Robin Hood Nottingham Marathon and Half: Complete Training and Race Guide

What is the Robin Hood Nottingham event?

The Ikano Bank Robin Hood event is a long-running Nottingham road race that draws thousands of runners to the city every autumn. It has been part of the Midlands running calendar for decades and it has a friendly, community feel, with a race village, water stations, medical cover and marshals all around the course. For many local runners it is the target race of the year, and its late-September slot makes it a natural goal for a summer of training.

One thing to get right up front: the event no longer includes a full 26.2-mile marathon. Older results and history pages reference a Nottingham marathon, but the full distance was dropped some years ago, and the current line-up is built around the half marathon. If you are training for a first or fastest 26.2, this is not the race for that, and you would want a dedicated marathon instead. If your goal is a well-organised half in a lively city, the Robin Hood event is a strong choice.

This guide reflects what the official Robin Hood Half Marathon site showed as of July 2026. Dates, prices and event details change each year, so always confirm the current details on the official site before you enter.

What distances can you run?

Three ways to take part currently run. The headline event is the Robin Hood Half Marathon, a single-lap 13.1-mile (21.1 km) route through Nottingham. Alongside it is the Robin Hood Mini Marathon, described on the official site as a 1.5-mile (approximately 2.5 km) fun run that is open to runners of all abilities. Children must be aged 4 or over, and any child under 11 runs with a registered adult, which makes it a good option for families and first-timers.

There is also the Nottingham Post Corporate Challenge, a team event for local companies with squads of four to six runners, and a virtual half marathon for anyone who cannot make the day in person. What you will not find is a full marathon, so plan your season around the half as the main distance.

What is the route like?

The half marathon is a single-lap, 13.1-mile course that starts and finishes at Victoria Embankment by the River Trent. The official route description calls it mostly flat with a few gentle inclines in the early miles, which makes it a friendly course for a first half or a personal best attempt. You take in some of the city's best-known sights along the way, including Nottingham Castle and the famous Robin Hood statue, before heading out to the calmer, greener paths of Wollaton Park, where deer roam the grounds.

A mostly flat, single-lap course is kind to pacing, because there are no repeated hills to grind you down and no second lap where the crowds thin out. The early inclines are the part to respect. It is easy to attack them on fresh legs and pay for it later, so hold back a little in the opening two or three miles and let the flatter middle section come to you.

Because the finish returns to Victoria Embankment, the riverside setting gives you a clear landmark to aim for in the closing stretch. Practising a few runs on flat ground with a strong final mile will help you recreate that finish in training, and the route map on the official site is worth studying so you know where the quieter park section sits within the race.

How do you get a place?

Entry is straightforward and handled online through the official Robin Hood Half Marathon site. There is no public ballot for the half, so you sign up directly while places last. The event is popular and the organisers have reported entries selling out in past years, so it pays to enter early rather than leaving it to the final weeks.

As of July 2026 the official entry page listed the half marathon from £48 for UKA affiliated club runners and £50 for non-affiliated runners, with a VIP package at £80 and a two-year bundle covering 2026 and 2027 at £96 for affiliated or £100 for non-affiliated runners. The mini marathon was £21 per participant, and the Nottingham Post Corporate Challenge was £290 for a team. These figures change year to year and early-entry windows come and go, so treat them as a guide and confirm the live prices before you pay.

Charity places are another route in if the general entry has closed or if you want to raise money while you run. Many charities take on Robin Hood places each year, so it is worth searching for a cause you care about if you miss the standard window.

How should you train?

A late-September race gives you a natural summer build. For most runners with a decent base of two or three runs a week, around 12 weeks is enough to arrive at the start line fit and confident for the half. The core of any half plan is a weekly long run that grows gradually, plus one quality session such as a tempo run or intervals, with the rest of your running kept genuinely easy. Easy running should feel conversational, and if you cannot chat through it you are going too hard.

Strength and mobility work is widely recommended to support running and keep you consistent. Two short strength sessions a week that cover the legs, hips and core, along with regular mobility, help your body handle the rising mileage. Short HIIT sessions can add useful fitness on non-running days without piling on extra pounding. The plan below builds to a peak long run, includes an easier recovery week to absorb the training, and finishes with a two-week taper so you reach race day fresh.

This plan assumes an existing running base and is a general guide, not medical or individual coaching advice. If you are carrying pain, an injury or a health condition, see a physiotherapist or GP before you start or continue.

How should you pace it?

Pacing a half well is mostly about patience in the first few miles. On a course with gentle early inclines it is tempting to spend energy climbing, so aim to run the opening two or three miles slightly slower than your goal pace and let the effort feel almost too easy. You bank calm rather than seconds, and that calm pays off in the closing miles when the flatter ground lets you press.

Settle into your goal pace once the road levels out and hold it steady through the middle of the race. Practise that goal pace in training, which is what the final miles of the peak long run are for, so your legs recognise it on the day. Keep your fuelling and hydration simple and rehearsed. Use the drinks stations, take on a gel or two if you have trained with them, and never try anything new on race morning.

In the last few miles, use the return towards Victoria Embankment and the River Trent as your cue to give what is left. If you have paced sensibly you should be passing people rather than fading, and finishing strong in front of the riverside crowds is a fitting reward for a summer of consistent work.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Robin Hood Nottingham event and how do you enter?

It is the Ikano Bank Robin Hood event, held in Nottingham, with the next date on Sunday 27 September 2026. It currently runs a 13.1-mile half marathon and a 1.5-mile mini marathon, plus a corporate team challenge and a virtual half. The full 26.2-mile marathon no longer runs. You enter online at the official Robin Hood Half Marathon site while places last.

Is there still a full marathon at Robin Hood Nottingham?

No. The full 26.2-mile marathon was dropped some years ago and does not appear in the current line-up. The half marathon is now the main distance, so if you specifically want a 26.2-mile race you will need to look elsewhere.

Where does the half marathon start and finish?

The half is a single-lap route that starts and finishes at Victoria Embankment by the River Trent in Nottingham. Along the way it passes Nottingham Castle, the Robin Hood statue and the green paths of Wollaton Park, and the official description calls it mostly flat with a few gentle inclines early on.

How much does entry cost?

As of July 2026 the official entry page listed the half from £48 for UKA affiliated club runners and £50 for non-affiliated runners, with a VIP package at £80 and a two-year bundle at £96 or £100. The mini marathon was £21 and the corporate challenge was £290 per team. Prices change each year, so confirm the current figures on the official site.

How long do you need to train for the half?

For most runners with a base of two or three runs a week, around 12 weeks is a comfortable build for the half. Grow your long run gradually, add one quality session such as a tempo or intervals, keep easy runs easy, and support it with strength and mobility. If you are new to running or returning from injury, allow more time and see a physiotherapist or GP for any pain or health concern.

Can children and families take part?

Yes. The Robin Hood Mini Marathon is a 1.5-mile fun run open to runners of all abilities. Children must be aged 4 or over, and any child under 11 runs alongside a registered adult, which makes it a welcoming option for families and first-timers.

Details in this guide reflect the official Robin Hood Half Marathon site as of July 2026 and can change year to year. Always confirm dates, distances and prices on the official site before entering. This article is general information and not medical advice.