The Amazing Northampton Half Relay
A Community Interest CompanyThe Amazing Northampton Half Marathon Relay
Commemorating the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of Northampton
Join us for the Amazing Northampton Run in 2025! A loop around the town, starting at The historic Market Square, following the river past Northampton’s three main sporting grounds; Sixfields stadium (football), Franklin’s Gardens (rugby) and The County Ground (cricket), through three beautiful parks, passing through the modern University campus and returning to Abington Street.
If you are not ready for the full distance why not grab a couple of friends and run this as a relay? As a team of 3 you will break the course down into 3 stages:
- Stage 1 – Start to Franklins Gardens Rugby Stadium (4.3 miles approx.) please click here for the walking route back to the finish – (1.2 miles)
- Stage 2 – Franklins Gardens Rugby Stadium (1.2 miles from the start, click here for the walking route ) to the Abington Park Museum Entrance (4.1 miles approx.) please click here for the walking route back to the finish (1.5 miles)
- Stage 3 – Abington Park Museum Entrance (1.5 miles from the start please click here for the walking route) to the Finish (4.7 miles approx.)
WHEN
14th September 2025
REGISTRATION (Team Captains Only)
Sunday 14th September from 7:30am at the Northampton Mecure Hotel NN1 2TA
This the route from Registration to the Start
Postal option is not available to relay competitors as you must also collect a baton
ENTRY FEE
£75 per team
RUN FOR A CHARITY
GENERAL ENQUIRIES
For information about charity places or general enquiries please contact us.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
A beautiful 13.1 mile route taking in the architecture, history and culture of Britain’s largest town. Elevation is +470 Ft and – 463 Ft.COURSE MARKING
The course is marked and well marshalled. Mile markers are provided along the length of the course.WATER STATIONS
There are 4 aid stations providing water in recyclable paper cups. 2.7 miles – Northampton Town Football Club; 5.3 miles – The Racecourse; 8.7 miles – Abington Bowling Club; 11 miles – The University of Northampton.AWARDS
Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Relay Teams. All finishing teams will each receive an individual medal and T-shirt.START TIME
The race will start at 9.30am.AGE LIMIT
The age limit for the half marathon is 17 on the day of the race in accordance with the UKA Licence Standards.RACE DAY INSTRUCTIONS
Please click hereBAGGAGE TRANSFER
A bag drop facility for small bags will be available at the start/finish area. Discarded pre-race clothing only will be collected for the Hope Centre Charity so please wear something nice!PARKING
There is parking for over 2000 vehicles in the town centre. Please click here for details of Council Car Parks. The Ridings Car Park will not be accessible on race day. Car parking is free on Sundays up to 2 hours then charged for after thisACCOMMODATION
We are pleased say that we have The Northampton Mecure Hotel as our official accommodation partner for the event. There are also over 1600 hotel rooms available in and around the town for visitors from further a field. Details of most of the hotels can be found here.COURSE RECORDS
Arlo Bamford;Benjamin Westmoreland-Alexander;Freddie Cushing (Northampton Athletic Club) – 1:14:33 (2023)CUT OFF
The cut off time for the race is 3 hours.HEADPHONES
In accordance with the UKA rules the wearing of “in ear” headphones is NOT permitted in a race where roads are open to traffic. Yes bone conductor headphones are permitted but we would rather that you communicate with and encourage your fellow runners!CHARITY ENTRIES
If you wish to register for a charity place please visit our charities page.TOILETS
There will be portable toilets by the GuildhallMASSAGE
Some of our charity partners will have massage tables in operation for a small donation to their good causes.EVENT SPONSORSHIP
We are proud to be supported by Du-Feu IT solutions , John Henry Sports, Silverstone leasing, Dinomite Endurance Coaching, The University of Northampton, and N Live Radio. If your organisation or workplace is able to support the event then please click here for our Sponsorship Opportunities.TRAINING
Need help with your training why not try the Runna App (link on the side bar)- GOBEYOND is your discount code. When you have finished why not recycle your old trainers with Jog On (link on the side bar).START/FINISH
St Giles Street Northampton
COURSE DESCRIPTION
(Stage 1) The Amazing Northampton Run starts at st Giles Street (for 2024)
Turning down the hill you will pass the impressive Guildhall. A little further along look out for Carlsberg Brewery. (They’ve been brewing in town for 50 years!) (If Carlsberg did half marathons!!!)
Following along the River Nene towards Sixfields Reservoir and heading up towards Sixfields Stadium where Northampton Town have been playing since 1897. Continuing along into Franklin’s Gardens, the home of Northampton Saints Rugby for the last 140 years.
(Stage 2) Running from the Rugby Stadium along Weedon Road and down the closed Spencer Bridge Road. As you cross over the railway and climb the hill you won’t be able to miss the Northampton International Academy as it gleams in your eye line!
Many of our local runners will recognise the next section as The Racecourse is home of Northampton parkrun each Saturday morning. After a lap of the park you will pass the Central Mosque on your right before turning to run alongside the Northants County Cricket Ground.
