Bath Half Marathon delayed for six months

NEXT year’s Bath Half Marathon has been postponed until September, its organisers have confirmed.

Bosses of the popular event said due to a rise in cases and new restrictions, they were making the difficult decision to push back the run from March 14 until September 5.

It comes after Bath and North East Somerset Council chiefs said they did not feel a “large-scale event in the spring” would be safe.

A half marathon spokesperson said: “We understand how disappointing this postponement will be for our participants, charity partners and volunteer groups. However, we have decided to make this announcement early to allow time to make plans for 2021.

“We are disappointed that the positive role that physical fitness and regular exercise can play in helping to beat Covid has not been either widely discussed or promoted by government or in the media, and in that respect we believe that outdoor participation events such as the Bath Half Marathon are not the problem, but part of the solution.

“In discussing our event plans with Bath and North East Somerset Council we have been advised that in the current situation, regardless of the event being permitted by government and being Covid-Secure, the public health team do not feel it is appropriate to consider a large public event in the spring.”

Race organisers say since the government lifted restrictions on events in July, the team has been developing Covid-secure plans for the delivery of next year’s race.

In the coming months, they will continue working closely with B&NES to develop plans for a Covid-secure event in September.