More than 12,000 people are expected to take to the streets this weekend as the GetPRO Bath Half returns for a packed celebration of running, family activity and community spirit.
Photo © London Marathon Events
The event, Bath’s largest sporting and community fixture, has also become a key date in the elite calendar.
For the second year in a row, the GetPRO Bath Half has been selected as the British Athletics trial race for the World Athletics Road Running Championships Half Marathon, which will be staged in Copenhagen in September.
That means the front of Sunday’s field will feature some of the best British half marathon runners competing for places on the Great Britain team.
The elite line-up includes defending champions Jake Smith – who set a course record of 62:20 last year – and Abbie Donnelly, plus Olympians Phil Sesemann, Jess Warner-Judd and Alex Bell.
Once the leading athletes are away, thousands of mass participants will follow on the two-lap route that starts in Royal Victoria Park and finishes at Royal Avenue beside the Royal Crescent.
This year’s Bath Half takes place on Mother’s Day (Sunday 15th March), and organisers are inviting people to use the weekend to recognise mums and caregivers. A message wall will be set up in Royal Victoria Park throughout the weekend so runners, supporters and visitors can leave tributes to loved ones.
Finishers will also be able to mark the moment with GetPRO finisher polaroids, and a full list of family-friendly activities has been published on the event website.
Among the thousands taking part are two runners being highlighted for their remarkable long-term connection to the race. Danny Kay, 84, has been named official starter and will drop the flag for the 43rd edition in 2026, having completed every one of the previous 42 Bath Halves since the first in 1982. David Saunders, 77, has also been a consistent participant, and together the pair have completed the event 82 times.
Danny, from Trowbridge, said: “Running is good for the mind and the body and has been a constant in my life – the only thing that has changed is I have got slower!
“People know me now on my regular running route and it is a great way to have a chat as well. Starting the Bath Half is a real pleasure. I have countless memories of the day, and it is always one of my highlights of the year.”
David, formerly of Frome in Somerset and now living in Cambridgeshire, added: “Apart from the physical benefits, I firmly believe that running helps maintain my mental wellbeing and will hopefully stave off dementia for many years to come!”
One of the best-known local entrants this year is Bath’s own Jason Gardener, the 2004 Olympic gold medal-winning sprinter. Gardener is running the Bath Half for the first time and is fundraising for Time is Precious.
“As a former Olympic sprinter, staying active has always been an important part of my life,” said Gardener.
“Like many people, there was a period where I wasn’t as active as I would have liked while juggling family life and work.
“As I’ve got older, I’ve come to really value how important it is to maintain both physical and mental wellbeing.”
Joanna Wales, Event Lead for organisers London Marathon Events, said: “The Get-PRO Bath Half is one the UK’s best-loved half marathons, which inspires activity among people of all ages and abilities, from our official starter Danny who is a testament to the benefits of exercise right through to the elite athletes who are coming to Bath to secure places in the Great Britain team for the World Athletics Road Running Championships.
“It’s going to be a fantastic weekend of celebration, so if you are not running come out, cheer on the participants and enjoy this wonderful festival of running and community.”
The Bath Half is the headline event of a full weekend programme in Royal Victoria Park. Saturday 14th March begins with the sold-out GetPRO Bath Miles presented by Bath College, a free, family-friendly event where people can run, walk, jog or wheel a one-mile loop of the park. The schedule includes waves with The Daily Mile, junior parkrun, the Scouts and Bath FitFam, as well as Family Waves to mark Mother’s Day.
There will be activities on Middle Common throughout the weekend, including face painting, circus workshops, massage provided by Bath College and finisher polaroids from GetPRO. The Event Village will be open from 9.30am to 3pm on Saturday, and from 8am to 5pm on Sunday.
The 2026 GetPRO Bath Half starts at 10.30am on Sunday. The course includes two laps of Bath, following the River Avon, Great Pulteney Street, Royal Avenue and the Royal Crescent. With the double-lap format, spectators can pick a spot and see runners pass twice. Elite athletes are expected to finish from 11.30am, with the remainder of the field coming home through until roughly 3.30pm.
