Submitted by Daniel Aspel on Thu, 02/04/2026 - 20:07
This year's Cambridge Half Marathon saw more than 14,000 runners take on the 21.1km challenge, and marked the seventh year of the University of Cambridge Sports Service’s formal partnership with the event. The collaboration continues to serve as a major component of the University’s commitment to staff wellbeing, and allows for considerable fundraising efforts to support local and national charities.
£10,000 raised for cardiac screening charities
A central element of this year’s participation was the ongoing support for Clarissa’s Campaign for Young Hearts and Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), organisations which focus on preventing sudden cardiac deaths in young people through clinical research and heart screenings. Through its partnership with the Cambridge Half Marathon, the Sports Service receives 100 complementary places for each event, 40 of which were this year given directly to Clarissa's Campaign.
The fundraising runners that took up these places through an initial donation to the charity have so far raised and impressive £10,251 thanks to the support of 344 separate donors via a shared JustGiving page. Through Clarissa's Campaign, these funds contribute directly to CRY’s screening programmes and awareness initiatives. The JustGiving page will remain open until 4 July 2026 for those who wish to contribute to this total.
Active Staff opportunities
Separately, the Sports Service was able to distribute its remaining 60 places to University employees through its Active Staff programme, an initiative providing resources and incentives for staff to engage in regular exercise. This year was the fourth consecutive Cambridge Half Marathon in which the Sports Service was able to allocate these free places to staff from across various departments and colleges, aiming to make the event accessible to runners of all experience levels.
To assist those taking part, Ed Laing (Physical Activity and Sports Assistant, Active Staff), provided technical support throughout the preparation period. This included guidance on structured training programmes, strength and conditioning techniques, nutritional requirements, and race-day strategy. This professional oversight ensured that staff members felt prepared for the demands of the course, whether they were first-time participants or already experienced distance runners.
What was the experience like for the participants?
We asked the University of Cambridge staff and our Sports Centre colleagues that ran the 2026 Cambridge Half Marathon about their training process, race-day experience, and personal motivations to run the Cambridge Half. Here's what they said.
Active Staff participants
Jo Clarke | Health, Safety and Regulated Facilities Division
"I enjoyed starting my Cambridge Half Marathon training just after Christmas. Heading out for a run when it was cold and dark gave me a real sense of purpose and something to work towards. I appreciated the whole training journey: getting up early, running through the fields near my house, seeing beautiful sunrises, and feeling the distances gradually increase as I became fitter and stronger. The experience taught me a great deal, from nutrition and fuelling for running, to what kit I needed, the importance of strength training and, most importantly, what I’m capable of. The support from the Sports Service was brilliant, regular information and updates, with no pressure and complete flexibility in how much we joined in. The race itself was tough, but I finished it and felt proud. Whatever I decide about future races, I’m pleased with how far I’ve come and grateful for everything I’ve learned along the way."
Nieves Garcia Gisbert | Cambridge Stem Cell Institute
"I am very grateful for this University initiative. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to run the Cambridge Half Marathon. I felt very supported by the team and my colleagues throughout. It has been an unforgettable experience that I truly enjoyed, as you can see in the pictures."
Dylan Horn | Fitzwilliam College
"It was an honour to run the Cambridge Half Marathon on behalf of Cardiac Risk in the Young, whilst raising money in memory of Clarissa Nicholls. Running for such an important cause really helped with the early morning training sessions and those rainy days. I was very happy with how everything went, and incredibly grateful to the lovely people of Cambridge for coming out to cheer runners on, regardless of whether they knew them. It really helped me, and I’m sure it did the same for countless other runners, especially in the closing miles. I would like to thank the University of Cambridge for giving me the opportunity to run the half marathon, Ed Laing for his training guidance, and my fiancée Megan for putting up with all my extra sleeping and for her complete support throughout the training process."
Heather Inwood | Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
"I ended up enjoying (most of) the race, and I’m super proud of myself for finishing my first ever half marathon and very grateful for having been given this opportunity through the university - thank you! My official chip time was just over two hours (20 seconds over!) but according to my Garmin I did the half in 1.59.38 (I guess I ran a bit extra with all the weaving in and out of people), so I’m counting that as a win. I also didn’t see anyone else running in Vibram FiveFingers."
Judith Mateos | Department of Haematology
"Running the half marathon was a fantastic experience. While the course was beautiful, what stood out most was the incredible support from the crowds along the way. I loved the day and felt at my best while running, thanks to the consistent training over the past months and the programme provided by the University Sports Centre. I plan to keep running and hope to take part again next year."
Zaib un Nisa Aziz | Faculty of History
"I cannot quite believe I ran a half marathon. A few weeks ago, I really did not think I could do it but I stuck to your plan and advice and it took me to the finish line. It was as hard as it is rewarding but I would definitely not have been able to do it without your support and that of your colleagues at the Sports Center. I am very grateful."
Liz Pentlow | Trinity Hall
"I was so impressed with the support we had from Ed. I've never run a half marathon before so didn't know where to start, and his training plan and organised sessions were the main reason I made it round! The run didn't go quite as planned - I was scuppered by multiple bouts of hiccups! But it was a great experience and I'm hoping to run another half marathon in the autumn to get nearer to the time I was after. I'll be using Ed's training plan again! I'm really grateful for all the support and encouragement, which made the whole event so much more enjoyable."
Raquel Rojas | Department of Sociology
"This was an excellent experience from start to finish. I began the programme with some doubts – would I really be able to run 21k when I was used to only 5k? – but Ed was reassuring from the outset. Having a structured plan tailored to my needs made all the difference and gave me the confidence to progress steadily. It certainly wasn’t easy either: I had to learn to run in all conditions: freezing temperatures, rain, and wind (it rained a lot during January and February!). By race day, I felt fully prepared and confident that I would finish, and to my surprise, I even improved my time. This was made possible by the positive energy of fellow runners, volunteers, and supporters along the route, who made the day truly special. I’m very grateful for the support provided by the University’s Sport Centre, and I can’t recommend this experience highly enough to anyone considering taking on the challenge next year."
Sports Service team
Ella Gibbs
"They say the more you mess around, the more you’ll find out. Well I messed around with my training plan and I certainly found out about it on the day! A calf cramp within 50 meters and a deep conversation with myself at mile nine about my life choices, I finished with a smile on my face and a decision I’ll certainly be signing up again next year. A memorable day made even better by the friendly faces supporting and cheering."
Stephen Greenwood
"Training was challenging, areas of the body hurting I never knew could, but because of the training the run was enjoyable, made even more rewarding with the fantastic crowds cheering my name! I took part in the 5km Swimathon at Hathersage Pool on the following Sunday!"
Hugh Jackson
"I ran the Cambridge Half Marathon for the fifth time this year, and the crowd support really felt like it went up another level. It was brilliant all the way round. I finished in 1:58:36, which is a new Cambridge Half PB for me and an unexpected one at that, so really pleased with that. The strength and conditioning work clearly paid off!"
Ellis Maloney
"My Cambridge Half 2026 experience was great, and I left with a new personal best which I was extremely happy with and proud of. I managed to pace well for the first time ever and got under my target time by about 12 seconds. As always, the day was great and a real pleasure to take part in the event, the crowds were great as ever and the running conditions were perfect which really helped as well. I look forward to hopefully taking part next year and trying to see if we can make a little improvement on the time."
