Ealing Half Marathon will be back for 2013

The Ealing Half Marathon, which took place for the first time in September and was a sell out, will be back next year with a confirmed date of Sunday 29 September 2013.
The 2013 race will once again start and finish in Lammas Park where the race and retail village will also be located. Organisers have announced that some improvements have been made to the route that will have less impact on residents and will encompass additional parks within the borough. The Ealing Half Marathon is one of only two half marathons in London on fully closed roads, making it a must-do in the running calendar.
The 13.1 miles will still be run in a single lap, taking in parts of Central Ealing, Montpelier, Pitshanger, West Ealing, Hanwell and St Stephens, before returning to Lammas Park via Walpole Park.
"We are pleased to announce that the Ealing Half Marathon will be back for 2013 after the inaugural race was hailed a great success by runners, supporters and spectators alike with over £140,000 raised for charity,” said Ealing Half Marathon Race Director Kelvin Walker. “I can confirm that we have been working closely with Ealing Council to make some minor changes to the route such that it can accommodate up to 6,000 runners.
"The Ealing Half Marathon was also a success for Ealing and the local community in general, reflecting Ealing's great spirit and bringing a few thousand runners plus their families and friends to the borough. Our initial idea to introduce this race in the Olympic year was based on bringing a fantastic mass participation sporting event to Ealing that would be a legacy to the Games, and I think we can confidently say that we have achieved that."
Councillor Julian Bell, leader of Ealing Council, said: "The first event was a great day for Ealing so I'm very excited to see the return of Ealing Half Marathon in 2013. The council is now working closely with race organisers to devise an improved route that minimises disruptions to residents and provides a challenging run for participants.
"A highlight of the first race was the contribution from hundreds of volunteers. I encourage people to once again come forward and take on opportunities to help out on race day."
Jonathan Stead from Herne Hill Harriers was the winner of the first Ealing Half Marathon in a time of 1:09:51 whilst Gabriel Carnwath from Altrincham & District AC took the women's title in a time of 1:23:43.
Registration for the Ealing Half Marathon 2013 is now open with entry fees of £32 for affiliated runners and £34 for unaffiliated runners, including a medal. The first 1,000 entries will receive a £5 early bird discount.
A range of high profile sponsors and partners were on board for the inaugural race on both a local and national level, and sponsors for the 2013 race will be announced soon.
Please go to the event website for further details and to register now, you can also join the Facebook page and follow @EalingHalf on Twitter to keep up to date with all the latest news about the Ealing Half Marathon.