FAQs
General Information
-
The event is set to start at 9.30am.
Specific starting information will be shared with all participants in the weeks leading up to the event. All runners will be pre-allocated a start pen letter which will denote their arrival time, time to move to the start pen and the estimated time that they will cross the start line! The start pen letters are allocated to runners based on their predicted finish time.
Further detailed information will be shared with you well in advance of race day, along with being included in the Race Day Guide, which will be emailed to runners shortly before race weekend.
-
We'll be working with a local bus company on the park and ride system for 2025. Further info will follow.
-
Yes - there will be a space to store your bag whilst you run. You will receive your race number in the post if you purchased race pack postage, which will also contain your bag label and bag collection tab.
Please visit the tent that corresponds to your race number range. Any bag dropped at the bag drop must be a maximum of 45cm x 45cm x 25cm (normal backpack size). Larger bags, holdalls and any size suitcase, will not be accepted. Random bag checks will also be in operation on event day by our security team – please follow all instructions if asked by one of our team.
-
Start times will be announced 2 weeks before the event day.
You will then be allocated and sent your wave time.
-
The minimum age for competitors is 16, as long as you are 17 on or before 31st December 2025.
-
We usually have a limited amount of changing space available for runners to use at the Oxford Half, which will be located close to the bag drop area.
The Race Day Guide will be available 2 weeks prior to the event and emailed to all runners!
-
We suggest arriving 60-90 minutes prior to your starting time. Familiarise yourself with the event village & queuing system to head towards the start line.
-
You are more than welcome to run with headphones, however, we recommend running without so you can listen for any instructions from route marshals and soak up the amazing route entertainment & atmosphere!
-
Race Pack Delivery:
You can purchase race pack delivery upon registration, in which case your race pack will be posted to you 2 weeks prior to the event. Your address must be up to date on your registration at least 6 weeks before the event in order for these to be sent to the correct place as we will not be able to re-send.
To update your address or add race pack delivery you need to access your registration via the ‘Let’s do This’ platform here
Once you are in, click on edit and amend all necessary details. If you need assistance, please email support@letsdothis.com
Please note - amendments can be made until the provided deadline. We will advise on this date in the months leading up to the event.
Race Pack Collection:
If you did not pay for race pack postage when registering, you will need to collect your race pack from the collection point in the event Village on the Saturday prior to the event. The Helpdesk and collection desk will be located at Oxford University Parks (OX1 3RF) and it will be open from 10:00 to 17:00.
-
The cut-off time for the Oxford Half Marathon is 3 hours and 30 minutes. Runners who are still on the course after this time are asked to move to the pavement to allow the streets to reopen, but they are still able to collect a medal at the finish line.
-
Additional race day information will become available to all participants in the weeks leading up to the event. If you have any questions or concerns in the meantime, please contact us at ‘hello@oxfordhalf.com’
To give you an idea of what to expect, here is a link to the 2024 Race Day Guide - please note the 2025 Race Day Guide will contain updates and changes, so be sure to check back for the most current information closer to the event.
-
We’re currently gathering expressions of interest for pacing here. Please note we will be in touch closer to event day.
Participants with Disabilities
All Motiv Sports events aim to be inclusive, offering people of all abilities the opportunity to take part.
Please read the information below about taking part if you have a disability and/or require assistance on event day.
Wheelchairs:
Wheelchair entrants are permitted at the Oxford Half. At registration checkout, simply tick the wheelchair participant box and we'll be in touch to coordinate any necessary details with you.
Hand cycles, however, are not permitted and all wheelchair participants must be self-propelled without support.
If you meet our elite qualifying time and are also taking part in a racing wheelchair, then you will start at the front of the race, shortly before the main field. If you are taking part in a day chair then you will start the race at the back of the main field.
Disabled participants who need assistance:
If you are a visually impaired runner or your disability and/or medical conditions means that you require a guide runner/assistant, then please contact us at hello@oxfordhalf.com detailing your request.
We strongly advise that each participant and their guide should be appropriately identified and linked together in a safe way on event day. Guide dogs are permitted on the event site, however they are not permitted on the Oxford Half race route.
Registration
-
'Let’s Do This' is our partner registration platform to take on the Oxford Half entries for 2025.
When you enter the Oxford Half, your entry information and payment is processed by 'Let’s Do This' and passed securely to Motiv Sports. Your bank statement will show 'Let’s Do This' against your event entry and you will receive a booking confirmation email from 'Let’s Do This'. Once you are entered, all event communication will come from Motiv Sports and the Oxford Half team.
-
You can check if you've registered for any of our events at this link, which will take you to our booking partner Let's Do This.
If you can't access your Let’s Do This account or don't remember your details, please email support@letsdothis.com
Our event portfolio includes Etape Caledonia, Wizz Air Hackney Half, Blenheim Palace Triathlon, Saucony London 10K and Oxford Half.
When you completed your registration and purchased your entry you should have received a confirmation email from us containing all the details of your event booking including your booking reference.
-
Editing your registration details, including predicted finish time, and race pack delivery address is easy, you can go to your dashboard at this link, select your entry, then click “edit”.
You will not be able to amend details after the deadlines. Please keep an eye out for emails (we suggest checking your spam folder and adding us to your contact list) months prior to the event as we will advise on key dates.
If you need assistance you can reach out to Let's DO This at support@letsdothis.com and they will be able to update your information.
-
The entry fee to the Oxford Half is non-refundable.
We do offer options for your entry for a fee if you can no longer participate. You can choose to defer to the following year or transfer your entry to a friend by following the instructions below:
Transfer your place to a friend or family member.
