Where does the Oxford Half Marathon start and finish?
The Oxford Half Marathon starts on Broad Street and finishes on Parks Road. The festival village is located on Oxford University Parks.
The race will start at 9:30 on Sunday 15 October 2023.
There is a race cut-off time of 3 hours and 30 minutes, after this time we will need to give Oxford their roads back!
What time should I arrive?
The event village will open from 7:30am. Depending on the assigned starting time, all participants should arrive any time from 07:30 on race day. Runners are split into two arrival groups to ease congestion at key points:
Group 1 - 07:30-08:15
Group 2 - 08:00-08:30
Travelling to the Oxford Half Marathon?
Save time and purchase your car park and bus ticket via the RingGo App!
Tickets are available up to 4 days before the date you are travelling. You can purchase tickets for up to 2 Adults and 1 Car which will be valid for a return ticket on the Park&Ride services in to Central Oxford on the day and 12 hours parking at your chosen Car Park. You will simply need to show your parking ticket on the RingGo app to the driver. If you have more than 2 people travelling, additional tickets will be available to purchase on the day from one of our dedicated ticket sellers.
Due to various road closures and roadworks in the city centre we would advise using either Redbridge or Thornhill Park & Ride sites.
To book simply visit www.myringgo.co.uk.
RingGo Parking Codes:
Redbridge Car Park – 551004
Pear Tree Car Park – 551003
Thornhill Car Park - 392400
Bus timetables:
Redbridge Timetable here
Thornhill Timetable here
Is there bag drop for the Oxford Half?
Yes - there will be a space to store your bag whilst you run. You will receive your race number in the post if you purchased race pack postage, which will also contain your bag label and bag collection tab.
Please visit the bay that corresponds to your race number. Please note that any bag dropped at the bag drop must be a maximum of 45cm x 45cm x 25cm (normal backpack size). Larger bags, holdalls and any size suitcase, will not be accepted. Random bag checks will also be in operation on event day by our security team – please follow all instructions if asked by one of our team.
The Race Day Guide will be available in the week leading up to the event, it will also be emailed to all runners prior to the event.
Are there changing facilities at the Oxford Half?
We usually have a limited amount of changing space available for runners to use at the Oxford Half, which will be located next to the bag drop area.
The Race Day Guide will be available the week prior to the event and emailed to all runners!
Does any part of the entry fee go to charity?
Your entry fee covers the staging of the event and third party insurance.
Is there a minimum age?
The minimum age for competitors is 16, as long as you are 17 on or before 31st December 2023.
How do I get my Oxford Half race pack?
Race Pack Delivery:
You can purchase race pack delivery upon registration, in which case your race pack will be posted to you in the 2 weeks prior to the event. Your address must be up to date on your registration 4 weeks before the event in order for these to be sent to the correct place as we will not be able to re-send. If you need to update your address, please get in touch via hello@oxfordhalf.com
Race Pack Collection:
If you did not pay for race pack postage when registering, you will need to collect your race pack from the collection point in the event Village, located on Oxford University Parks, on Saturday 14 October 2023. You will be able to pick up your race pack from 10:00 - 17:00, further details about collection can be found in the Race Day Guide.
Please note that collection will not be possible on event morning.
What if my race pack doesn't arrive in the post?
If your pack doesn't make it to you in the post, then you'll need to collect a new race number from the collection point in the Event Village on Oxford University Parks, on Saturday 14 October 2023, from 10:00 - 17:00.
What is in my race Pack?
Your race pack will contain:
- A race bib with a unique runner number and the chip which records the runner's time.
We are encouraging participants to try to keep and reuse items such as safety pins from event to event. As a result, we are no longer sending out safety pins in our Race Packs, reducing the environmental impact of our event and as part of our broader sustainability manifesto. Please do your best to bring some with you on event day!
For anyone who is unable to bring your own safety pins, we will have areas within the festival village to collect some.
Is there a prize for winning?
As always, our ambition is to create our events so that they are fully inclusive and appeal to participants of all experience and abilities. We are investing our resources into our overall event experience for our participants and engagement with the local community, from hosting engaging route entertainment and festival village activities, to improving the event’s sustainability and carbon footprint. This is all whilst continuing to deliver seamless race operations as part of a safe and enjoyable day for all taking part.
