I had a tough race, cramps from 15 mile onwards, amazing marshal support, and on course medical assistance, thank you so much

Great course, fab marshals and water stations a plenty. Well organised all round. My only criticism is when u offered ur early bird discount…..after me and others had already entered. I know its only £10 but when u add this to me having to buy my husbands place and also the cost of all the other Essex Champs races it adds up. Also, I was awarded a silver medal for my age but by the time I got home it looks like it should of been bronze (I have emailed) so it took a bit of shine off my day but still happy with a podium place

I have done this event twice now & it's amazing, it's tough in places but the organisation & support is absolutely outstanding, you guys do an awesome job & should be super proud of putting on such a fab event, your marshalls are the best,so encouraging to everyone, thank you

This is a really good marathon to run as a long training run for Comrades. The organisation was outstanding, all the volunteers did a great job where they were stationed and the course was very scenic. The goody bag was much better than some other marathons that I've run.

A super t shirt this year

Friendly, well organised and good value for money.

Always a decent medal and it's lovely to have a finishers shirt included in the price.

Thank you for putting on a great (tough) marathon. The organisation was excellent, the marshals were enthusiastic, and the course itself is a stern test for most runners.

Thank you to all for making the event possible! It’s really appreciated.

Huge credit to everyone of you organisers; this event is amazing and highly recommended it to everyone. See you next year!!

I love the support on this event. Big thank you to the lady on the course whose house went by twice and was providing icicle pops! So appreciated - thank you.

Only disappointment was that the running vests from 2023 and 2024 have been replaced by a t-shirt: please can you bring the running vests back!!! It was such a unique "selling" point as not very many events provide them.
Also, at about 18.5 miles - my husband (who was spectating) got chatting to the owner of Ivy Cottage (?): he did mention this to one of the race organisers back at the finish: but the owner is very happy for the event to make use of a field that he has that is on the route: he provided a hose pipe for runners to be able to douse themselves in cold water.

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