GOYeovil

Yeovil's First ½ Marathon

Below you will find a selection of photographs from the Yeovil's First ½ Marathon. You can download a high-resolution version of any of the images for free by clicking on them courtesy of Aztec Media.

An exciting new sporting event takes to the streets of Yeovil on March 27th 2011. Yeovil Half Marathon starts and finishes at Huish Park, home of Yeovil Town FC. Organised by a new South Somerset based event management company, Total Buzz Events. Over 700 runners have already registered to take the start.

The date is one which provides a perfect final race challenge for those taking part in London Marathon, three weeks later. Also it is a great arena for those wishing to tackle the challenge of a Half Marathon for the first time. The nucleus of entrants in the race is likely to come from the large number of road runners that regularly train and race in the South West.

Prizes will be awarded for first male and first female finisher, and also winners of each of the age group categories. All finishers will also receive a race momento.

Following consultation with all the necessary and appropriate authorities. The race will be a mass start at 9am. The route is available on Google maps by visiting: www.totalbuzzevents.com.

In short the route exits Huish Park onto Thorne Lane, crosses the A37 onto Combe Street Lane, down Mudford Road onto Kingston. Via the underpass into Princes Street. Runners will then pass through the Town Centre via Middle Street onto Sherborne Road. Opposite the Pen Mill Hotel the route then passes through the entire length of Ninesprings Country Park, exiting by turning right on Lysander Road at the junction with West Hendford. The challenge of the climb up Hendford Hill is followed by the respite of descending Forest Hill before turning left onto Lysander Road.

Now well over halfway, a visit into the Lynx Trading Estate then sees the route follow Bunford Lane, around the perimeter of Agusta Westland Airfield. From the roundabout at the Airfield Tavern, the final part of the route visits Lower Odcombe and Lufton before returning along Thorne Lane to reenter Huish Park for the finish. The route has been carefully planned to be enjoyable yet challenging, safety being the major consideration, whilst trying to cause minimal disruption to traffic and in particular local businesses.

Register to race, for yourself or for charity - download the GOYeovil Half Marathon Sponsor Form (PDF - 588 KB). GOYeovil is asking you to take part and raise funds for its 2011 charities, St Margaret's Hospice in Yeovil and Yeovil Hospital's Flying Colours Appeal for improvements to the Women's Hospital and the Special Care Baby Unit. If you have local charities of your own that you prefer to support, perhaps you will give 50% of your funds to that charity and 50% to the GOYeovil charities. Either way, we would like to know what you raise – whatever charity it is for, so that we can promote charitable funds raised from the marathon. So please send us news of your achievements to info@goyeovil.co.uk.

The event is a great chance to showcase the town, and show what Yeovil has to offer. As well as racing in the marathon itself there are many opportunities to get involved... You can volunteer your services as a safety marshall or at a drink station. Business' can help to promote the event by poster display etc. Most important, simply come out and cheer on the athletes at the many vantage points along the route.