Rugby Half Marathon

The Rugby Half Marathon takes place on 25 October 2026 in Rugby, with a single 21.1 km race starting at 9am and a stated elevation gain of 549 metres. The course sets off from Hart Field, follows country roads, then brings runners back towards the town centre along the former Great Central Railway line, now a protected nature area. A 1 km race is also on offer for families.

That amount of climbing is far from trivial for a half marathon: it means a steady succession of hills, which makes truly even pacing unrealistic. It is better to aim for consistent effort, accepting a few lost seconds on the climbs and winning them back on the faster stretches of the converted railway. Two or three hill sessions in the month beforehand are enough to soften the muscular cost.