Newark Half Marathon

The start of the Newark Half Marathon

The Newark Half Marathon was conceived in 1981 as a fund raising initiative by Newark Rugby Club and Newark Athletic Club and is celebrating it’s 30th year anniversary in 2011. At its peak in the mid 1980s it attracted up to 2000 runners. The numbers then gradually declined, which led to some other similar events being cancelled, however steadily over the last 3 or 4 years numbers have increased once more, with the event attracting in excess of 1300 entrants in 2010.

The central location of the event helps ensure the race is always well supported. Runners travel from all over Britain and overseas to take part. The race is run over a mainly flat (one hill at nine miles) town and rural course which starts and finishes in the historic centre of Newark on Trent. Unlike many of the larger half marathons that take place in the UK, the Newark Half is small enough to ensure that runners can quickly get into their stride, perhaps a reason so many entrants run personal bests at the event. Runners can also count on excellent support from the residents of Newark on Trent.

Please  note: 2011 was the last edition of the Newark Half Marathon

Newark Half Marathon 2012

With regret the committee of Newark Athletic Club announces that there will not be a Half Marathon in Newark in 2012.

Several long standing volunteers have stated their intention to step down from their time consuming Half Marathon roles and this, coupled with the escalating organisational costs resulting from ever increasing regulatory and traffic management requirements, have made the event no longer viable.

Chairman Paul Lynch said "We have made this decision reluctantly as the Newark Half Marathon is a long established, well attended and successful event which acts as a great advert for the town. However it has become an increasing concern financially and organisationally and the club alone can not sustain it in its current form."

However, the club states that it does intend to introduce a new running event in 2013 - so watch this space!

In the meantime Newark AC hopes that the town and wider communities will support the Club’s established Gordon Welbourn Running Week in June 2012 and the Dave Lewis Challenge in October 2012.