Half Marathon races near Oirschot

The ASML Marathon Eindhoven takes place over two days on the second weekend of October. It stands as North Brabant's largest two-day sports event, featuring a full marathon, half marathon, quarter marathon, City Run, Kids Run, Urban Walk, and Your Marathon Challenge. The half marathon attracts the most runners, and the main race accommodates up to 15,000 participants. The course is flat and wide, facilitating fast times, with a finish in the city center. Supporters line the route, and the event welcomes club runners, charity participants, families, and newcomers. A local tradition involves a connection with KWF's Run Against Cancer, allowing participants to fundraise for guaranteed entry spots when standard registration closes.

Beemdenjogging begins and ends at Kapelstraat 1 in Zoersel, sending runners into the Zoerselbos for a recreational nature run. Online registration remains open until late October, offering lower prices for pre-registration and a higher fee for same-day sign-ups. The facilities are functional: parking and bicycle storage are available at the start, with additional parking nearby in Zoersel, along with free sports bag storage, changing rooms, and showers. The course consists mainly of unpaved roads, guiding participants through forest paths and quieter areas within and surrounding the Zoerselbos. The 14 km and 21 km routes feature aid stations, but participants must provide their own cup or bottle as disposable cups are not provided; reusable cups are available for purchase. All finishers receive a complimentary pancake post-race, and event photos will be published on the website, with participants able to inform photographers if they prefer not to be photographed.

The Alphense Bergen Trail begins in Alphen, North Brabant, leading runners into the Alphense Bergen, a woodland region situated between Alphen and Chaam. This trail race offers multiple distances, ranging from approximately 9 km to 24 km, allowing participants to select a brief off-road run or a more extended trail challenge. The course crosses the nature reserve surrounding the Het Zand fen, utilizing woodland paths, heathland, single tracks, and numerous small inclines. The terrain is noted as demanding and diverse, with a course that continually shifts. Experienced trail runners will find a concise yet vigorous race, while road runners new to trail running can opt for a shorter distance to still experience the woods and heath.

The JP Balki Event is a charity running race in Heeze, a village in North Brabant, starting on Boschlaan in the town center. Held in April, it includes timed races from short distances to a half marathon. Distances listed include 3 km, 7 km, 10 or 11 km, 14 km, and 21 km. The race honors Jean-Paul Balkestein, who passed away from cardiac arrest while jogging at 32. The event carries a personal local story alongside its sporting aspect. The routes follow roads and paths around Kasteel Heeze, extending into nature areas managed by Brabants Landschap and Staatsbosbeheer. Participants are asked to respect these reserves, avoiding damage or pollution on the course. The event supports the Amsterdam UMC Foundation, funding experimental medical research, and Stichting Hartekind, which finances research into childhood heart defects. This dual purpose allows participants to race a set distance, join in local remembrance, and support the charities connected to the event's cause.

The Vestingstadrun Woudrichem is an annual road race held in and around Woudrichem, a historic fortress town in North Brabant, Netherlands. Taking place in November, it is organized by Altena Road Runners, with the start located at their club building, De Inloper, in Sleeuwijk. The event offers various distances, from youth races to a half marathon, attracting participants from children and beginners to club runners aiming for personal bests. The half marathon, which lends the event its name, spans 21.1 kilometers through parts of the Altena municipality and the historic fortified center of Woudrichem. The course also extends into the countryside surrounding Woudrichem and Sleeuwijk, offering views of the Maas river and local natural areas. Shorter races of 5 and 10 kilometers are also featured, alongside competitive age-category events. The Vestingstadrun is part of the Altena Road Circuit, which the organizers state is the oldest running circuit in the Netherlands, and this year marks its 25th edition.