You will enter Abington Park next, where you will run by the side of the lakes before heading out to the road (Stage 3) From the handover point in front of the church you have a lovely downhill section.
Taking the footbridge over the A45 and under the main road structure you will find yourselves at the White Water Centre on the River Nene. From here, you will head past floating restaurant, The Arc, and over the bridge into the University of Northampton Waterside campus. Later leaving the University campus via Beckets Bridge – an innovative designed 180 metre footbridge.
Within the final miles you will pass Northampton Museum, The Royal and Derngate theatre and the historic Guildhall. Turn at The Mackintosh House (78 Derngate), famous for its art deco architecture and then enjoy a long straight downhill to the finish.
Elevation is +470 Ft and – 463 Ft. Click here for the complete route.
Below are relay specific questions, for all others please look at the main half marathon FAQs page.
When will I receive my race pack? You will collect your race number which includes your timing chip at registration either Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning – please see the front page for details
Does each person in the relay get their own medal? Yes each team member will have the same race number but with a smaller one, two or three next to it so you will all get a medal and a t-shirt
Will we have to run carrying a baton? Yes, it’s a relay what did you expect?
Do the members of the team have to run in specific order? Please run in the order you have stated when booking, that way we will know who is on the course at any time
General History – In 1675 The Great Fire of Northampton ravages the town.
The fire devastated the town centre, destroying about 700 of the town’s 850 buildings, including much of All Saints church. In six hours 11 people died and about 700 families were made homeless. This was 350 years ago!
Start to Mile 1 – The Market Square dating back to 1189 and one of the largest in England, 1677 Building; ; All Saints Church rebuilt after the fire; The rmains of The Angel Hotel dating from 1585 rebuilt after the Great Fire of Northampton and then badly damaged by a blaze in 2012; Phipps Brewery and tap bar; The Plough Hotel built in 1877 by Northampton Brewery Company (NBC); The Church Restaurant former hospital opened in 1138; and Carlsberg Brewery built in 1973 to replace the original Phipps Brewery. South Bridge
Mile 1 to 2 – The Grand Union Canal connecting the Gayton Junction with the River Nene in the centre of the town; Sixfields reservoir
Mile 2 to 3 Northampton Town Football Club formed in 1897 and nicknamed “The Cobblers” and Sixfields sometimes called the Starcity of Northamptonshire. The Lift Tower (seen from miles around)
Mile 3 to 4 – Northampton Saints Rugby Club at Franklins Gardens formed in 1880 from the St James Church by Rev Wathen Wigg
Mile 5 to 6 – The incredible Northampton International Academy formally the Barrack Road Sorting Office
Mile 6 to 7 – The Racecourse 118 acres of parkland last used for that purpose in 1904 and also the site of many public hangings! and the Picturedrome a former cinema opened in 1912 and now a bar and music venue
Mile 7 to 8 – The Northampton Central Mosque open for prayer in 2001 thanks to local generosity; The Northamptonshire County Cricket Ground first used for cricket on May 15 1886; Abington Park gifted to the town by Lord and Lady Wantage and open to the public in 1897
Mile 8 to 9 – Abington Park Museum a former Tudor Manor House and opened as a museum in 1897 and the 12th Century St Peter and Paul’s Church, the final resting place of Shakespeare’s Granddaughter
Mile 9 to 10 – Northampton Old Scouts RFC formed in 1926 and based on Rushmere Road since the 1960s then cross the footbridge over the A45 Nene Valley Way
Mile 10 to 11 – The White Water Centre operated by Northampton Active it was build in 1999 as the UKs first pumped artificial white water course; Northampton Rowing Club; Barnes Meadow Interchange, Barnes Meadow; The Ark Northamptons first floating restaurant opened in 2014; Midsummer Meadow and the University Bridge
Mile 11 to 12 – Nunn Mills Bridge; University of Northampton opened in 2018; The Engine Shed; The footbridge; Northampton Marina; Beckets Park formally Cow meadow and where Thomas A Beckett drank from a well in 1164; and the Wathen Wigg Bridge
Mile 12 to 13 – Latimer and Crick building, the company was founded by Francis Crick’s (the biologist famous for mapping DNA) grandfather; St Anne’s Christian Orthodox Church dedicated to St Anne the Grandmother of Jesus; RIBA Award Winning One Angel Square; Northampton Museum and Art Gallery the site of the former town Gaol and home to over 15,000 pairs of shoes!; Royal Theatre and Opera House opened in 1884 and now the Royal and Derngate Theatre; The Guildhall built in 1864 in the Gothic Revival style; Derngate the only street in Northampton to retain its “gate” name; 78 Derngate the only house outside of Scotland re-modelled by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and St Giles church which is over 900 years old
Mile 13 to the Finish – BBC Radio Northampton; The Northampton Central Library opened in 1910, a gift of Andrew Carnegie and The Double Helix Statue celebrating Francis Crick from Weston Favell who in 1953 helped to unlock the secrets of life by mapping DNA
Click here for the Pace Chart so you can see what time we expect the first and last runners at any point on the course
Click here for the proposed Traffic Management phases so you can see what times we antiicpate re opening the roads after the 8:30am closure
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