Alton Towers Half Marathon
** Race Report by Robbie **
The Alton Towers Half Marathon isn’t just a race—it’s a test of endurance, grit, and determination. A truly great event, but definitely not one for the faint-hearted.
Nearly 2,000 braved the elements for the 10am start. Most took on the grueling half marathon, while others opted for the shorter 5k. Set inside the iconic theme park, this course promised a rollercoaster of an experience, and it absolutely delivered!
The day began with an energetic warm-up session at 9:30, led by Pure Gym. It was both amusing and inspiring to see a sea of runners stretching and moving together under the constant drizzle. Luckily, it eased just in time for the race to kick off.
A course that tests every ounce of strength.
The race took us on two punishing laps through the beautiful grounds of Alton Towers. Undulating hardly begins to describe it—this course was packed with relentless inclines, sharp turns, and energy-sapping loops. The never-ending car park section, with its two loops inside the two lap loops and more than a kilometre of uphill grind, became an almost mythical challenge by the second lap. The cross-country run training was put to good use, especially on the brutal hills.
Despite the course’s difficulty, the venue and race-day experience were spectacular. The event was well-organized, with plenty of marshals ensuring smooth navigation. The support from spectators scattered throughout the park made all the difference, especially when the fatigue started to bite. The post-race goodies and medal were the perfect reward for conquering such a tough course.
One of the standout perks of this race was the free access to Alton Towers for runners and spectators afterward. With the park exclusively open to race participants, there were no endless queues, a rare and delightful bonus! Smiler quickly emerged as the favorite ride of the day, and we enjoyed it so much we went twice. By 5pm, exhaustion had set in, but we made the bold decision to squeeze in one last coaster before heading home. In hindsight, tackling one of the fastest rides in driving rain wasn’t the wisest move—it felt like being pelted with icicles!
After a challenging outing at the Maidstone Half Marathon, I set my sights on a new personal best to close out the year. My previous best was 1:38:38, but as soon as I saw the brutal Alton Towers course, doubts crept in. Many seasoned runners warned it wasn’t a course for records. I chose to ignore the negativity and focused on my goal.
The race began with me running alongside Chris, who had programmed his watch for a 1:32 finish. By mile 3, the unrelenting inclines had me falling behind slightly, but I refused to let him out of sight. Determined to stay in the race mentally, I focused on steady breathing and pushed through, even ignoring the painful stitch that hit at mile 4.
At the halfway point, we merged with the 5k runners, creating a congested and chaotic section. This part was the least enjoyable, as the narrow spaces made it harder to maintain pace. However, running back through the start line and hearing the roar of the crowds gave me a much-needed second wind.
By mile 9, I realized I was still on track for a PB. The final four miles were a pure test of willpower. The second lap through the car park felt like torture, and time seemed to slip away as my legs burned with every step. I stopped looking at my watch and focused solely on finishing strong.
Chris finished with an impressive time of 1:33:35, while I crossed the line in 1:35:32, smashing my PB by over three minutes! It was a tough, hilly, and windy race with sharp turns at every corner, but I couldn’t have been more thrilled with the result.
A must do for next year. The Alton Towers Half Marathon was an incredible experience—challenging but immensely rewarding. It’s not every day you get to run through such a unique venue and then celebrate by taking over the rides!
We should definitely organise a Thanet Roadrunners group for next year and head up in force to tackle this amazing race. Who’s in?
That sounded like a great day out! Well done gents and well done on your PB Robbie