Manage your booking here and enter your booking reference
From your dashboard, click 'Manage' next to your name
Select the 'Transfer' option, followed by 'Transfer to a friend'
Input their name and email address
Click 'Send transfer link'
Upon registration, your friend will be required to pay a £25 transfer fee.
Please note that your entry will only be cancelled once your friend has entered the event and taken your place. There are a limited number of transfer to a friend places for each event. We reserve the right to close this option at any time. We recommend you submit your transfer to a friend invitation at your earliest convenience. Their entry is not guaranteed until they are fully registered.
Defer your entry to 2026.
Manage your booking here and enter your booking reference
From your dashboard, click 'Manage' next to your name
Select the 'Defer your entry' option
Follow the prompts and review the deferral policy to defer your entry to the following year
Upon registration to the 2026 event, you will be required to pay a fee of 50% of the 2026 ticket price. Registrations for the 2026 event will be sent out two weeks after the 2025 event.
Please note there are a limited number of deferrals for each event. We reserve the right to close this option at any time. We recommend you submit your deferral at your earliest convenience. Your entry is not guaranteed until you are fully registered for the 2026 event.
Low-cost insurance policies are available that protect event participants in the event that they have to withdraw from the event due to injury, illness or other reasons depending upon the insurance policy in question. Where possible we will provide a link to an insurance option of this type during the registration process, but we do not do so as any form of recommendation of the specific policy, other than to recommend that participants provide themselves with adequate insurance.
For further information on this please read the full entry Terms & Conditions here and the deferral policies here.
-
To qualify for a complimentary place in the elite race, participants must have a qualifying time within the last 3 years of 1:10:00 or quicker for men, and 1:20:00 or quicker for women.
To qualify for a complimentary place in the elite wheelchair race, participants must take part in a racing wheelchair and also have a previous qualifying time within the last 3 years of 1:20:00 or quicker for men and 1:30:00 or quicker for women.
All other wheelchair participants taking part in day chairs will start together at the back of the half marathon field to ensure they can participate safely in the race.
If you think you can qualify, please apply through the Elite Entry page.
Elite places are allocated at least 8 weeks prior to the event date.
-
Yes, you're free to raise funds for whichever charity you like. If you don't have a charity in mind, you can find our supporting charities here.
-
You can find all Oxford Half charity partners on the Oxford charities page of the website here. Contact the charity of your choice and let them know you'd like to run for them!
We recommend setting up a JustGiving page to assist with marketing and securing your funds.
-
After purchasing the entry from the charity you have to wait for them to process it.
Once they have done so, you will receive an email with a link that will lead you to the Let's Do This registration platform. Here you will be able to claim your entry by filling in all of the required details. As soon as you have completed registration, paid for any add-ons and submitted the form, you should receive an email confirmation.
NOTE: you will be able to participate in the Oxford Half Marathon only if you complete our registration form and claim your entry.
-
You can purchase charity places here: Are you a charity? — Oxford Half
If you opt to pay for your places via invoice: you will be issued an invoice within 4 working days. Following payment, your event places will be reserved immediately.
Once your places have been confirmed as paid, you will be sent a link to access your event dashboard to invite your fundraisers to register for the event.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us via email at charities@motivsports.com
Charity Participants
Additional Information
-
Giving time as a volunteer at the Oxford Half is a fantastic opportunity to get involved and experience up close an amazing weekend of sport.
Head over to this link and apply to volunteer!
-
If you feel unwell whilst running stop as soon as you can and seek help. There will be marshals and stewards on the route who will be able to assist and contact the medical team.
See your GP if you have a problem or any concerns that it might be a risk for you to take part in the event. If you have any known medical conditions (such as diabetes, asthma, allergy to penicillin, etc) inform us prior to the event by entering it in the box provided on the online application.
In addition, please write all medical details on the back of your event number. Whether you have a medical condition or not, if you feel unwell on the event day – don’t take part. If you have flu, a feverish cold or a tummy bug, do not train until you have fully recovered. Then start gently and build up gradually. Do not attempt to catch up on lost mileage after illness or injury – this may cause further damage or illness.
-
Please contact the event organisers via email, hello@oxfordhalf.com with a full description & picture, if possible, of the missing item and we will do our best to reunite you with it.
-
Marathon Photos are our official photographer for the event. Head over to this link, look up the event and enter your bib number or name to find your picture!
-
Provisional results will be available via the tracking link on our website and if you have inputted a British mobile number, they will be texted to you.
They will also be emailed to you post-event and published at this link.
-
Please note that we don’t operate a reserve/cancellation list as we already take into account the usual drop-out rate prior to the event.
-
There may be several reasons for this.
If you have a booking ID - please try to enter your details at this link to access your entry. Click on "Edit" and check that your email address is correctly typed and with no errors.
Secondly, emails can often get directed straight into junk/spam folders or get rejected by email servers altogether. Please ensure that you check those folders and additionally add ‘hello@oxfordhalf.com’ to your safe senders list to receive future emails.
If you have unsubscribed from our mailing list and would like to resubscribe, please click here
-
The Oxford Half is currently not UKA licensed, but it will still be officially measured and exceed all the operational standards. We hope to continue to offer an incredible experience for runners to enjoy this amazing City.
Our races are mass participation events and our focus is creating inclusive events for runners of all experience and abilities, including all the club runners who take part each year, along with the first-timers, charity fundraisers and all other mass participants.
We hope you can understand that we aim for first-class experiences for all entrants, including the music, entertainment, runner products and of course an amazing running route.
-
Yes - TOTM are kindly supplying the event with a variety of products which you can request at our help and information desks in the village, as well as marshals and volunteers at aid stations on the route
Ready to enter?
