River Thames Half Marathon

Walton Bridge serves as the start and finish for the River Thames Half Marathon, a 13.1-mile race held in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. Taking place in autumn, it is designed for straightforward half-marathon racing: flat, fast, and mostly traffic-free, featuring a surface mix of road, path, gravel, and grass. The organiser characterizes the course as “flat as a pancake,” making it suitable for runners aiming for a personal best as well as those attempting the half-marathon distance for the first time. The route begins on road and path before connecting to the Thames Towpath, tracing the non-tidal River Thames from Walton-on-Thames towards Hampton Court Bridge. It also functions as a tune-up for runners training for late-autumn marathons like New York, Valencia, or Florence. Participants note the friendly marshals and efficient organisation, and finishers are awarded a bespoke medal, a well-stocked goody bag, and a downloadable race certificate displaying their personalised finish time.