Vestingstad Run Woudrichem is a paved running event starting at Atletiekpark Altena in Sleeuwijk. The half marathon route extends into the historic fortress town of Woudrichem. The event offers seven distances, including short youth races of 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2 km, alongside 5.2 km, 10.5 km, and 21.1 km options, catering to children, recreational runners, and half-marathon participants on the same afternoon. All distances follow a single loop on roads with controlled traffic through the countryside surrounding Altena, Woudrichem, and Sleeuwijk. The half marathon has a 2.5-hour time limit, and its participants and recreational runners are grouped in the same classification. Altena Road Runners organizes the event, which is affiliated with the Atletiekunie and acts as the concluding race of the Blankers & Van Vark Altena Road Circuit. Pre-registration is mandatory, with a limit of 500 participants. Previous editions have featured close competition, such as a course record being improved by only two seconds in wet weather.

Marathon Kasterlee is a running event in Kasterlee, Belgium. Both the marathon and half marathon begin at 10:00 AM in mid-November. The race uses a 21 km loop; marathon participants complete the loop twice, and half marathoners complete it once. This is not a fast, city-road race, as approximately 90 percent of the course runs through forest and field paths. The route is suitable for runners who prefer soft ground, varied footing, and a rural setting that can become challenging after rain. The participant list frequently includes triathletes and duathletes using this event as a final preparation before the Hel van Kasterlee, the local winter duathlon. One sold-out edition attracted 300 marathon runners and 1,600 half marathon runners, contributing to the event's significant participation while maintaining its local identity.

The Chocomousse Trail begins in Everbeek-Beneden, a village in the Flemish Ardennes, leading participants along a route through fields, woods, and small streams. It is organized as a relaxed trail event, not a competitive mass-start race, with participants able to start within a morning window. The chocolate theme is present: early entrants receive a chocolate mousse, a goodie bag, a collector’s button, and Christmas cards. A second wave opens only if the first sells out. The event features a mascot, SCRIT, a Snow Edition, and a post-run spaghetti meal (bolognese or vegetarian options available), which must be pre-ordered and is described as “pimped by Scrit.”

RDG Night Trail guides runners through the dark forests near Rosmalen, Netherlands, offering an evening trail run with four distance options. The shortest is a 3 km Family FunRun for children aged 6 to 12, requiring at least one parent or guardian. Older participants can select 5 km, 11 km, or a half marathon. The event is limited to 500 participants, maintaining a smaller scale compared to road races. The courses are designed for running after sunset, not for achieving fast times on a flat city course. The 5 km is open to ages 12 and up, with adult supervision for those under 14. The 11 km and half marathon are for runners aged 15 and older. Triathlonvereniging RDG organizes the race with Run2Day Den Bosch. This is the event's fourth edition, which introduced the half marathon as the longest distance. Each runner receives a drink token for the post-race gathering, and participants may purchase an RDG NightTrail Buff as a memento.

Kangoeroeloop Prins Hendrik is a Boxing Day running and walking event in Vught, the Netherlands. The start and finish are on the athletics track of Vughtse Sportclub Prins Hendrik. It accommodates a broad field: joggers, club athletes, walkers, race walkers, families, youth runners, and adapted-sport participants. The program offers distances from 3 to 27 km, including 5 km, 7.5 km, 10 km, 15 km, a half marathon, and 27 km, with a participant limit of 3,000. The setting is a wooded area around the Prins Hendrik track. The Christmas timing shapes the day more than a typical road race. The track area is decorated with Christmas trees, and finishers can stay afterward with companions for mulled wine, sausage rolls, and other food. The event has reached its 50th edition, is affiliated with the Atletiekunie, and gives participants a yearly souvenir. One recent version was made sustainably by Cello Zorg’s Mediateam Producties in Vught, a team of young talents with an intellectual disability.

Kempen Run is an annual race day in Hapert, a village in North Brabant, Netherlands, focusing on road running through the Brabantse Kempen. The main event is a half marathon on a single loop, with additional races including 6.5 km, 10 km, and a 1 km Kidsrun. It typically takes place in March, catering to both competitive runners and those seeking a local fun run. The course follows roads and cycle paths near Bladel and Reusel, featuring wooded areas and rural Kempen scenery. While the exact route may change, it remains connected to natural landscapes and historical sites, avoiding urban circuits. The event accommodates amateur runners, experienced athletes, and children, concluding with music and food for participants and spectators.