THE 2026 Colchester Half Marathon returns on Sunday, 8th March and is expected to have thousands of runners from across Essex and beyond taking part to raise vital funds for The Robin Cancer Trust.

The annual race is now firmly established as a flagship community event in the city’s calendar and will bring together participants to run 13.1 miles through Colchester’s historic sights, supporting life-saving cancer awareness.

The event is organised by The Robin Cancer Trust, a Colchester-based charity with all proceeds helping fund the charity’s life-saving awareness, education and support for young people affected by testicular, ovarian and germ cell cancer.

Last year’s event saw around 3,500 runners take part, raising a staggering £92,000 for The Robin Cancer Trust. Entries are still open to take part this year and the race is open to anyone aged 17 and over. Entry costs £35, or participants can sign up as a charity runner for the Robin Cancer Trust, pledging to raise a minimum of £150 for free entry.

Starting at the JobServe Community Stadium, the route takes runners through Colchester High Street and up Ipswich Road before continuing through the country lanes of Langham and Boxted.

The charity is encouraging local residents and businesses to get involved by supporting the event and cheering on the thousands of participants along the route. Supporters are invited to come together to form cheer squads and help create a vibrant atmosphere on race day. Dedicated cheer stations will be located outside The Minories, with support from Firstsite, and on East Hill, supported by The OutHouse.

Toby Freeman, CEO and founder of The Robin Cancer Trust and Colchester Half Marathon Event Organiser, said: “The Colchester Half Marathon is a true celebration of community spirit. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone in our hometown who makes this event possible each year, especially the volunteers and marshals who keep our runners safe.

“There’s nothing more inspiring than watching people cross the finish line, whether it’s their first half-marathon, a new personal best, or a run for a cause close to their heart. All funds raised help us deliver our life-saving cancer awareness campaigns across the region and support those facing a cancer diagnosis through the toughest times of their lives. We can’t wait to cheer everyone on race day and celebrate the amazing generosity of Colchester once again.”

The 2026 race is proudly sponsored by a number of local businesses, including gold sponsors: Mersea Homes, John Fowlers Solicitors and Scrutton Bland. These sponsors have a number of their staff taking part in the run and volunteering.

Silver sponsors include Kat Marketing, Datekin, Ewals Cargo Care, Runners World, Capital Calibration Services, and Cargo Overseas. Bronze sponsors are Optimum Print, JL Physio, Water Direct, Cups Direct, and Apollo Multiserve Ltd. Partners also include In Colchester, Running Colchester, Nice Work, and Coopah.

Stuart Cock, Managing Director at Mersea Homes, said: “We’re proud to continue our support of the Colchester Half Marathon. The event’s liveliness, determination and community spirit are truly inspiring and it’s fantastic to see runners, including our own colleagues, pushing themselves for such an important cause. Being part of an event that brings people together and creates real change is something we value greatly.”

Elizabeth Nichols, Partner and Marketing Director at Scrutton Bland, said: “We’re proud to be supporting the Colchester Half Marathon again this year. It’s an event that really captures the spirit of our local community, bringing together runners, volunteers and supporters for an incredible cause. We’re especially pleased to have 14 members of the Scrutton Bland team taking part this year, and we wish everyone involved the very best of luck on the day. It’s always inspiring to see the positive impact this event has through the funds and awareness it raises.”

Benjamin Carver, Partner, John Fowlers LLP, added: “We are delighted to be able to sponsor this year’s Colchester Half Marathon. It is such a fantastic event in aid of an amazing cause and one we are pleased to be a part of again this year. A massive thank you to all those running, and the organisers behind the scenes who make the day happen.”

To ensure the event runs smoothly and safely, there will be some short-term traffic management measures in place along the route. Clear advance signage will be displayed to help residents and visitors plan their journeys, and any restrictions will be kept to a minimum wherever possible.
As a community-driven event, the organisers are also seeking volunteers to help with course marshalling, cheer squads and water stations.
For more information and to sign up for the Colchester Half Marathon or to volunteer, please visit: www.colchesterhalfmarathon.com
More information on The Robin Cancer Trust can also be found here: https://www.therobincancertrust.org