Essar Chester Half Marathon and Fun Run
Sun 18 May 2025 Chester, Cheshire, UK

Essar Chester Half Marathon and Fun Run

One of the UK’s longest established and most highly regarded half marathons, starting and finishing in this historic Roman/Medieval city. Come and celebrate over 40 years of running in Chester!

2 races

  • Sun 18 May 2025
  • #1 of 2
Chester Racecourse, Chester > Chester Town Hall, Chester

Half Marathon

09:00

Age 17 & over

£44-£49

  • 13.1 miles road running
  • Sun 18 May 2025
  • #2 of 2
Chester Racecourse, Chester

Fun Run

09:20

All ages

£10

  • 1 mile road running

Event overview

Whatever your reason for running, you'll be supported all the way to achieve half marathon greatness!

All abilities, ages and speeds are welcome in the award winning, Essar Chester Half Marathon. 2025 marks the 43rd edition of this historic race!

It’s the second event of the Chester Triple Series (for an extra challenge medal) and the event will host the England Athletics and Welsh Athletics Age Group Masters Half Marathon Championship too.

Runners will enjoy a combination of city centre sights and rural villages on a fast and largely flat route which will be run entirely on closed roads, combined with friendliness and personal touches which are unique to this event series. A Fun Run makes the day exciting and inclusive for all abilities!

Highlights

  • Well-established half marathon for over 40 years
  • From the organisers of the UK's Best Marathon Up to 5,000 Runners (2018, 2019, 2020)
  • Stunning city centre start and finish
  • England Athletics and Welsh Athletics Age Group Masters Half Marathon Championship qualifier
  • Run in the city and countryside on closed roads
  • Fun Run on the same day aimed at primary school children
  • Part of the Chester Triple series for an extra challenge medal
  • Free, monthly, paced training runs and training seminars

Join in on what is always an amazing day!

Event video

Event details

  • All fitness levels
  • Event village
  • Families
  • Fancy dress
  • Newcomers
  • Spectators
  • Traders at event

  • Bag storage
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • Paid parking
  • Rural
  • Toilets
  • Urban

Event HQ

Chester Racecourse
Chester
Cheshire
CH1 2LY
UK

Chester is a destination city in its own right, with lots to do. There is fantastic shopping with superior high-street stores and boutiques. Enjoy a taste of history walking round the famous Roman walls, visiting the Roman amphitheatre and seeing the unique Rows (dating from Medieval times). Combine sightseeing and spectating with a stroll along the River Dee. There are numerous restaurants, pubs and delicatessens to suit all tastes. All this in easy walking distance. If you want to venture just outside the city, look out for Chester Zoo, the Blue Planet Aquarium or the Cheshire Oaks outlet village.

  • Public transport links

Green Runner option

Why not enter as a Green Runner?

You wouldn't receive a finisher's medal, t-shirt or goody bag - instead, the cost of these items would be donated to the official race charity which is the West Cheshire Foodbank.

You'd help reduce waste and support the local race charity at the same time!

My third Chester half marathon, working towards the coveted tripe medal. A special hoodie this year for the 40th anniversary. A great start heading out of the racecourse. Always a well-organised race with great support in and around Chester. Sarah H

2022 was my first time taking part in the Chester Half Marathon and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The course was great and support around all of the course was fantastic. When you get to the last corner before seeing the finish line the roar you hear was the perfect tonic to help that sprint finish and helped me knock 2mins off my previous PB. I look forward to the last part of my Chester Triple in October. Jason A

A fab event with elements through historic Chester walls, some testing hills towards the finish and a wonderful finish by Chester Cathedral. Peter M

This was my first half marathon and it didn’t disappoint! A great route beginning and ending in the scenic city centre, with a couple of loops out in the green city outskirts in between, makes for a cracking race. Definitely one with PB potential too! Danny C

Brilliant course, fab detailed pre-race info, good quality t-shirt and a brilliant medal - I'll definitely be back! Danielle C

They cannot be faulted for their organisation of events. Quality t-shirt, quality medal and goodie bag. I’ve done several ESSAR marathon and half marathon events and I will always come back. Amy B

This Event brilliantly organised from the time you Enter to the time you crossed the finishing line. Chester has a great setup for Communicating with all entrants they even do several live webinars to give you all the help and information you need, this race put on by runners for runners. Maurice H

Reviews thanks to RaceCheck

Races at event

  • Sun 18 May 2025
  • #1 of 2
Chester Racecourse, Chester > Chester Town Hall, Chester

Half Marathon

09:00

Age 17 & over

£44-£49

  • 13.1 miles road running
  • Sun 18 May 2025
  • #2 of 2
Chester Racecourse, Chester

Fun Run

09:20

All ages

£10

  • 1 mile road running