01 / KNOW THE ROUTE
What the course asks of you
Hengistbury Head and the cliff tops
The race starts at Hengistbury Head, between Poole and Christchurch bays. The organiser says the first five miles follow the cliff tops before the route drops down to the seafront. The early miles are a good time to settle, not to bank time.
The promenade and the climb at mile 8
Runners continue along the promenade with Boscombe Pier in sight. A short incline at mile 8 brings you back up to the overcliff, with views of Bournemouth Pier and Poole. The route then passes the Russell-Cotes Museum on the way down towards Pier Approach.
Two piers to the finish
Before the finish, the route runs out to the end of Boscombe Pier on its wooden boards and back, then follows the promenade beside the beaches. Runners go onto Bournemouth Pier before the finish on Pier Approach. The organiser says the course follows the old Bournemouth full-marathon route.
02 / BUILD THE BLOCK
How to prepare
Prepare for a short, sharp climb
The route is mostly coastal, but the climb at mile 8 comes when your legs are tired. Include short hill reps once a week, and finish some long runs with a hill to practise climbing on tired legs.
Practise a late-morning race
An 11am start changes your usual morning routine. Do some long runs at the same time of day, and rehearse your breakfast and a small top-up snack so race-day fuelling is familiar.
Fuel on your own plan
The organiser says High5 energy gels are available at designated energy stations and asks runners to practise using gels in training. Decide in training whether you will use the gels provided or carry your own.
Keep the running and strength work in one place. Explore MaxMile for your Bournemouth Half Marathon preparation, or compare the levels of personal coaching.
03 / PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
Pace the race you have trained for
There are no pacers, so you need your own plan. Use the cliff-top miles to settle into target effort, and accept a slightly slower pace on the climb at mile 8 rather than forcing it.
Once you are back down towards Pier Approach, the run out to the end of Boscombe Pier and back is your chance to reset and judge how much you have left. If you still feel controlled, build steadily along the final promenade stretch and onto Bournemouth Pier.
04 / MAKE ROOM FOR TRAINING
When should your block start?
The 2027 Bournemouth Half Marathon is on Sunday 10 October. A 12-week half-marathon block would begin around Sunday 18 July 2027, or a 16-week block around Sunday 20 June for newer runners. Most long runs and hill sessions then fall in August and September, so plan around school holidays and hot weather.
The summer bank holiday is Monday 30 August, about six weeks out, which suits one of your longest runs. Taper over the final week or two. Because the race starts at 11am, move some long runs later in the morning over the last month.
05 / SORT THE PRACTICAL BITS
Kit and race-weekend planning
Hengistbury Head is a point-to-point start, so plan your journey there. The organiser strongly recommends its event buses, booked through the shop, from Westover Road by the Pavilion, Cotlands Road car park and the Sovereign Shopping Centre; the Belle Vue Road stop is about a 20-minute walk from the start. There is no parking at Hengistbury Head car park and very limited parking at Solent Beach car park, which is also the drop-off point.
Arrive at the start at least 50 minutes before your start time for baggage and toilets. Baggage trucks near the start take your bag to the finish. Bournemouth station is just over a mile from the finish area. Your event information pack, with start and finish maps, is in your MyRunning account.
