Northampton Half Marathon Relay

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The relay course comprises 3 stages (3.7 miles/7.8 miles/1.6 miles approx.) please go to the Relay Logistics Tab for the routes to your start positions and to the finsh

Stage 1 – Starting in the shadow of the historical Guildhall in the centre of Northampton with the rest of the event, then down the Derngate  before turning left into Spring Gardens by the Charles Rennie Macintosh House.  The course takes you past St Giles Church, on to Abington Street past BBC Radio Northampton and the art deco Old Savoy and passing under the watchful eye of the Charles Bradlaugh statue and one of the Northampton War Memorials.  A slight up hill along Kettering road takes you in to the stunning Racecourse Park and then though the park gates on to Barrack Road past the amazing modern architecture of the Northampton International Academy.   After crossing Campbell Square then its on to Sheep Street, past the Church of the Holy Sepulchre which is over 900 years old and turning into Ladies Lane, down Wellington Street and back on to Abington Street.  You then turn on to Wood Hill, past the War Memorial designed by Edward Lutyens (he designed the Centotaph in London) and back past the start line.  Then its down hill past the Royal and Derngate Theatre and the Northampton Museum and Art Gallery across Victoria Promenade and into the picturesque Beckets Park to the University bridge at Nunn Mills Road for the hand over.   – 

Stage 2 –  following the river Nene past the University buildings and the Arc floating restaurant.  Once you have crossed the bridge at the White Water Centre then you follow the tree lined paths of Brackmills before climbing the renowned “pink hill” and up into Great Houghton where a great view of the town below awaits.  Its then down hill through the Brackmills Country Park, along the paths to the turn up to the A45 for the hand over

Stage 3 up the steep path for a short stretch alongside the A45 before taking the footbridge, past the hotel and into Delapre. The route takes you  past the Golf Course through woodland before the route opens up into the South Lawn at Delapre for a beautifiul backdrop to the finish.

Elevation is +534 Ft and – 567 Ft.  

The course is measured by the Association of UK Course Measurers and comply with all UKA standards – Certificate No. 17/369.  Course distance is 13.1 miles. 

COURSE MARKING

The course is marked and well marshalled.  Mile markers are provided along the length of the course.

AID STATIONS 

There are 4 aid stations providing water in recyclable paper cups.  The Guildhall (after the town centre loop) (Stage 1), Salthouse Road (visited twice before and after the Great Houghton loop) and Great Houghton (Stage 2)

AWARDS

REGISTRATION AND START TIME

Registration will open from 13:00 until 16:00 on Saturday 25th September and from 08:00 on Race Day. Registration will be located at the JD Wetherspoon’s – The Cordwainer Pub, The Ridings, Northampton,NN1 2AQ one street back from St Giles Street, 2 minutes walk from the start.  Only the Relay Team Captain needs to register. The race will start at 9.30am

AGE LIMIT

The age limit for the half marathon is 17 on the day of the race in accordance with the UKA Licence Standards

BAGGAGE TRANSFER

A bag drop facility for small bags will be available at the start area to allow a discard of pre-race clothing only.

PARKING

Event Parking will be near the the finish in Delapre Country Park

The walking route to the start will be signed and is one mile.  In addition, there is parking in the town centre but this will not be signed or marshalled.

COURSE RECORDS

This is a new addition to the event so the course record awaits

CUT OFF AND PACERS

The cut off time for the race is 3 hours.  

HEADPHONES

In accordance with the UKA rules the wearing of “in ear” headphones is NOT permitted in a race where roads are open to traffic.  Yes bone conductor headphones are permitted but we would rather that you communicate with and encourage your fellow runners!  

CHARITY ENTRIES

If you wish to register for a charity place please click here for a full list of charities

TOILETS

Available at the start in the pub and additional portable toilets in front of the Guildhall and in Delapre Abbey after the race. Changing facilities are limited.

START

FINISH & CAR PARK

The Team park at Delapre Abbey and walk to start at the Guildhall click here for the route map.

Runner 1 –Leg Details 

After you have finished your leg then click here for the walk to the finish 

RUNNER 2 – Leg Details 

Walk from the start (you want to see your first runner start of course?) to your start position click here for the route map. After you have finished your leg then click here for the walk to the finish

RUNNER 3 – Leg Details 

Walk from the start (you want to see your first runner start of course?) to your start position click here for the route map.  You have the honour of crossing the finish line for your team 

Electronic Route Plots:

Stage 1 

Stage 1 end walk to the finish

Start Line Area to Stage 2 start

Stage 2 

Stage 2 end walk to the finish

Start Line Area to Stage 3 start

Stage 3 

NEW FOR 2021

2019 Northampton Half runners footage from “All the Gear Slight Idea”

2019 Start footage

2019 “Child Bereavement UK” charity runners footage

Plans are in place to ensure you can be COVID confident when you book and that you and your place will be safe.  The worst-case scenario is that your place gets automatically deferred to a new event date, should the 2021 event need to be re-scheduled 

In order to make our events as safe as possible we have introduced video race briefing for all of our events, additional registration times where possible, embedding timing chips in race numbers for larger races with on the day number allocation to reduce queues.  Also, chip timing ensuring that you can space out as your time doesn’t start until you cross the line.  You might be asked to wear a face mask before the race starts so that everyone is safe and comfortable