This was my twelfth Halstead & Essex Marathon. I love the event, love the orgnisation of it, love that I get to see so many friends; running or spectating (thank you Jenny, James [Jim], Lisa from Sudbury/Dolphins, as always). You also get to meet with legendary runners like Andy Wilmott and John (sorry john cannot recall your surname). These gentlemen are absolute legends!

The course IS NOT hilly, it is andulating through beutiful Essex and Suffolk scenery. It is often hot around the second sunday of May, when this event takes place but hey, you get loads of free Vitamin D (I take my op off and soak it all up - one year during the race I laid down in near a fieldedge at mile 24.7 of the racecourse and enjoyed the blue sky and gently floating beautiful white clouds, until some friends (Jamie, Kirsty :) ) 'rudely' awoke me from my blissful joy of watching the world go by.

The marshals are amazing and, as someone else said, they cheer you on as if you are a champion, a winner :) I Love the fact that the event orginisers will take your drinks (up to three bottles, I think - I place two) to different water stations of your choice so you do not have to carry anyting in your hands and you have them at convenient distances suited to you. I love that houses en route will cher you on, give out frozen lollies and have their sprinklers out to cool you down as you run through.

This is a great value race! For what you pay, you get so much! Where else do you get a beautiful t-shirt, fantastic medal, a drawstring carry bag, shades, drinks bottle, etc. etc. etc.?

I would love the club and the race organisers to bring back 262, or do something similar. I ran ten Halstead & Essex marathons to get a permanent number but that was given up due to the complexities this caused for tracking times, positions, etc. I am content with this and hope there would be something else (as one of the marshals at the end of my finishing the race mentioned this year) to recognise Halstead & Essex marathon devotees like me.

Yusuf
PS I have entered the 2026 race already :)

I have completed this marathon on approximately ten occasions over the years. For me I see the passion and support from Halstead Running Club and other running clubs (aid stations), the rural scenery, the challenging route, support from spectators, friendliness from other competitors and a wonderful medal, tee shirt and goodie bag (a proper medal - metal not wood!!). It’s my intention to be back next year - keep doing what you are doing!! Im still wearing my tee shirt!!!!

One of my all time favorite runs - Superb marshalls, excellent course and very well managed.
It's a challenging course, but I think this adds to the event - real sense of achievement

It's not any marathon - Its Halstead marathon

This was my 4th Halstead and I hope it won't be my last. I love everything about this race: the course (yes, it's challenging - especially on a very hot day) through some beautiful scenic parts of rural Essex and the pretty villages of the Essex/Suffolk border; the marshalls and volunteers whose enthusiasm makes every runner feel like a winner; the excellent organisation and the ease of the logistics compared with a mass participation event like London (which I did two weeks previously). So nice to be able to arrive, park, not have to queue for an hour for the toilet or rush to drop off your bag. It was exceptionally warm on Sunday and the well-organised water stations and incredibly cheerful and encouraging volunteers were very much appreciated. Just a couple of very small criticisms. 1) T-shirt sizes: my race bib said XS F - which was what I'd ordered when booking - but I received a unisex S which unfortunately was huge. I appreciate I entered the race relatively late however, and that t-shirts have to be ordered some time in advance. 2) The prize-giving was a little chaotic. I finished in 3:34 (which is not slow - 36th overall) and as a V55, thought I may have done enough for an age category win. The result came through quickly on the website (and confirmed I had won my category) but the trophy presentations were already underway and not all age categories yet had a winner. There was therefore a break in proceedings to allow for other category winners to cross the line. However, the earlier prizes were presented by the mayor and winners had their photographs taken by the photographer. I waited about 30 minutes or so for the prize-giving to recommence, but receiving my own award felt rather an afterthought as neither the mayor nor the photographer were present. (This is a minor thing and I'm delighted to have received an award - it just would have been nice to have had the same experience as the earlier winners). Overall, a fantastic race that I wouldn't hesitate to sign up for again.

My 10th Halstead Marathon. A challenging and tough course set in the most beautiful countryside. Volunteers and marshals amazing. Friendly and well organised. Would thoroughly recommend. I will be back for my 11th in 2026!

Brilliant marshals, positive affirmations the entire way from volunteers and spectators. Absolutely beautiful route however very challenging, I'm not sure if would recommend for a first time marathon.
Perhaps an earlier start would help with traffic and respite from the mid-day sun.

The one bad point I have is for the personal water bottles were left in the sun so they warm when picking up but the weather was to blame for this

The marshals were excellent as usual. We are grateful for the early start as we have to put the dog in kennel and collect him at a certain time. As we have a long journey home this suits us. One criticism is the t-shirts and the lack of smaller sizes. I nearly didn't have one and it was only because a man changed his size that I got one.

My first road marathon having done many trail events. Course was beautiful but slightly lumpy. Organisation pre-race was good.
One suggestion; in addition to the portaloos, include a porta-urinal. This would clear a lot of men out of the queue.
Marshalls were excellent all round and especially encouraging on the water stations which were much needed on a hot day. My legs are sore, but the positive vibes are strong.

You should be extremely proud of this local event.

T-Shirt and medal are great this year. Thank you!

This is a staple in the Essex calendar. It’s my 4th time of competing. It’s a challenging course with great support through the villages. Would recommend it to a beginner as it’s friendly and encouraging. The relaxed atmosphere is ideal for a marathon. The weather always seems to be excellent too. Sometimes too excellent

A very tough but beautiful course, the organisation and support were amazing, 5 water stations and gels, with 3 for personal drinks which were much needed on a very hot day. Highly recommend this one! Thank you

My 10th time, here and yes the course is beautiful, generally traffic free and the Marshalls at the water points are all very good, however, despite entering the event months ago, it cost me the best part of £60 which for me is too expensive, there are many cheaper similar events out there. The race brief needs proof reading before it’s sent, 2025,2024 and even 2015 get mentioned which was a little confusing. Water in cups always bugs me especially on a hot day like today, despite selecting a shirt size when entering, only large and x-large were left which again, sorry I find poor considering the price point, maybe don’t provide all your club with ‘crew’ T-shirts which were covered by hi-viz tabards to reduce the cost to the runners? Finally I’m not sure how much longer you can advertise the club as being voted top 3 marathon in the Uk, pretty sure that was 15 years ago and once, maybe a new marketing strategy is required?

Overall the course, marshalls and scenery make this event what it is.