Whilst we’re all about celebrating every single participant in the Oxford Half, we still want to acknowledge the speedy performance of our race winners and will therefore be offering prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in female, male and racing wheelchair categories. Prizes will take the form of vouchers and/or products from our partners.
Can I listen to a personal music player whilst racing?
You are more than welcome to run with headphones, however, we recommend running without so you can listen for any instructions from route marshals and soak up the amazing route entertainment & atmosphere!
Race day information
Additional race day information will become available to all participants in the weeks leading up to the event. But if you have any questions or concerns in the meantime, please contact us at hello@oxfordhalf.com
All LimeLight Sports Club events aim to be inclusive, offering people of all abilities the opportunity to take part.
Please read the information below about taking part if you have a disability and/or require assistance on event day.
Wheelchairs:
Wheelchair entrants are permitted at the Oxford Half. At registration checkout, simply tick the wheelchair participant box and we'll be in touch to coordinate any necessary details with you.
Hand cycles, however, are not permitted and all wheelchair participants must be self-propelled without support.
If you meet our elite qualifying time and are also taking part in a racing wheelchair, then you will start at the front of the race, shortly before the main field. If you are taking part in a day chair, then you will start the race at the back of the main field.
Disabled participants who need assistance:
If you are a visually impaired runner or your disability and/or medical conditions means that you require a guide runner/assistant, then please contact us at hello@oxfordhalf.com detailing your request.
We strongly advise that each participant and their guide should be appropriately identified and linked together in a safe way on event day. Guide dogs are permitted on the event site, however they are not permitted on the Oxford Half race route.
Why am I being redirected to LET'S DO THIS when entering the Oxford Half 2023?
LimeLight Sports Club has partnered with 'Let’s Do This' to take on the Oxford Half entries for 2023.
When you enter the Oxford Half, your entry information and payment is processed by 'Let’s Do This' and passed securely to LimeLight Sports Club. Your bank statement will show 'Let’s Do This' against your event entry and you will receive a booking confirmation email from 'Let’s Do This'. Once you are entered, all event communication will come from LimeLight Sports Club and the Oxford Half team.
How can I check if I’m registered?
You can check you've registered for any of our 7 Original events through our Limelight Sports Club website after being redirected to our booking partner Let's Do This. Our 7 Original events are London Triathlon, Blenheim Palace Triathlon, London Duathlon, Etape Caledonia, Hackney Half, ASICS London 10K and Oxford Half.
When you completed your registration and purchased your entry you should have received a confirmation email from Let's Do This containing all the details of your event booking including your booking reference. If you did not receive your confirmation email, please reach out to us at hello@oxfordhalf.com and/or Let's Do This at support@letsdothis.com, we will be happy to assist you.
How do I edit my registration details?
Editing your registration details, including predicted finish time, and race pack delivery address is easy, please reach out to us at hello@oxfordhalf.com and/or Let's Do This at support@letsdothis.com and we will be able to update your information.
How do I change the delivery address for my race pack?
Your address must be up to date on your registration 4 weeks before the event in order for these to be sent to the correct place as we will not be able to re-send.
If you need to update your address, please reach out to our booking partner Let's Do This at support@letsdothis.com and they will be able to assist you further.
Can I defer my entry or get a refund if I am no longer able to attend the event?
The entry fee to the Oxford Half is non-refundable and cannot be deferred to a future year or transferred to another person.
If you are unable to participate in the event for any reason, you will not receive a refund of the event fee, any booking fee, and/or any other costs you have incurred in connection with your entry into the Event.
Low-cost insurance policies are available that protect event participants in the event that they have to withdraw from the event due to injury, illness or other reasons depending upon the insurance policy in question. Where possible we will provide a link to an insurance option of this type during the registration process, but we do not do so as any form of recommendation of the specific policy, other than to recommend that participants provide themselves with adequate insurance.
For further information on this please read the full entry Terms & Conditions here.
I am an LSC member who has signed up, but am now unable to make the date – what are my options?
If you can’t make the date, please get in touch with our Customer Experience team via members@limelightsports.club.
Please note you must let us know you are unable to attend you must let us know a minimum of 1 month before the event date if you would like a refund and 1 week before the event if you would like to defer your place or transfer it to another LSC Member.
Can I qualify for an Elite place?
To qualify for a complimentary place in the elite race, participants must have a qualifying time within the last 3 years of 1:10:00 or quicker for men, and 1:20:00 or quicker for women.
