The 2026 GetPRO Bath Half Marathon has been announced as the official British Athletics trial race for the 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships Half Marathon.
Scheduled for Sunday, March 15, the race features a scenic two-lap course through the historic city of Bath, starting and finishing on Royal Avenue in front of the iconic Royal Crescent.
Athletes aiming to compete in the elite field must have recorded times faster than 65 minutes for men and 74 minutes for women, achieved from January 1, 2024, onward.
READ MORE: Charity Founder Julie Matthews Honoured with British Empire Medal for Mental Health Advocacy
READ MORE: Victorian Superbug Makes a Comeback as Tuberculosis Cases Rise in Somerset
The World Athletics Road Running Championships will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark, in September 2026, with the half marathon concluding the three-day event on Sunday, September 20.
UK Athletics will release the comprehensive selection criteria, including qualifying standards, in the coming months.
This marks the second consecutive year that the GetPRO Bath Half Marathon serves as the British Athletics trial race for the World Championships. The 2025 event saw impressive performances with Jake Smith winning in 62:20 and Abbie Donnelly securing the women’s title in 69:54.
Spencer Barden, Head of Elite Athletes at London Marathon Events, expressed enthusiasm about the event’s status: “We are proud that the 2026 GetPRO Bath Half Marathon will be the official British Athletics trial for the upcoming World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen. Bath has a proud tradition of hosting the UK’s top distance runners, and this opportunity will undoubtedly attract emerging talent to the city next March.”
The prize purse for the 2026 Bath Half has been increased to reward top performances:
- 1st place: £3,000
- 2nd place: £2,000
- 3rd place: £1,500
- 4th place: £1,000
Runners who have achieved times faster than 70 minutes (men) and 83 minutes (women) but do not qualify for the elite start can enter the race at half price, with entries costing £28.25—50% off the standard fee.
All qualification times must be recorded after January 1, 2024, in officially sanctioned half marathon events recognized by governing athletics bodies.
The deadline to submit applications for elite entry is Thursday, November 27, 2025, while registration and payment for successful applicants must be completed by Thursday, December 11, 2025.