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Half Marathon

You can see the route here on Map My Run or a PDF here.

Or view the route on Garmin Connect here.

For the Half Marathon please follow the yellow high viz signage for the whole race.  You will notice in the 3rd mile some blue signage at the Welsh Bridge, ignore this. Your signage and route is clearly marked with high viz yellow signs with black arrows.

When you return to the Showground, your final mile again is clearly marked with high viz signage with black arrows.  You will see in your final mile blue signage with white arrows. Ignore these, they are the route for the shorter metric half marathon.

The final mile within the showground for the 13.1 mile runners follows the exact same route you used in your first mile but in reverse. You follow the exact same route back in to finish.

Metric Half Marathon

You can see the route here or a PDF version here.

Or see the route on Garmin Connect here

The route signage throughout is high viz yellow signs.  There are two places on the route where Metric Half Marathon runners follow a different route and these will be signed with white arrows on a blue background.

These positions are:

At just before 3 miles into the race at the Welsh Bridge.  Metric Half Marathon runners will run straight through into Victoria Avenue, passing Hickorys Restaurant on your left.  Half Marathon runners will turn right and run over the Welsh Bridge into Frankwell.

Click the link below to see this on a map.

Welsh Bridge Route difference

You can see a video of this here

The second place you must follow the blue signs with white arrows is the final half mile inside the showground.  Your finish has a significant difference to the full half marathon.  You can see this on the map linked below. To reiterate, metric half marathon runners follow the blue signs with white arrows when they return into the showground.

Showground routes to finish

Sunday 27th September 2026.

Half Marathon starts at 8:30am, Metric Half starts at 8:55.

There are strict cut-off times for both races, which we need to enforce because the town centre roads must be reopened at a specific time. These timings are stipulated by Shropshire Council.

Half Marathon: You must be able to complete the 13.1 miles within 2 hours 45 minutes.
Metric Half: You must be able to complete the 8.1 miles within 2 hours 20 minutes.

Please make sure you are confident that you can complete your chosen event within the relevant cut-off.

For reference, the average pace required is approximately:

Half Marathon: 12:36 per mile
Metric Half: 17:17 per mile

If you’re entered into the Half Marathon but are unsure whether you can complete it within the 2 hour 45 minute cut-off, please consider switching to the Metric Half instead.

We appreciate that everyone runs at their own pace, these cut-offs are necessary because of the road closure restrictions and the requirement to reopen the town centre roads.

Please choose the distance that is right for you.

You can view our 2026 licence here.

The location for the events is:

The West Mid Showground
Berwick Road
Shrewsbury
SY1 2PF

SAT NAV Post Code: SY1 2PF

GETTING HERE BY CAR

Shrewsbury is easily accessible and is linked to the motorway by the A5 and M54.  For Sat Nav our postcode is: SY1 2PF.

ON FOOT FROM SHREWSBURY TRAIN STATION / TOWN CENTRE

It takes about fifteen minutes to walk from Shrewsbury Railway Station to the West Mid Showground which is signposted the Agricultural Showground.

As you leave the railway station turn right to go under the railway bridge and take a left under another bridge to bring you out onto Chester Street, opposite the Gateway Education and Arts Centre.

Turn right and *keep the river on your left as you head up into Coton Hill. Walk along the river and up to a row of homes on your left, before turning left into the signposted Pig Trough (opposite the Bird In Hand pub) and then left down a set of steps into The Flash.

At the end of The Flash you will reach the West Mid Showground. Alternatively (to avoid the steps) continue along the Pig Trough and take a left turn at the end which will lead you to the main road entrance to the showground about 100 yards along.

*Directions are as above from this point.

There is parking for participants at the Showground. We advise you to arrive early for an 8:30am start.

The town centre roads be closed at 8:00am as will Berwick Road leading into the Showground.

Parking is available at the Showground and there is a £3 charge which goes directly to the Shropshire County Showground charity. Please have £3 in change ready when you arrive. If you can car share please do.

There are 68 toilets on the showground although it’s a 53 acre site and they are spread out. The toilets near the start line get very busy so as part of your warm up jog across to one of the nearby toilets if you want to avoid the queues. They will be well sign posted on the day.

• Arrive early! Baggage opens at 7am.
• Fill in your medical information on the back of your bib.
• Baggage closes at 8:20 so get your bag in if you need to.
• Please make sure you are fit and well enough to be taking part in the event.
• Have a change of clothes with you.
• Don’t try anything new on race day.

The Shrewsbury Half Marathon use a bibtag system, which is attached to your bib number. Please make sure your bib number is pinned to the front of your vest/t-shirt. Your timing chip will activate as you cross the start line.

You must fill in the medical information on the rear of your bib before you arrive at the event. This is essential for your safety because it will be used in an emergency.

You must wear your bib number. If you don’t two things happen. If a Marshall or Race official sees you running with no bib on you will be asked to leave the route immediately. If you do not wear your bib and run you will not get a time registered. If you lose your bib that arrives via post pre-event, then there will be a small number available at registration.

There will be two water stations on the route. Half marathon runners pass each twice, metric half runners pass each station once.

Half Marathon Pacers will be covering the following times: 1:30, 1:40, 1:50, 2:00, 2:10, 2:20, 2:30, 2:45 which is our tail runner.

Metric Half Marathon pacers will cover: 1:00, 1:10, 1:20, 1:30.

All participants receive race photos to download as part of their race package.  Go to this link post event to get yours!

Go to this link for your 2025 photos

2024 participants, please go to this link to download your photos.

All competitors who complete the course will receive a bespoke metal finishers medal.

When you finish, please follow the finish line Marshall’s instructions.

You will be greeted at the finish with your finishers treat bag.

Please note and pass on to your friends and family that spectators will not be able to get into the finishing funnel. We know you have just run a Half Marathon and will likely be feeling tired, but we will ask you to keep moving, pick up your finisher’s items and proceed out of the funnel.

We ask you to do this because there will be a large number of runners coming in just behind you.

If you retire from the race it’s really important that you please let the nearest Marshal to you know and give them your race number. This is so we can account for you at the end of the race.

Go to www.chipresults.co.uk to see your finishing time.

Baggage will be open from 7am.

If you do have a bag you want to put in baggage please get your bag in as early as possible.  You will receive a baggage label with your bib in the post. Please attach this to your bag prior to joining the queue.

Once your bag is in, it cant be retrieved until after the race.  Please make sure you have everything you need before you put your bag in.

Please click here for our ts & cs.

Want to join our amazing team and volunteer at the Shrewsbury Half Marathon? We are looking for volunteers who want to support a great event in a variety of roles including marshalling, cheering on our runners and greeting runners at the finish line with medals and high fives!

Click here for more info! 

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