TTP Cambridge Half Marathon 2024: More than 50 pictures as 13,000 runners tackle course
Some 13,000 runners completed the TTP Cambridge Half Marathon on Sunday (March 3).
In favourable weather, they tackled a new course taking in the grounds of St John’s College and Trinity College, as well as King’s College and Jesus College.
They passed the Bridge of Sighs and the Wren Library on the picturesque 13.1-mile course, which featured closed roads.
Don’t miss our souvenir picture supplement – including more of our photographs – in this week’s Cambridge Independent, out from Wednesday (6 March).
Organised by OSB Events, the half marathon has become a hugely popular event in the running calendar, with Cambridge’s flat topography attracting talented amateur athletes keen to set a good time, and the scenery appealing to others.
After gathering at the event HQ on Midsummer Common, the runners headed off from Victoria Avenue in 12 waves at four-minute intervals from 9.30am until 10.14am.
First to complete the course was Freddie Hessian (in the male, age 30-34 category), of Notts Athletic Club in an impressive 1:04:48, recording an average pace of 3:04 minutes per kilometre.
Seyfu Jamaal, of London Heathside, came in second in 01:05:00, just 12 seconds behind, while the first local runner - Cambridge University Hare and Hounds’ Peter Molloy - came home in third in 1:05:03, three seconds ahead of Joseph Massingham, of Rotherham Harriers.
Lucy Reid was the first woman home, in 75th, in 01:11:41, with an average pace of 3:23 min/km, and Phoebe Barker, of Tonbridge Athletic Club, the second, in 96th overall, with a time of 01:12:38. The third woman home was also the first local woman to finish: Holly Archer, of Cambridge and Coleridge Athletic Club, in 106th overall, recorded a time of 01:13:05.
The final runner crossed the line after more than four hours of toil.
Many charities will benefit from runners’ efforts this year, particularly the headline charity partner, Alzheimer’s Research UK, based at Granta Park.
The national charity partners were Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, Kidney Care UK, Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust and Charlie Waller, while the local charities partners are Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre, Mind CPSL and Something To Look Forward To.
There were also a host of Gold Bond charity partners that will benefit and many runners raised money for good causes close to their hearts.
Break, the charity behind the giraffe sculpture trail Cambridge Stand Tall heading to the city on March 21 for 10 weeks, had more than 30 keen runners take part in the Cambridge Half - one of whom ran in an inflatable giraffe costume.
Runners for Break included those from local businesses including Xaar, Breakwater, Alan Boswell and Breakwater, who had raised more than £5,000 before the first stride was made. The funds will go towards supporting the charity's work with young care leavers, helping them as they navigate their way towards independence.
This was the 12th Cambridge Half Marathon since the current series began in 2012, when 2,426 runners finished the course.
With more than five times that number crossing the finish line this year, the growth in popularity of the Cambridge Half is clear.
Little wonder that after this year’s places sold out in three weeks that pre-registration is already open for the 2025 edition.
Don’t miss the special picture supplement inside this week’s Cambridge Independent, out from Wednesday (6 March).
And visit photos.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/ to buy prints or JPEGS of any of our photographs, available from Wednesday.