To qualify for a complimentary place in the elite wheelchair race, participants must take part in a racing wheelchair and also have a previous qualifying time within the last 3 years of 1:20:00 or quicker for men and 1:30:00 or quicker for women.
All other wheelchair participants taking part in day chairs will start together at the back of the half marathon field to ensure they can participate safely in the race.
If you think you can qualify, please send us a link to your Power of 10 to hello@oxfordhalf.com.
I have a general entry place, can I still run for a charity?
Of course! You're free to raise funds for whichever charity you like. If you don't have a charity in mind, you can find our supporting charities for the Oxford Half event here.
How do I run the Oxford Half for a charity?
You can find all Oxford Half charity partners on the Oxford charities page of the website. Contact the charity of your choice and let them know you'd like to run for them!
We recommend setting up a JustGiving page to assist with marketing and securing your funds.
I am a charity looking to purchase places in the Oxford Half, how do I do this?
To register your Charity to buy places in the Oxford Half 2023, please click here. You will need to register a new account for 2023. To start, please specify if you would like to pay for your places by credit/debit card or invoice.
If you opt to pay for your places via invoice: you will be issued an invoice within 4 working days. Following payment, your event places will be reserved immediately.
Once your places have been confirmed as paid, you will be sent a link to access your event dashboard to invite your fundraisers to register for the event.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us via email at charities@limelightsports.club
Can we bring parents as well as teachers to help out with supervising?
We understand it’s difficult to bring enough teachers to supervise, especially for large schools. We do allow parent helpers; however, the school is responsible for vetting and recruiting trusted adults to assist with supervision.
Can I add more students after the deadline?
While we don’t ever want a child to miss out, we have to monitor capacity to keep children safe and we need to ensure we order enough medals and t-shirts for all participants. Therefore, we cannot guarantee we will be able to accept entries after the deadline for the Oxford Schools' Challenge. Please drop us a line to find out if we can allow late additions.
Can schools bring helpers along?
School helpers are welcome to join, but every teacher and helper must register online for the Schools' Challenge. All registered participants will receive a t-shirt which grants entry to the Schools' Challenge area within the Schools Challenge venue. We cannot allow entry to anyone without a t-shirt so we can ensure the area is safe and secure for our schools
Road Closures
The 2023 road closure information has not yet been finalised, however please see here for the 2022 road closure information.
How do I volunteer?
If you’d like to volunteer and be #partofthecrew please contact: volunteers@limelightsports.com
We couldn’t do our events without our incredible volunteers. Working at the Oxford Half is an incredible opportunity and an amazing weekend of sport.
What happens if I feel unwell whilst running?
See your GP if you have a problem or worry that might make it a risk for you to take part in the event. If you have any known medical conditions (such as diabetes, asthma, allergy to penicillin, etc) inform us prior to the event by entering it in the box provided on the online application.
In addition, please write all medical details on the back of your event number. Whether you have a medical condition or not, if you feel unwell on the event day – don’t take part. If you have flu, a feverish cold or a tummy bug, do not train until you have fully recovered. Then start gently and build up gradually. Do not attempt to catch up on lost mileage after illness or injury – this may cause further damage or illness.
Who do I contact for lost property?
Please contact the event organisers via email, hello@oxfordhalf.com, with a full description of the missing item and we will do our best to reunite you with the item.
How do I buy a photograph of myself crossing the finishing line?
Marathon Photos are our official photographer for the event. Please go directly to their website to retrieve your photos and further information.
How can I find out my finish time?
Provisional results will be available via the tracking link on our website and if you have inputted a British mobile number, they will be texted to you. They will also be emailed to you post event.
You have got my age group wrong?
Your age group is based upon the date of birth that you entered. Note that your age group is determined by your age at 31 December of the race year and not your age on race day.
Is there a cancellation/waiting list?
Please note that we don’t operate a reserve/cancellation list as we already take into account the usual drop-out rate prior to the event.
I am not receiving any email communication about my entry?
There may be several reasons for this. Firstly, please ensure that you are entered correctly into the event by following the instructions outlined above. Secondly, emails can often get directed straight into junk/spam folders or get rejected by email servers altogether. Please ensure that you check those filters and additionally add ‘hello@oxfordhalf.com’ to your safe senders list.
If you have unsubscribed from our mailing list and would like to resubscribe, please click here.