Entries for the Bath Half Marathon are selling much quicker than recent years and the event is preparing for an early sell out. According to the organisers of the race, general public sales are over 50% ahead of last year with more than 3,400 people already registered, and many taking advantage of the early bird discounted rate during April. Entries are steadily coming in on a weekly basis. Organisers also report record pre-sales to charities again for the 2018 event, which will further reduce the number of places remaining for general public entries.
Running High Events, which organises the Bath Half Marathon, expects the 15,000 places for the 2018 race to be full by the end of October. Race Director Andrew Taylor believes this is indicative of the growing interest in running as well as more people tuning into a culture of health and well-being. “This year approximately 60% of our runners were people who live in Bath or are very local to us, and it is a consistent and steady upward trend that indicates we are a city that is increasingly embracing running, healthy living and the outdoors lifestyle.
“There are lots of free running groups and clubs in the city, which is a great support network for anyone taking up running, or for experienced runners looking to improve. Our race is a key event for many people, not just because they love to run, but also because it’s a great way to raise money for good causes and is a fast course where people can look to achieve ‘personal best’ times.
“For the 2017 event we saw a noticeable uplift in younger people entering the race and I’m hoping this trend continues next year. We also achieved an even split between the number of men and women running this race. The Bath Half is a race that people repeatedly enter, which indicates to me that we have got our event right, and also just how much Bath is loved by the running community.
“If you’ve never entered a race before, the Bath Half really is a fabulous day. We have the most amazing spectators, and they truly make a difference, spurring runners on around the course. There are training plans and plenty advice to help runners on our website and on the day. We will do everything we can to help you enjoy the run and to get you across the finish line.”
The Bath Half Marathon 2018 takes place on Sunday 4th March. Registration can be completed online at www.bathhalf.co.uk