Stour Valley Marathon & Half
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Event Overview
The Stour Valley Marathon & Half is a trail running event that utilizes several established long-distance paths. The marathon distance covers approximately 27 miles of tracks, trails, roads, and byways. The half marathon course follows the first loop of the full marathon route. Both races are based at Nayland Village Hall in Colchester.
The available distances include:
- Marathon (27 miles)
- Half Marathon
Course and Navigation
The route incorporates sections of the St. Edmunds Way, Stour Valley Path, and the Essex Way. This is predominantly a self-navigation event. Runners are responsible for finding their way using a GPX file or written instructions, which are provided for download before the event.
To support runners, the event features fully stocked aid stations and checkpoints. For the marathon distance, these are positioned at approximately 6, 11, 15, and 20.5 miles. The event operates a cupless policy, meaning participants must provide their own cups for drinks at these stations. Collapsible speedcups are available for purchase during registration or on the day.
Facilities and Requirements
Nayland Village Hall serves as the start and finish location, providing free parking and toilet facilities for all participants. The event has specific time limits for completion, with an 8-hour cutoff for the marathon and a 4-hour cutoff for the half marathon.
The basic entry fee covers race participation but does not include a medal or t-shirt. These items can be added for an additional fee during the registration process. Medals and shirts cannot be requested on the day of the race. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
