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Dear All, as one of the organisers of yesterday's Oxford Half Marathon we hope everyone enjoyed the race. It is not easy to hold a City Centre event for the first time and we have had many issues to cope with over the past year! Obviously the Council wanted to keep road-closures to a minimum in this first year and they have acknowledged that this will be changed from next year onwards and local residents given plenty of notice and disruptions kept to a minimum. The originally intended route did not take in the cut across Cowley Road which was unfortunately imposed by the Iffley Road roadworks, and this will alter for next year. Apart from one or two negative comments the feedback from competitors, spectators and media has been fantastic. Some competitors said it was hilly, some said it was flat; some enjoyed the route and scenery, others didn't - it is impossible to create a route that pleases everyone!! A great winning run by James Bellward, who was quoted as saying "The course was flat and fast, probably the fastest course I have done"! Not everyone enjoyed the stretch through the MINI Plant facility but we think it is a great idea to take the race through the facility of your main sponsor - especially when you have such a superb sponsor like MINI Plant Oxford. Traffic was a problem for later arrivals coming into the Kassam Stadium and this will be addressed for next year, but the Stadium finish and support was excellent. Our thanks to everyone who took part or supported, brilliant for the streets of Oxford to be lined with runners and applauding residents; also thanks to all of our Event Partners and the many people who marshalled and manned the water stations, and we are delighted to be supporting Helen & Douglas House. Lastly, it was great to have Liz Yelling taking part - a very genuine and inspiring lady.

Again really great to have all your comments and well done to everyone who ran and made it such a special day

Regards

Dave Box

Race Director

Hi Everyone,

First of all thanks to all comments received, it does make a difference. We are really looking forward to the event, it has been a long process, but for us definately rewarding. Jim, I know exactly where you are coming from, political agendas are not what we are about, we just want a race that is going to make a day in Oxford very special, and guys, ARC or UKA permit, it does not matter as they are both organisations that ARE legitimate, whatever you are told, we just don't want you to fall asleep talking about them. We ask club runners in Oxon AA to make their own minds up to run and the support from officials in these clubs have been amazing, and we have many entries from these club runners which means a lot to us.  I have invited the Oxon Chair to just give me a call to chat, unfortunately he has not taken me up on that offer, but  that is not the main point.

The main point is to see a day where runners of all abilities enjoy an event that will make it special for each and every runner, with a city centre route, and a stadium finish. Many runners are not members of local clubs, so on the day, after you finish, if you are thinking of joining a club in the area, we will give you information relevant to your postcode. Coaches, officials in these clubs do a brilliant job and we will help in whatever way possible, if you decide its for you.

 Remember, 3 weeks to go, if you need any infomation please go to www.oxfordhalfmarathon.co.uk and we will look forward to giving all runners, and spectators a day to remember. I can tell you that we cannot wait!!

Dave (Race Director)

Hi Guys,

Firstly, thank you right said aouita, for those comments, there has been a lot of negatively but sometimes that is just down to change and because it is a brand new event. We have to accept this but the race is full on 110%, road closures in place,  and we are really looking forward to it.

 Just to give you some news, that Up and Running store in Oxford is doing a 10km run of part of the course at 11.30am on this Sunday 14th August meeting at the store. The shop will be open from 10am and everybody who signs up will get a free energy drink, stretching tips and 20% off full price running gear.

Also, I do know that the 1st 15 male and 1st 15 female runners who confirm will get a free custom design technical tee shirt.

Speak soon and if you have any queries about the race please go to www.oxfordhalfmarathon.co.uk

Many thanks

Dave (race organiser)

Mick n Phil, sorry for the delay in getting back to you, but I don't attend the forum that often, we would be more than happy to have you run the Oxford Half Marathon and look forward to seeing you both on the 25th September.

Guys, just a note that if you have any queries or question please go to the website www.oxfordhalfmarathon.co.uk  as you will get a quicker response.

Message to Robert Logan, I have noted your comments in one of the Oxford newspapers and the mention that the road closures will call massive disruption (they will not as it is very important for us as race organisers to be sensitive to local residents, businesses and emergency services).

Without going into detail, I feel I know the reasons why you are against the staging of this race, I find it surprising because you are a local runner and member of a very local running club but whatever makes you happy.  If you have a real concern about us coming from Somerset, and the issues in general, please e.mail us on the website and we will come back to you. To assume that we have always come from Somerset and having no connections with Oxford is really quite naive.

Hope everybody who has entered really enjoy themselves we have got lots of entertainment not just for the runners but also the spectators and it will finish actually inside the stadium which will create a great atmosphere. Thank you for all your comments and  it really is not long to go now. Cheers Dave

Hi Robert,

Please see my last comment about the Traffic Management plan etc. ARC does have the same should we call "powers" as UKA, in respect of a permit. The only difference is that we have decided to go with ARC, thats it!!  I do not want to put people to sleep regarding different governing associations. The most important thing for me is that this event will be a great occasion and I hope you and your club (I presume you are in a club) support this. Again, thanks for your comments and hope to see you on 25th September. To state again if you have any questions, concerns please go onto our website. Robert you have been a regular contributor to this forum and hope you wil continue to do so. All comments are grafefully received.