Woods
(1:06:37) |
<ref name=gr28/><ref name=recs1 /><ref name=jkrec /><ref name=bbc04>Template:Cite news</ref> | ||
| 2003 | 9 March | Carl Warren
(1:06:33) |
Catherine Mutua
(1:16:42) |
<ref name=RHM1/> | ||||
| 2002 | 10 March | Michael Kosgei Rotich
(1:03:23) |
Andrea Green
(1:16:36) |
Tushar Patel
(0:59:22) |
Paula Craig
(1:35:03) |
<ref name=res2002>Reading Evening Post, 2002-03-13, pages 23–42</ref> | ||
| 2001 | cancelled due to 2001 outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |||||
| 2000 | 12 March | Sammy Bitok
(1:02:56) |
Birhan Dagne
(1:14:23) |
No starters | Carol Hutchins | <ref name=res2000>Reading Evening Post, 2000-03-15, pages 21–36</ref> | ||
| 1999 | 14 March | Sammy Nyangincha
(1:04:18) |
Lyubov Denisova
(1:15:18) |
<ref name=RHM1 /> | ||||
| 1998 | 15 March | James Kuria
(1:03:59) |
Maria Bradley
(1:16:08) |
<ref name=RHM1 /> | ||||
| 1997 | 16 March | Spencer Duval
(1:04:50) |
Lucia Subano
(1:15:44) |
<ref name=RHM1 /> | ||||
| 1996 | 31 March | Gary Staines
(1:03:31) |
Carolyn Horne
(1:19:08) |
<ref name=RHM1 /> | ||||
| 1995 | 30 April | Baha Tulumba
(1:04:49) |
Kathryn Bailey
(1:15:31) |
<ref name=RHM1 /> | ||||
| 1994 | 10 April | Andrew Leach
(1:06:46) |
Tanya Maria Ball
(1:24:40) |
<ref name=RHM1 /> | ||||
| 1993 | 28 March | Paul Evans
(1:01:38) |
Alison Fletcher
(1:16:49) |
Ian Thompson
(0:59:23) |
Tanni Grey | <ref name=RHM1 /><ref name=gr28 /> | ||
| 1992 | 26 April | Steve Brace
(1:02:20) |
Scholasica Ndigingi
(1:11:36) |
<ref name=RHM1 />Template:Efn | ||||
| 1991 | 7 April | Steve Brace
(1:04:28) |
Celia Duncan
(1:18:59 ) |
<ref name=RHM1 /> | ||||
| 1990 | 1 April | Steve Brace & Nick Trainer
(1:03:32) |
Angie Pain
(1:12:21) |
<ref name=RHM1 /> | ||||
| 1989 | 2 April | Paul Cuskin
(1:04:11) |
Marina Sammy
(1:13:43) |
<ref name=RHM1 /> | ||||
| 1988 | 10 April | Paul Cuskin
(1:03:16) |
Karen MacLeod
(1:14:09) |
<ref name=RHM1 /> | ||||
| 1987 | 5 April | Kevin Forster
(1:02:07) |
Paula Fudge
(1:12:45) |
<ref name=RHM1 /> | ||||
| 1986 | 6 April | Paul Davies-Hale
(1:02:39) |
Ann Ford
(1:12:09) |
<ref name=RHM1 /> | ||||
| 1985 | 24 March | Kingston Mills
(1:03:55) |
Véronique Marot
(1:12:56) |
Mike Bishop
(1:16:31) |
<ref name=RHM1 /><ref name=drhmps>Template:Cite book</ref> | |||
| 1984 | 25 March | Michael Hurd
(1:04:39) |
Karen Holdsworth
(1:13:56) |
<ref name=RHM1 />Template:Efn | ||||
| 1983 | 13 March | Mark Cursons
(1:07:45) |
Sarah Rowell
(1:16:00) |
<ref name=RHM1 /><ref name=stan>Template:Cite book</ref> | ||||