Swindon Half Marathon route revealed for 2025 event

The Swindon Half drew in more than 2,000 runners to the town when it was last held in 2019, and the race will now return for the first time in six years, on Sunday, September 28, 2025.

There was no half marathon in 2020, due to Covid-19 pandemic social distancing guidelines, and the 2021 event which was due to be put on by management company The Race Organiser, was cancelled just 11 days before the race.

The company claims this was due to increased costs and a drop in entries and also promised in 2022 that the race would go ahead, but it never came to pass.

Now sports event company Run Through will bring the race back to Swindon's streets with a route they describe as "mostly flat for the first five miles."

"Join us for a road-closed route through Swindon and the surrounding countryside, past the villages of Wanborough, Badbury and Medbourne. 

"The route is mostly flat for the first five males, miles five to 10 are undulating, before a downhill finish."

The elevation of Swindon's 2025 Half Marathon route (Image: Strava) Runners will set off from Coate Water Country Park on Marlborough Road at 9am, and head along Dorcan Way, Kingfisher Drive, Wanborough Road, the Southern Connector Road and along Pack Hill towards Wanborough.

Once they reach the New Calley Arms, participants will then head south towards Foxhill before following The Ridgeway along to Chiseldon.

At this point, the route will then head north again through Badbury and Badbury Wick, following Day House Lane to take runners to the finish line back at Coate Water Park.

The 21-kilometre route has an overall elevation of 180 meters, but this is made up of uphill stretches which begin around kilometre eight and downhill stretches which begin around kilometre 12.

The official 2025 route (Image: Strava) The half marathon is priced at £34 to enter, and registration are already open on the Run Through sports event website.

You must be at least 17 years old to enter and locals not participating in the run are encouraged to line the route and cheer on those competing.

“It’s fantastic news that the 2025 race calendar will include a new half marathon in Swindon," said Councillor Jim Robbins, Leader of Swindon Borough Council.

"We’re lucky to be surrounded by stunning countryside and runners will get to enjoy it on a closed road course that starts and finishes at the impressive setting of Coate Water Country Park.

"No doubt there’ll be strong interest from runners across the region keen to experience this brand new event.”