Half Marathons 2026 - 2027

Half marathon races are 21 kilometres, which is exactly half the distance of a full 26.2 miles. The average finishing time for a half in the UK is around 2:00 hours, with more seasoned runners often pushing for 1 hour 30 minutes or less. This makes half marathons the perfect choice for runners looking to step up to a new challenge from 10k races and an important milestone for those on their way to running a full marathon. If you're looking for some inspiration for goal setting, find out what a good half marathon time is in our guide.

While it is physically possible to run a half marathon without training, we really wouldn’t recommend it. From both an enjoyment and health perspective, training correctly before embarking on a half marathon is going to lead you to have a much better experience.

Running a half marathon requires a significant level of endurance, stamina, and physical fitness. Without proper training, you are more likely to experience discomfort, fatigue, and the risk of injuring yourself is much higher. Training allows your body to adapt, get stronger and build stamina - everything you’ll need to enjoy the challenge of a half marathon race. Diet is also important, for more info take a look at our guide on what to eat before a half marathon.

Looking for a half marathon you can take part in from anywhere - even indoors? Our virtual runs offer a range of distances and ways to challenge yourself whilst still running solo.

Fancy an active trip away? Check out our Running Holidays page which lists international running trips and breaks.

A half marathon is equivalent to 21.0975 kilometres (or approximately 13.1 miles). It is exactly half the distance of a full marathon, which is 42.195 kilometres or 26.2 miles.

If you can successfully run a 10K (which is approximately 6.2 miles), you can definitely work your way up to running a half marathon. It is roughly twice the distance, so naturally, you’ll need to enhance the stamina and endurance you’ll have already built in running 10 kilometres. Following a structured training plan that allows for rest and increasing distance incrementally is the safest way to build up to the full 13.1 miles.

There are two main types of Half Marathon events to participate in: Road Races and Trail Runs.

Road Half Marathons are the most traditional and popular type of half marathon. It takes place on paved roads or streets, typically in city or suburban areas with well-planned routes and water stations. Choose from a range of mass-participation Half Marathon events in London, Manchester, Birmingham and many more big cities and towns across the UK. These types of races also often have fantastic routes that pass iconic landmarks and tend to have buzzing crowds cheering runners on.

Trail Half Marathons are held on off-road trails in woodland settings or on hiking trails. They deliver a more scenic and natural experience but tend to be much more demanding due to the variety of terrain and uneven surfaces.

Around 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes is a reasonable first-half-marathon range, but finishing comfortably is a better first target to go after. Runners still building towards 13.1 miles can use a 10K race as a stepping stone along the way. Age, training and course profile all affect the eventual half marathon time, with a flat road race likely to be faster than a hilly or technical course.

Run Dorney Lake is among the flattest upcoming half marathons with published course data, recording 27m of elevation. Newbury Racecourse lists 30m and Derby Running Festival 37m, with further flat-course options appearing among November half marathons. At least 89 upcoming races describe themselves as flat, but a race without a published profile should not be assumed to be hilly.

No single half marathon can be named the hardest because difficulty depends on a range of factors like ascent, surface, weather and technical terrain. If you’re looking for more of a challenge with demanding off-road courses, check out upcoming trail runs, including races with substantial climbing. Among half marathons with published figures, Solihull lists 192m of elevation gain, Wendover Woods Trail lists 181m, and Chepstow Running Festival lists 715 feet; Windsor Half Marathon and The Battlefield Run Naseby are also described as hilly by their organisers.

There are plenty of scenic half marathon routes throughout the UK, but a couple stand out. Run the Raid Lindisfarne Trail Half Marathon is a strong scenic choice, taking runners across the tidal causeway near Beal on the Northumberland coast. The autumn half marathon calendar also includes rural and trail races such as the Derbyshire Dales Trail Run, which has a 5.0 rating from nine finisher reviews. At least 122 upcoming half marathons describe themselves as trail races, giving runners a choice of coastal, woodland and countryside routes.

A good half marathon time changes as you get older, so it’s more helpful to compare yourself with runners in a similar age group. As a rough guide, an intermediate male runner might aim for around 1:47 at age 40, 1:56 at 50 and 2:07 at 60. For an intermediate woman, the equivalent times are roughly 2:04, 2:16 and 2:34. Don’t forget the course, either: hills, trails and bad weather can add quite a bit to a finish time, so you may prefer a flatter race from the November half marathon calendar. Remember you should think of these as useful reference points, not times you’re expected to hit.

Most individual half marathon entries in the current calendar cost roughly £20 to £50. In 2026, the prices have so far ranged from £9.10 to £145. The highest costs can cover a festival or multi-race package, so check that the advertised price applies to the half marathon itself.

A UK half marathon can have fewer than 100 runners or a field of several thousand. The current listings include 100-runner caps at The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Two Tunnels Railway Races, while the Isle of Wight Half Marathon lists 300 participants. The autumn half marathon calendar contains both small independent races and larger events, but organisers don’t always publish field sizes, so there is no reliable national average.