THOUSANDS of people across Reading are lacing up their running shoes as the town prepares for the Green Park Reading Half Marathon on Sunday, March 22.
The event sees seasoned runners and novices alike take on a 13-mile route through the heart of the town, starting and concluding at Green Park.
Rolling road closures will take place throughout the day and residents are being advised to plan ahead if they intend to travel on race day, and roads along the route can be closed at any point between 6am and 4pm that day.
Temporary diversions will be in place and closures will be removed as soon as it is safe to do so. Road users are advised to allow extra time for their journeys.
Half marathon runners will set off from Green Park at 10.15am on 22 March and head towards Whitley before taking in the Reading University campus, crossing the Kennet and making their way into the heart of the town centre.
From there, they will travel west towards Prospect Park before looping back around and down the A33 Relief Road to the Select Car Leasing Stadium, the home of Reading FC, for the big finish in front of thousands of spectators.
The council has worked with Thames Water to allow runners temporary access to Bennet Road on race day despite the ongoing road closure due to water network repairs.
The family-friendly 3km Mini Marathon is also taking place at 8.30am on 22 March but is contained within Green Park.
The Reading Half Marathon has been a fixture of the town since 1983 and has become one of the most popular annual events for runners in the UK. It has raised millions for local charities and is supported by around 15,000 spectators along the route every year.
The Green Park Reading Half Marathon 2026 is organised by Goldline Events and the Council supports the event by co-ordinating road closures, hosting the information point for participants at the stadium and staffing a residents’ hotline.
Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward, Lead Councillor for Culture and Leisure, said: “We welcome thousands of runners taking part in the Reading Half Marathon every year along with their friends and family who come to cheer them on.
“Reading residents also line the route and help create a wonderful, welcoming atmosphere for runners on race day.
“Of course, roads do have to be temporarily closed throughout the day so I would urge residents to check the roads affected and closure times if they are planning to travel on Sunday, March 22.”
A list of roads affected, and guideline of closure times can be found via: reading.gov.uk/leisure
A full route map can be found at: readinghalfmarathon.com
A Reading Half-Marathon residents’ hotline will be operating throughout the day via: 0773 600 7452
